Chapter I: Introduction: From the Princeton Alumni Weekly of January 30, 1918

It is now seven weeks since the dispatches from Paris reported that Stuart Walcott was attacked by three German airplanes and brought down behind the German lines, after he himself had brought down a German plane in his first combat on December 12, 1917, and that it was feared he had been killed; but even now, after the lapse of nearly two months, it is not definitely known whether his fall proved fatal, or whether the earnest hope of his friends that he is still alive may be realized. The reports are conflicting. A cable message of January 7 said that in Germany it was reported that S. Walcott had been killed by a fall on December 12 near Saint Souplet; but Dr. Walcott received a letter on January 19 which holds out some hope that the fall was not fatal and that his son may be a prisoner in Germany. This letter, dated December 17, is from a young aviator named Loughran,[A] who was Stuart Walcott’s roommate at the flying station. He gives this report of what was told to him by an observer and pilot who saw the combat:

“On the 12th of December at 11:30 a. m., there were five pilots to go
out on high patrol, including Stuart and myself. But I was prevented
from going, because of a wrenched ankle. Stuart and the other pilots
left here at 11:40 a. m. for high patrol, which means they are to fly
above the thousand metres. Two of the pilots had to return because of
motor trouble, leaving one pilot whom Stuart was following.

“At 12:50 a. m. they ran across a German bi-place machine. The
French pilot attacked first, but had to withdraw because of trouble
with his machine gun. He reports that the Spad [Stuart Walcott’s
machine], that had been following him, he last saw a thousand metres
above him, or the German. Also that the German had gone back over
his lines. The infantry and artillery observers report the French
pilot’s attack and combat. And that six minutes later the German
returned over our lines. And that the Spad that was seen flying
at a very high altitude, came down and attacked the German, and
succeeded in bringing him down in flames. In doing so he had to fly
quite a way over the German territory. And that the Spad had started
to return, when three German fighting machines were seen diving on
him, and forcing him down. The Spad was last seen doing a nose-dive
perpendicular, behind their lines. That is all the information I have
received up to date.

“This is what makes all the boys think that Stuart is alive:

“A nose-dive perpendicular is used very often in combat, but is very
dangerous, as it is very difficult for one to come out of and yet
have their motor running; that reason might force him to land; also
there was very little chance for him to get away from them by flying,
as they were above, and the only sensible thing to do was to land;
and as we were only three days in this _secteur_, the French think
he might have been mixed up as to the direction for home; or that
he was slightly wounded and could not turn his machine toward the
French lines.

“I have tried every way possible to get information about Stuart. I
have sent the numbers of his motor and machine to Major S. yros, who
is trying to trace it through the Red Cross service.

“One of the French pilots of this _escadrille_, who is a very good
friend of your boy, shot down a German biplane on 13th of December.
The machine fell behind our lines. The pilot was dead before reaching
the ground. But the observer was only slightly wounded, so the boys
of that _escadrille_ have asked the commander of the group if we
could be permitted to go and talk to the German, as he may know
something about the Spad that fell behind his lines the day before.
We hope to know whether we will be permitted to do so or not,
tomorrow.

“It takes two months before we receive the report from Germany
officially. In the meantime you will read all sorts of reports in the
newspapers. But I will cable or have Capt. Peter Boal do so, if I get
any news that is true.

“The case of Buckley, the American who fell Sept. 5, was reported as
being in flames from five thousand metres down, and fell in German
territory. The observers reported that it landed on its back and
burned completely. His parents were notified of his death; newspapers
reported the terrible death he died. Well, Sir, on November 25 we
received a letter from him, saying he was enjoying the best of health
and was satisfied with his surroundings in the prison camp in Germany.

“So we are all hoping the same for Stuart.

“I have all Stuart’s personal things, and will give them to Capt.
Boal the first chance I get.

“Mr. Walcott, it is beyond words for me to try and tell you how
grieved we all are about Stuart, and how great a loss it is to the
Escadrille, for him to be away. He was more than liked by every
member and officer, and gave promise of doing great things, was
always up in his machine trying to better himself in combat flying;
there never was a minute that he was idle, if it was possible for
him to fly. And never a more generous and kinder boy. Only the night
before the patrol he last went out on, he gave me every care in the
world, got up during the night to make sure I was comfortable and to
do anything he could for my ankle.

“From one who has been with Stuart through all his training, and
roommate on the Front,

“Yours respectfully,
“E. J. LOUGHRAN.”

This letter was written before the cable dispatch of January 7, from the International Red Cross, which seems to establish definitely the fact that Stuart Walcott gave his life in support of the endeavor to “make the world safe for democracy.” In further and final evidence, a letter dated February 5, 1918, informed Dr. Walcott that the Red Cross agent in Paris had reported “Stuart Walcott’s grave has been found.” An accompanying map from Loughran shows that the spot where Stuart Walcott fell is on a hill a little South of Saint Souplet.

* * * * *

Benjamin Stuart Walcott was of New England ancestry. His earliest known American forbear was Capt. Jonathan Walcott of Salem, Mass., 1663-1699. Later, one of Capt. Jonathan’s descendants, Benjamin Stuart Walcott, served in a Rhode Island regiment during the Revolutionary War. On his mother’s side two ancestors served in the Continental Army and in the Revolutionary War.

FROM PRINCETON TO FRANCE

Stuart Walcott was a senior at Princeton in the winter of 1916-17. In view of his approaching graduation in the spring his father wrote to him that he had best begin to think about what he was to do after graduation in order that he might get on an independent basis as soon as practicable. In response under date of January 7, 1917, he wrote:

“You spoke of my being independent after I graduate in the spring.
If I go to Europe, as I want to, to drive an ambulance or in the
aeroplane I will be doing a man’s work and shall be doing enough to
support myself. If the work is unpaid, it is merely because it is
charitable work and as such is given freely. If you want to pay my
way, I will consider it not as dependence on you, father, but as a
partnership that may help the Allies and their cause. I will furnish
my services and you the funds to make my services available. If not,
I will be willing to invest the small amount of capital which has
accumulated in my name. I have been thinking of this work in Europe
for over a year now, and am still very strong for it. I don’t know
what the effect will be on myself, but if it will be of service to
others, I think that it is something I ought to do.”

Being assured that the expenses would be provided for, he then began an investigation as to the best method of procedure to obtain training as an aviator. In a letter dated January 26 he said:

“Many, many thanks for sending me the book on the French Flying Corps
by Winslow. I read half of it the night that it came and stayed up
late last night to finish it. He gives a very straight, interesting
and apparently not exaggerated account of the work over there, which
has made it somewhat clearer to me, just what it is that I want to
get into. Now I am even more anxious than I was before to join the
service over there. The more that I think about it and the more that
I hear of it, the more desirous I am of getting into the Flying
Corps. If a man like Winslow with a wife and daughter dependent on
him is willing to take the risk involved, I see no reason why I
should not.

“You mention the Ambulance service in your last note. I have thought
of that quite a little and would definitely prefer the aviation.
The ambulance is worth while, I think, in that it gives one an
opportunity to be of great service to humanity, but not so much so as
the other. There will be a number of my classmates who will enlist in
the American Ambulance this spring, but the air service appeals to
me.”

He then made arrangements with the American representatives of the Lafayette Escadrille to go to France on the completion of his college year. On January 29 he wrote:

“I will get a physical examination in a few days. In regard to
getting the training over here first, I do not think that it would be
worth while. The instruction over there would be first hand, bright,
for a definite purpose and on the whole superior to what I could get
here. I could also be picking up the language and the hang of the
country at the same time.”

On February 24 he received word that his papers presented with his application for admittance to the Franco-American Flying Corps assured him on their face of a welcome when he presented himself in Paris. He was informed that if he utilized his spare time in availing himself of any and every opportunity to familiarize himself with flying, it would shorten his stay in the Student Aviators School in France. On March 26 he wrote:

“I haven’t been able to find out anything definite about the school
at Mineola. As yet, no change has been announced to my knowledge, in
reference to hastening up the course in event of the coming of war.
Over a hundred men have left college [Princeton] already to start
training for the Mosquito Fleet, and the rest of them are drilling
every afternoon. What do you think of the advisability of stopping
college and going to some aviation school? Considering that it takes
several months to become at all useful as an aviator and that war is
practically inevitable now, I think it would be wise to get started
right away.”

And again, on April 3:

“I saw in the morning paper that the American fliers in France would
be transferred to American registry immediately after the declaration
of war. When you next see General Squier, I wish that you would sound
him on the probability of a force being sent to France to learn to
fly according to French methods. That is the one thing above all
others that I want to get into. If there is any chance of that I do
not want to get involved in anything else....

“It is quite certain that seniors who leave college now, to go into
military work, will receive their degrees. I would not object to
losing the work as it is not my present intention to keep on with
theoretical chemistry and that is what I am devoting my time to this
spring. From the standpoint of education alone, I think that my time
could be more profitably spent in the study of aviation.”

Leave was granted by the University, and on April 6 Stuart Walcott was appointed a special assistant to Mr. Sidney D. Waldon, Inspector of Aeroplanes and Aeroplane Motors, Signal Service at Large. He immediately reported to Mr. Waldon and worked with him through April. May first he went to Newport News, Virginia. May 2 he reported:

“My first trip up was this afternoon with Victor Carlstrom. We were
out 16 minutes and climbed 3,500 feet. It was all very simple getting
up there--a little wind and noise and some bumps and pockets in the
air--a glorious view of the Harbor. Then we started to come down.
First, I saw the earth directly below through the planes on the
left. Then the horizon made a sudden wild lurch and Newport News
appeared directly below on my right. This continued for a little
while and then we started down at an angle of about 30 degrees to the
perpendicular, turning as we went. I later learned that Carlstrom had
executed a few steep banks or sharp turns and then spiralled down. It
ended with a very pretty landing, following with a series of banks to
check speed. Flying from my first impression is a very fascinating
game and the one I want to stay with for a while. I have signed up
for 100 minutes in the air. While this hundred minutes will not make
me a flier by any means I think it is well worth the while in that it
gives me a little element of certainty in going abroad. I will know
if all goes well that I am not unable to fly.”

The next day he wrote:

“Two flights this morning, 25 minutes _in toto_. The greatest sport
I ever had. Wonderful work. I did most of the work after we got up a
safe distance.”

Having obtained a certificate of 100 minutes flight and passed the necessary physical examinations, he left for France, arriving at Bordeaux May 31, and soon reported at Avord for training.

STUART WALCOTT’S LETTERS