72 



THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 





jW>-. "! a ' «! it 



Courtesy of Capt. Jean Richard 



ACES AMONG ACES: SOME OF THE MOST FAMOUS AIRMEN WHO HAVE FLOWN FOR 



FRANCE AND HUMANITY 



From right to left: Capt. Albert Heurteaux, Capt. Alfred Auger, Commander Hogrel, 

 Capt. Georges Guynemer, Lieut. Albert Deullin, Lieutenant Andre, Lieut. Rene Dorme, and 

 Lieutenant Raymond. 



David E. Putnam, has already surpassed 

 his chief in one day's chase, having 

 brought down five enemy machines on 

 June 10, according to a dispatch from 

 France. 



This places Sergeant Putnam in the 

 proud position of America's ace of aces, 

 with a total score of 13 aeroplanes shot 

 down. Forty-two other young American 

 pilots have won one or more victories 

 over their opponents. Ten of them have 

 won their fifth and with it the title of ace. 



THE HIGH-SCORE ACE OF THE ROYAL 

 FLYING CORPS 



"The King has been graciously pleased 

 to approve the award of the Victoria 

 Cross to Second Lieutenant (temporary 

 Captain) James By ford McCudden, who 

 already possesses the Distinguished Serv- 

 ice Order, the Military Cross, the Mili- 

 tary Medal, the General List, and Royal 



Flying Corps, for most conspicuous 

 bravery, exceptional perseverence, keen- 

 ness, and very high devotion to duty." 



So reads a communique of recent date 

 from the British War Office. Captain 

 McCudden has brought down 54 enemy 

 aeroplanes, which gives him the highest 

 score among the British pilots, Philip F. 

 Fullard coming next, with 48, and Wil- 

 liam A. Bishop, the Canadian, who vis- 

 ited the United States during last winter, 

 standing third, with 47 victories. 



(Since the above was written an un- 

 official report states that Major Bishop 

 has added 25 more victories to his score 

 of 47, making a total of 72 ; stating 

 further that he has retired from air fight- 

 ing to instruct his freshmen pilots in the 

 art of air dueling. Bishop has now but 

 one competitor for the world's record in 

 the number of aircraft destroyed — Cap- 

 tain von Richthofen.) 



