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This may be redundant by this point in the discussion, but I do have some unique first-hand information regarding Goettler and Bleckley's DH-4.
Back in the late 1970s I was close friends with Floyd Pickrell, who had been one of Goettler's squadronmates. Just before noon on Oct 6, 1918, Lt. Pickrell, with Lt. Alfred George as his observer, flew the first mission of the 50th Aero Squadron to drop supplies (food, clothing, ammunition, carrier pigeons) to the "Lost Battalion" in DH-4 #6.
According to transcripts I have of my interviews with Mr. Pickrell, he flew a second mission over the lines that day, on both trips taking heavy fire from the ground. After being told he was not scheduled to fly again that day, his DH-4 #6 was taken out of service and put into the hangar.
Later, Pickrell's flight commander, "Dad" Goettler, came to him and said, "Pick, I'm having motor trouble [fouled spark plugs were a chronic problem with the Liberty engine at this time] You're not flying. Can I borrow your plane?" Pickrell responded, "Sure, you didn't have to ask me; you're my flight commander." But Pickrell said that this was the kind of guy Goettler was. Goettler and Bleckley subsequently took off on their second mission of the day in Pickrell's #6 and never returned.
That night 50th Aero Squadron commander, Captain Daniel Morse, led Pickrell, Lt. "Tommy" Thomson and Lt. Howard Darrin out to the flying field to build a fire. They kept it blazing until well after dark, hoping to guide Goettler and Bleckley home. For the rest of the war, Pickrell flew Goettler's DH-4 #2.
The entire squadron effort was heroic in nature. Out of the 50th Aero Squadron, a total of 23 pilots/observers participated in the support of the "Lost Battalion," with 6 officers (3 airplanes) shot down, 2 killed and 1 wounded. They all deserved medals. Goettler and Bleckley were killed, so they were awarded the DSC, later upgraded to the MOH.
The story of the 50th Aero Squadron's role in rescuing the "Lost Battalion" has been told so many ways, I'm not sure anyone really knows all that really happened. Floyd Pickrell died in Independence, MO in 1996 at the age of 98. Hope this was of interest. sar
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