HEROIC AVIATOR

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 31 August 1917, Page 1

HEROIC AVIATOR

GUYNEMER.'S EXPLOITS. It was cabled last week that Captain Guynemer had won his 50th air victory. M. Andre Glarner, the Paris correspondent of the ' Exchange.' writing in June on the exploits of tliis terror of the enemy, says : His Excellency Yon Hoppner. General Director of the German Air Fleets, is not what one might call a lucky person. On ilay 28 lie gave an " interview " to all the German newspapers, in which he boasted of the superiority of tlie Kaiser's airmen over the French fliers. It so happened that- just three days before the French aviators had achieved some especially remarkable feats, as amazing as they were'glorious. On that single day Captain Guynemer had alone brought

down four enemy airplanes, bringing to 43 the total number of liis victories in the French lines, and to 120 those of his squadron. Guynemer has won the greatest renown among airmen, but he is only one of the many heroic French champions. His squadron, known as "T.lie Storks/' has been honored by the Government for its heroic exploits. It accounted for 20 machines and an observation kite at Verdun, and 63 airplanes and two observation kites in six months on Ihe Somme. On May 25 Guynemer began his day in the air by downing two enemy machines at an interval of 10 minutes, one to the north of Corbeny and the other at Juvincourt, both near the village of Ciaonne. He had seen three German machines living together towards our lines. He charged, them, arid they turned and fled. Overtaking one, he manoeuvred to bring it within the sweep of his mitrailleuse. At the first discharge it dived and fell to earth a living torch. Looking backward at this instant, he perceived a monoplane which was trying to steal upon him unawares. But had already delivered its volley, and Guynemer, firing from below, struck it with an explosive ball. The monoplane instantly took fire and fell. A THRILLING ENCOUNTER. Returning to camp after this double encounter, Guynemer was only too eager, for another adventure. About noon an audacious German machine •came flying over the aviation field. Guynemer was again aboard, all the other airmen having meanwhile returned. It would, have taken several minutes for any machine to rise to the height of the enemy, ai'-d many anxious eyes were gazing heavenward. Suddenly someone cried : " There is Guynemer !" "Then it is death to the German," said another. Sure enough. Gnyuemer emerged into view like the coining of a. tempest. Only one discharge of his mitrailleuse was heard. The enemy plane plunged to earth with its motor still loudly humming. The tragedy had happened with almost the celerity of a lightning stroke. Guynemer had shot •• the G-nnnan pilot through the head.

Again in the evening Guynemer went up ior the third, time. Towards 7 o'clock over Guignicourt a fourth machine, struck by Guynemer's bullets, came tumbling down in a wild flare of flame. Finally, retaining to camp, the young victor executed a series of dizzy evolutions with his machine in mid-air. Such is Guynemer. To look at him when he is standing on solid earth, as I did when recently I had the pleasure of meeting him, one' wouJd not recognise him at once as a doughty warrior. He is of light build, and has more the appearance of a squire of dames than of an athlete, but this impression is speedily dispelled. He is, indeed, a true .hero.