WAR

—
Brigadier General Everett R. Cook (ret'd.) was deputy Chief of Staff
of the 8th and 12th Air Forces, 1942-3, and of the U.S. Strategic Air Force,
E.T.O., in 1944. In the summer of 1918 he was Captain Cook of the 91st
Aero Squadron, flying French-built Salmson two-seaters in the St-Mihiel offensive.
The following is
an excerpt from an unpublished manuscript:
"Just at this time a rather unpleasant incident happened which nearly cost
us a team. We had an early morning mission. 'Pop' Seymour from Peekskill,
New York, was my observer. We were supposed to get out just before dawn
about four o'clock—and go over for a real early look at the Germans in their
back areas. We were headed north toward the lines at about 4000 metres.
"Over Nancy we spotted a German plane coming into our lines.
The French
antiaircraft were firing at him. To our left over our balloon lines we saw a
Nieuport evidently out in the early morning looking for meat in the form of
Boche ships. We were late, as we had had trouble getting our altitude and we
were anxious to get in and out before the patrols got up.
"Our mission took us right in behind the German plane and we thought
at the time that we would at least see a good fight and maybe get in a passing
shot at the Hun ourselves, although that was secondary. Our attention riveted
on the German plane was suddenly diverted by a burst of tracer bullets passing
in front of us and hitting our right wing. A glance upward revealed the Nieuport
diving on us firing. Without thinking I kicked the ship around and we went
into
each other both firing.
Salmson 2A2.
at gunnery range