Allies' Greatest Aviator.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 25 July 1918, Page 3

Allies' Greatest Aviator.

iiXitO or 70 FIGHTS KILLED. LONDON, July i 2. Captain James iwcCuduen, the Allien' greatest aviator, was Hilled while nymg in Jfruucc. ±io had won annuo t every award for valour, ami n..u brougat down oi aoropnuius bcioic Marcii. ICecently he claimcd a total of 70 victims.

Wherever flying men or men interested ui lining luuoi to day, be it in Britain or at tue liiitisn Hunt m franco, there is only one name 011 tlieir lips. It is that 01 Captain ,Muu.s Uytvta JleCudden, who ;i few i.-muiaj ago. wai awarded the Vieio,... u.o musi honourable decoration u.„t British vul our can win, ana uno, in receiving it, was officially revealed as tlie greatest and must sueceusrui air iigat'.r, iiViiig or dead, thai Uiu ..„.o ) ,_t produced. Captain McOudden, who was only 22, had a bigger Ijag oi hostile machines brought uov.ll than Ui.;!iop, Guyneincr or iiail or any other Hying man that the war has brought forwaru. jNlyCuddeii's record of hostile 'machines accounted lor up to Jb'ebruary 21 was. 5-1. Of those -A3 were ueiinitoly de-stroyed—-four of men in just DO minutes utes, 19 failing 011 the British side of the lines. Omy 12 out of the 54 were driven down out of control. Baron von Hichthofen,- according to the German oilieial communique, accounted for his 75th enemy plane , but lie was three years llcCudili.n's senior, and besides we all know how reliable Teutonic "records" are. .Ko wonder that, in recounting the feats of the young British champion, even the writers of the sober 'Official Gazette" were inspired to use tho language of enthusiastic admiration. .They told us that, Second-Lieu-tenant (temporary captain) James By- : ford McOudden, D.5.0., M.0., M.iVL, Hoy a I I'iying Corps, Lad received the V.C. "for conspicuous bravery, exceptional perseverance, keenness, and very high devotion to duty 011 various occasions during December, 10.17, and Janu ary and February of tho present year." As the other initials after his name indicated, Captain MeCmlden also had the Distinguished Scrvice Order, the Military Cross, and the Military Aledal, as well as the French Croix do Guerre. Moreover, lie added a bar to both his D.S.O. and his Military Cross. "The Military-Modal," says the official announcement, "was awsirded this oilh'ci (when a flight sergeant in the R.F.C.) for consistent gallantry, courage, and dash during tho month of September, 1916, in attacking and destroying an enemy machine and forcing two others to land. He also twicc crosscd the enemy lilies at a very low altitude in attacks on hostile bailoons under very heavy fire. The Military Cross was awarded for conspicuous gallantry in action on February 15, IDI7, on which jeeasion this officer followed a hostile machine down to a height of 300 ft, and drove, it to the ground. Captain Mc- I Cudden earned the bar to his Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry,, dash, mil skill during tho period of August to to September 28, 10.17, when lie too!< part in many offensive patrols (over IF' of which he led), and destroyed. five ■nomy machines, driving three olher;lown out of control. The Distinguished k'rvicc Order was bestowed 0:1 him for conspicuous gallantry e>u November 2'J 1917, when lie attacked and brought lown an enemy two-seater within oui linos, both occupants being taken, p.isiiicr. He also encountered an enemy uachinc during very bad weatlvr eon litions at "2000 ft., and fought, it dowr to a height of 100 ft, when it was de droved. Captain McCudden came duwe Vo within a few feet of the ground ie f .he enemy's lines, and finally crossed he line at a very low altitude. Bub e meet to the award of the bar <0 (In TTtary Cross he had been re."pons:bh' 'or 1 ho'destruction of s-ven enemy 111:1 Ynes. two oE which fell within our

'ti"f. For his skill and 'gallantry on Vov-mber 1917, Captain McOuddon ■ns awarded a bar to the Distiaguishe Vrvice Order. On this occasion he destroyed four enemy machines three of which fell within our lines, by fearless•irss and his clever manoeuvring. He 'so drove his patrol against, six enemy ■uachincs, driving them off."