I Flew With the Lafayette Escadrille by Rear Admiral Edwin C. Parsons

Author:Rear Admiral Edwin C. Parsons [Parsons, Rear Admiral Edwin C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Military, World War I, Europe, Great Britain, General, Germany, Aviation
ISBN: 9781786259943
Google: RZHEDAAAQBAJ
Publisher: Pickle Partners Publishing
Published: 2016-07-26T03:01:21+00:00

He rose in a zoom behind the tail and pumped a ripping rafale into the fuselage of the Aviatik. With the observer dead and no protection from the rear, the slower German ship was at his mercy. The pilot attempted to dive, but Prince fastened on his tail like a leech and ripped burst after burst through the wings.

Terror-stricken, the German pilot leveled off the Aviatik and stood up in the cockpit with both hands over his head, begging for mercy.

Remembering his fallen comrades, Prince’s first impulse was to give no quarter; to shoot him down in cold blood. But he was over ten kilometers in the enemy lines. It was his first real chance, and confirmation might be difficult. If he could bring the German home, there could be no question.

Norman pointed toward the French fines, and the German pilot nodded and sank back in his cockpit. Firing a warning burst every time the German showed any inclination to get out of line, Prince herded the scared, unwilling Jerry back across the lines and forced him to land in a meadow outside of Verdun.

It was the first German ship brought down by an American on our side of the lines, and Prince had to go over ten kilometers into Germany to get him. He had broken the ice, and he was on the honor roll at last. He was raised from sergeant to adjutant, the last step before getting a French commission.

Apparently he had thrown off the jinx for good, for on September 9 he attacked, single-handed, a patrol of three Fokker monoplanes. Except for the fury and recklessness of his attack, the outcome might have been disastrous, for the Fokkers were equipped with synchronized Spandaus, while he was still using the cumbersome and unreliable Lewis.

Diving on the three ships out of the sun and catching them unawares, he came so close to the rearmost that he nearly collided before he opened fire. He ripped in a long burst and set the Fokker afire before the others knew what had happened. They turned to fire on him, but it was too late. He was far below, shooting like a streak of silvery light for the French lines. The confirmation of his victory was telephoned to the Escadrille before his wheels touched the tarmac. His citation for the Médaille Militaire followed this last victory:

“PRINCE, NORMAN, ADJUTANT OF ESCADRILLE N-124”

“Voluntarily engaged for the duration of the war, has given proof under all circumstances of the finest qualities of bravery and audacity, engaging daily in numerous combats in the German lines. The 23rd of August, 1916, forced an enemy plane to land and brought down a second on the 9th of September.”

On the 10th of October, Prince got another while flying with Lufbery. They went over the German aviation field at Habsheim and circled low, daring the Boche aviators to come up. The Boche took the dare in two layers, and the reckless Americans had to battle their way to safety, winning through by an extremely narrow margin.

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