Aviator Price Downs Three Planes
“On my way to the squadron I witnessed one of the greatest air fights I have ever seen. It took place above the cemetery of P——.
“Three Huns were aloft behind their own lines, and back of them was one of our patrolling scouts.
“The Hun does not believe in coming over our lines if he can possibly help it, and generally he will maneuver so that any engagement will have to be waged over German territory.
“One of our men named Price, who was coming in from patrol, was pilot of the scout, which was flying at the same height as the Hun aircraft, about 12,000 feet. Price was well behind the Hun lines when they saw him, and all three of them made for him at once. I happened to be at an artillery observation post, which I had to pass on my way home, and so was able to get a good view of the combat.
“The foremost of the Huns made straight for Price, and for a minute it looked as though he intended ramming him. The combatants separated again and began to fire upon one another, as the tut-tut-tut of the machine guns told me. Of a sudden one Hun volplaned, while another made straight for Price. I wondered what Price would do, but saw the next moment that he had ‘zoomed’ over the second Hun machine, which just then swooped down upon him. While Price was ‘zooming’ I noticed that the first Hun was falling to the ground, having either been disabled or killed by Price’s machine gun.
“Yet within a few moments the second Hun also crashed to earth, and the third was now making for home as fast as his motor would carry him; but Price chased and quickly caught up with him. It was an exciting race. Price was working his machine gun for all the thing was worth, and before long the third Hun went down.
“Just five minutes had been required for the fight. When I met Price later I congratulated him. I remember wishing him all the good luck a fellow could have. But that did not help, for within a month he, too, came down in a heap.”
Roberts won his lieutenant’s commission and achieved the distinction of Ace before he returned home. He was four times wounded in mid-air.
In April, 1918, the American forces just going into active sectors had three squadrons, two for observation and one for pursuit. Their strength totaled 35 planes. In May, 1918, the squadrons were increased to nine. The most rapid growth occurred after July, 1918, when American De Haviland planes were becoming available in quantity for observation and day bombing service, and by November, 1918, the number of squadrons increased to 45, with a total of 740 planes in action.