THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



569 



LIEUTENANT RENE FONCK ON THE MACHINE WITH WHICH HE DESTROYED SIX 



GERMAN PLANES IN ONE DAY 



Lieutenant Fonck, of the Cigognes, the most famous of French escadrilles, is the world's 

 most polished aerial duelist. He had shot down 32 enemy aviators, had flown more than 1,000 

 hours above the enemy lines, and had taken part in 200 combats before receiving a single 

 bullet-hole in his own machine. It was Fonck who shot down Wissemann, the German aviator 

 who is reputed to have killed Guyncmer. 



Lieutenant Dorme. of the same esca- 

 drille, who had 23 on his score at the 

 time of his mysterious disappearance 

 May 25, 191 7, had shot down 10 of this 

 number before he received more than 

 two bullets in his own machine. He was 

 nicknamed "the Unpuncturable" by his 

 comrades for this superb skill and good 



luck. Guynemer returned daily with his 

 plane, and even his clothing, riddled with 

 bullet holes. One can but wonder at the 

 miraculous record made by Fonck. 



FONCK REVEALS HIS SECRET 



But is it a miracle? Let Fonck him- 

 self tell the secret. In an interview with 



