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to Gen. P. with mail + messages. Villa not more than 10 miles away. Col Dodd with 75th Cav. had battle at Guerrero, killing 90 VIllistas - got 4 men wounded. No losses. Villa's leg broken + shot in hip. Battle Wednesday morning. Two Villa deserters came in camp at 9:00 A.M. + went as guides to Villa's hidng place. Villa supposed to be completely surrounded by our troops. He had band of 400 at Guerrero, now has about 300. Gen P. made me aide-de-camp. We were only officers left in camp after Maj. Ryan went out with Villa deserters as guides + about 25 troopers. 43 held in readiness for action. A severe snowstorm came up + lasted all afternoon. No sign of Villa's capture by 10:00 P.M when a couple of bodies of troops returned. Slept on ground by fire all night and got snowed on. Sat. April 1 - Left Geronomo Ranch 6:30 A.M. with mail and messages from Gen. Pershing. Attempted to cross pass between Naminquipa and El Valle, got caught in a blinding snowstorm + was blown 15 miles off course to east. landed on small plateau 7000 feet high in mountains, 7:30 A.M. left at 8:20 + flew down a valley to Los Cruces + got my bearings. Then went over pass + landed at El Valle at 9:00 A.M. Delivered messaage to camp commander, picked up other messages + left at 9:55 for Colonia Dublan. Landed 11:00 A.M. + delivered message to chief of staff, press news, mail, etc. In afternoon went south toward Galeana looking for 45 that had landed yesterday with Foulois and Carberry. landed at 45, made repairs + brought Gorrell back who had come up in auto. Took Carberry down to fly his machine back. Sun. April 2. Beautiful day after snowstorms of two days. Laid around camp at Colonia Dublan all day. Mon. April 3. Worked on 43 getting it in shape. Tue. April 4 - Work on 43. Packed up truck train to move south to Namiquipa. Train departed at 7:40 A.M. Made a short fligtht at sunset and adjusted controls. Wed. April 5 - Flew from Colonia Dublan at 5:20 A.M. arriving San Geronomo Ranch 7:20 A.M. Capt. Foulois passenger. Loaded up with oil and started south 9:00 A.,M., landed 6 miles north of San Antonio, talked with pack train, took off again + landed 10:25 A.M. about 2 miles north of Cusi Ranig overtaken Col. Brown's cavalry. Col. Brown told of harrowing tales in following Villa. Talked with Carranzo soldiers while Foulois overtook Brown with a borrowed horse. Stopped in a house and got report from Col. Brown, Solomon Rahaim. Had good chow - potatoes. Left Cusi in high wind 4:50 P.M. Arrived San Geronomo 5:55 P.M. Ate supper with Gen Pershing. left 6:30 P.M. arrived Namiquipa 6:50 P.M. Moon assisted in landing. Carried orders for squadron to move to San Geronomo. Thu. April 6 - Started from Maniquipa 5:30 A.M. with Rader as passenger. landed 6:54 A.M. in canyon about 5 miles below Cusi. Carried messages to Col. Brown 10th Cav. to change line of search. Breakfast with Solomon Rahaim. Talked with Col. Cano + sent message to Col. Brown by one of his soldiers. left Cusi 9:40 A.M. climbed 1000 feet out of canyon + passed over 10th Cav. Landed in open field prepared parachute with duplicate message + returned to 10th Cav. dropping message. They got it. Returned to San Geronomo by new valley - very rough, exceedingly so. Climbed right through mountains and dodged hills all the way. Arrived 11:54 a.m. Reported to Gen. Pershing. He was very well pleased with result of my trip. Got 43 ready for flight to Chihuahua. |
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