THE WAR IN THE AIR

The Hughes report on air craft, submitted in October, 1918, contained a full account of the difficulties, drawbacks and questionable management that had held back the manufacture and shipment of airplanes to Europe.  In September there were on the French-Belgian front between 300 and machines, all of which were in the scout and observation classes, with no regulation combat planes of American build; but American airmen had conducted many successful actions against German battle planes, and a good many Americans were operating French and British battle planes in action back of the German lines.  The combined American, British, French and Canadian planes had before that time cleared the air of German observation and other machines in front of the allied lines, thereby preventing hostile observation of allied camps and artillery positions and movements of troops preparatory to attack.

The efficiency of this combined air service is credited with having contributed in an important degree, first to retarding the movement of supplies from the enemy rear to the enemy fighting line, and next to disturbance of the enemy in retreat.  The Americans especially distinguished themselves by flying at high speed along the last of the enemy trenches and clearing up the German troops therein by continuous streams of machine gun fire.  American flyers also made successful raids across the German border, blowing up munitions works, railway centers, and German troops at concentration points.  Between early September and late October, 1918, they dropped thousands of tons of high explosives inside of Germany.  At the same time, in association with British and Canadian aviators, they put a definite end to German air raids upon the British Isles and interior France.  The Canadian air service during the summer and early autumn of 1918 increased at the rate of 300 planes per month, all manufactured in Canada.

LIBERTY MOTORS AND AIR SERVICE

After July, 1918, the output of Liberty motors for the Government caught up with the immediate demand.  It increased until in October it reached a rate of about 5,000 a month.  The Ford factory at Detroit alone reported at the end of October an established monthly rate of increase of over 1,500.

AMERICAN FLYERS DOWN 473 PLANES IN TWO MONTHS

American flyers made a great record in the closing days of war.  In the period from September 12 to 11:00 o’clock on the morning of November 11, American aviators claim they brought down 473 German machines.  Of this number, 353 have been confirmed officially.  Day bombing groups from the time they began operations dropped a total of 116,818 kilograms of bombs within the German lines.

THE WAR IN THE AIR

Aviation is the most perilous of all services, calling for young bodies, high spirit, quick wit, personal initiative, and unshakable nerve.  Thus it has drawn in the best and brightest of America’s sons—­brilliant, clear-eyed, steady youths, who take the air and its perils with joyous ardor.