THE STORY OF A THRILLING FIGHT IN THE AIR 



STORIES fanciful and actual come through from time 

 to time detailing accounts of air fighting on the 

 Western Front. Authentic letters from the aviators 

 themselves usually make light of the daily exploits, par- 

 ticularly if likely to reach the public, and even in private 

 letters the writers rarely attempt descriptive narrative 

 which pictures their experiences. Of unusual interest 



the daily events on the fighting front home with a lesson 

 that makes any sacrifice a very small contribution in sup- 

 port of the men who are over there in the thick of it. 

 This letter gives a thrill and a word picture which will 

 be appreciated by readers of American Forestry, and 

 emphasizes the importance of our forest resources in 

 supplying the spruce from which the Allies flying craft 



Underwood and Underwood British Official Photograph 



AN OFFICIAL "WAR PHOTO" MACHINE 

 This is not a healthy job at best, for it means an extended time spent by a lonely machine over hostile territory, constantly exposed to anti- 

 air craft fire and attack by the enemy in superior numbers. It is daring work, requiring the coolest nerve and utmost skill. 



therefore is a description of an air battle written by a 

 man who took part in it and brought down the Hun 

 who attacked him. 



Such a letter, written by a lieutenant of the Royal 

 Flying Corps to a friend, a timber cruiser of Seattle, 

 has come to us through the New York office of James 

 D. Lacey and Company. As a "newsy" letter from a 

 man in active service to a friend in the States it brings 



are built. America has furnished most of the spruce for 

 the English machines, and it is not to be wondered at 

 that the I. W. W. and other precious agents of the 

 enemy have placed every possible obstruction in the way 

 of spruce production. But they might have saved their 

 effort and their necks, for the spruce is being produced, 

 as was told in our March issue. We have the trees and 

 the men to cut them, despite any disloyal sabotage. Any 



