On December 12, while on patrol, Stuart Walcott met a German biplane
carrying two men. Three cable reports agree that he shot down and
destroyed this machine about two and a half miles within the German
lines. He then started back for the French lines and was overtaken by
four Albatross German planes. He was overcome and his machine went down
in a nose dive within the German lines, it being assumed that either he
was shot or his machine disabled.
There was still a hope that he might have escaped death. Inquiries were
at once instituted through the American Red Cross and the International
Red Cross, with the result that on January 7 a cable came from the
International Red Cross stating that it was reported in Germany that S.
Walcott was brought down during the afternoon of December 12 near Saint
Souplet, and that he was killed by the fall.