April 16, 1918 - Don Martin meets American Croix de Guerre aviators

Don Martin diary entry for Tuesday, April 16, 1918: 

Went out in auto today with Franklin P. Adams who is a captain but a reporter for the Stars & Stripes, the government weekly. Went to Boucq,  ...
        Don Martin missed the American army band concert in Boucq on April 11.

(National Archives photo no. 111-SC-10450, Boucq, April 11, 1918)

Ansauville and the French-American aviation field near Toul. Saw Reynolds and Campbell, Americans who have the Croix de Guerre for bringing down four Boche planes on Sunday. Had luncheon with them and other American aviators, including Lufbery, the best of them all. Wrote column story on the Croix de Guerre fliers for Paris, and about 1/2 col for N.Y. Gregg of the [New York] World arrived today.

Germans continue to advance slowly against British.            Weather miserable. Mud terrible.

Major Raoul Lufbery, 94th Aero Squadron
(National Archives photo no. 111-SC-11306, Toul, April 18, 1918)

Lt. Douglas Campbell, 94th Aero Squadron
(National Archives photo no. 111-SC-11308, Toul, April 18, 1918)

   This was the first day when Don Martin followed and reported on the achievements of the American aviators. World War I took place only a decade after the Wright brothers’ first flight on December 17, 1903. Alberto Santos-Dumont was awarded the first world record for flying 220 meters in 21.5 seconds by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale on November 12, 1906. Technical improvements occurred very rapidly.

   The Great War saw the first large-scale use of aircraft in war,  mainly tactical rather than strategic. Initially air reconnaissance played a critical role, with tethered observation balloons used extensively for ranging and correcting artillery fire. Meanwhile, pilots and engineers learned from experience, leading to the development of specialized aircraft types, including fighters, bombers, and ground-attack.

   On October 5, 1914, French pilot Louis Quenault opened fire on a German aircraft with a machine gun for the first time, opening the era of air combat. More and more aircraft were fitted with machine guns. By late 1915, with better airplanes, the Germans had achieved air superiority. 

    When the great German offensive opened on 21 March,1918 on the British front, the British held general air superiority. By the end of April new German fighters began to replace older equipment. Nevertheless, by September 1918 the Allies were maintaining air superiority by weight of numbers rather than technical superiority.

     The Americans were supplied at first with second-rate French aircraft, and inexperienced American airmen stood little chance against their seasoned opponents. As their numbers and experience grew and equipment improved, the Americans came to hold their own in the air.

    The pioneer aviators invented air-to-air combat and both sides developed methods of tracking aerial casualties and victories. Aviators with five or more aerial victories confirmed by their parent air service were dubbed "Aces". Ace fighter pilots were portrayed as modern knights, and many became popular heroes. By war's end, there were over 1,800 aces. Frederick Libby became the first US Ace on 25 August 1918, while Ace Edward Rickenbacker scored the most victories for the US Army Air Service with 26.

   Don Martin had a fascination for the newfangled airplanes and flying, as did everyone in those times. He had a first flying experience shortly before leaving New York for London. He wrote in his diary on Monday October 29, 1917:

Office called me at 10:30 and asked if I wanted to “go flying” with Resnati in his big 150-miles-per-hour Caproni airplane. I certainly did. Took 12:30 train to Garden City; met Ed Hill of the Sun who was going too. But the weather was bad and the flight was postponed. Maybe tomorrow I will go.

       And on Wednesday, October 31:

Had my first ride in an airplane today. Went up in an Italian Scout plane at Mineola with young Italian aviator. Rose about 2000 feet and circled all over Western end of Long Island. Speed – 135 miles an hour. Liked it very much. Wasn’t nervous or worried at any time. It beats anything in the way of a thrill I ever had.
     Once in France, Don Martin often reported on the feats of the US Army Air Service, which were featured in the New York Herald and in the Paris Herald from mid-April 1918.