France has produced a number of brilliant military airmen, the latest
to come into special prominence being Lieutenant René Fonck, who in one
day (May 10) brought down six German airplanes. This achievement had
not been equaled even by the late Captain Guynemer, of whom Fonck has
become the successor in daring, skill, and resourcefulness as an air
fighter. On June 4 it was announced that Lieutenant Georges Madon had
won his twenty-eighth aerial victory.
A British airman with an extraordinary record, Captain James B.
McCudden, who is only 23 years of age, was awarded the Victoria Cross
on March 29 "for most conspicuous bravery, exceptional perseverance,
keenness, and very high devotion to duty." He had already won nearly
every decoration awarded in the British Army, including the Military
Medal, the Military Cross, and the Distinguished Service Order. He went
to France with the first British army in August, 1914, and, having had
some experience of the air, was pressed into service as an observer
at Mons and gave valuable information of enemy movements during the
retreat. As a Sergeant he was officially promoted to be an observer,
and quickly won fame for his expert handling of guns in several stiff
fights. As the pilot of a single-seater scout McCudden has had over
100 fights and some wonderful escapes without sustaining the slightest
hurt. The crack German pilot Immelmann was a deadly rival, and they had
three duels, but the fight was broken off on each occasion
without either man being able to claim an advantage. In the official
announcement of the award of the V. C., it was stated that Captain
McCudden had then accounted for fifty-four enemy airplanes, forty-two
being definitely destroyed. The official statement added:
On two occasions he has totally destroyed four two-seater enemy
airplanes on the same day, and on the last occasion all four
machines were destroyed in the space of one hour and thirty
minutes.
While in his present squadron he has participated in seventy-eight
offensive patrols, and in nearly every case has been the leader.
On at least thirty other occasions, while with the same squadron,
he has crossed the lines alone, either in pursuit or in quest of
enemy airplanes.
The following incidents are examples of the work he has done
recently:
On Dec. 23, 1917, when leading his patrol, eight enemy airplanes
were attacked between 2:30 P.M. and 3:50 P.M. Of these two were
shot down by Captain McCudden in our lines. On the morning of the
same day he left the ground at 10:50 o'clock and encountered four
enemy airplanes; of these he shot down two.
On Jan. 30, 1918, he, single-handed, attacked five enemy scouts,
as a result of which two were destroyed. On this occasion he only
returned home when the enemy scouts had been driven far east; his
Lewis-gun ammunition was all finished and the belt of his Vickers
gun had broken.
As a patrol leader he has at all times shown the utmost gallantry
and skill, not only in the manner in which he has attacked and
destroyed the enemy but in the way he has during several aerial
fights protected the newer members of his flight, thus keeping
down their casualties to a minimum.
This officer is considered, by the record which he has made, by
his fearlessness, and by the great service which he has rendered
to his country, deserving of the very highest honor.