Hero of Battle in Air

HERO OF BATTLE IN AIR
—
Lieut. Coolidge of Boston Aided in Defeating German Air Squadron

   BOSTON, July 9.—Lieut. Hamilton Coolidge, son of J. Randolph Coolidge of Boston, was the hero of a thrilling air fight behind the German lines last Friday.
   Driving a big, new French biplane, mounting four guns, he was sent with Lieut. James A. Meissner of Brooklyn on a photographic mission behind the German lines. There they were attacked by a squadron of seven Hun fighting planes. Instead of fleeing, Coolidge turned on his attackers, sending one to the ground in flames. The others made off. Lieut. Coolidge completed his mission and returned to his hangar. He was grazed on the chin by one bullet, two bullets pierced his gasoline tank through the protected armor and more than 80 struck the plane. When he landed his plane was collapsing because Boche bullets had cut the wires.

The Lowell Sun - Tuesday, July 09, 1918