Cobra for The

WARBIRDS WARBIRDS INTERNATIONAL WARBIRDS WARBIRDS WARBIRDS WARBIRDS WARBIRDS WARBIRDS WARBIRDS WARBIRDS WARBIRDS WARBIRDS WARBIRDS WARBIRDS WARBIRDS WARBIRDS WARBIRDS WARBIRDS WARBIRDS WARBIRDS WARBIRDS WARBIRDS WARBIRDS WARBIRDS WARBIRDS WARBIRDS WARBIRDS WARBIRDS WARBIRDS WARBIRDS he American pilots that flew in the Great War — “The entry into the Army. Princeton made the announcement that a However, it was soon time for deployment and Springs (now the Happy to be alive — Elliot White War to End All Wars” but would unfortunately become “flying school” was going to be set up courtesy of money from “top” sergeant) marched his rookies aboard the RMS Carmania Springs after nosing over a Sopwith World War I — were a diverse and eclectic group of Princeton alumni. When the project became a reality in June, on 17 September 1917 for the trip to Europe. The first port was Camel somewhere in France. characters. Their motivations for going to France to Elliot was the first to sign up. Two-months were spent in class- in England where they were surprised to learn that they were T going no further. So much for the Italian lessons! They were combat “The Hun” were many and varied, but one of the true rooms learning the theory of flight and then Elliot and a few characters in the aerial conflict was a young man by the name of other students were shipped off to Mineola, Long Island, where going to be trained in England by the English. Elliott White Springs. they were all given the rank of sergeant. Other partly-informed They started out in thoroughly obsolete Farmans and then Born to some wealth (his father was a well-known manufac- and misinformed young men were already at that location and moved to Avros. Springs and his two best pals — John turer to textiles in South Carolina), the young Springs enjoyed a eager to climb into a fighter cockpit and “darken the skies over McGavock Grider and Larry Callahan — did well in the classes life of privilege. His parents put him in the Culver Military Europe” as the politicians were spouting. and soon graduated to Sopwith Pups, a true fighting aircraft. Academy and when he graduated from that institution, attended However, there was one problem: No airplanes. The They then went to gunnery school and Springs became a first Princeton University. American government was establishing a flying field in Foggia, lieutenant on 25 March 1918 while Grider and Callahan Against a great deal of public opposition, the USA entered Italy, so the students were sent to classes on how to speak and received their commissions a couple days later, but it was clear the war on 6 April 1917. Springs was 20-years-old and enjoying write Italian along with the distressing news that flight training that Springs would be the one always in command. life as a student playboy at Princeton. Those around him regard- would take place in Italy! Springs had met the great Canadian ace Maj. Billy Bishop at ed the young man as every inch a southern gentleman descend- Springs soon discovered that his fellow students had zero gunnery school and left an impression on the veteran pilot. Bishop ed from southern gentlemen. He was handsome, lazily athletic, knowledge of the military or military training so he used what he would later write, “About the middle of April, I got wind of what I and literary. He also wrote poetry and no one that looked at him had learned at Culver to advantage — ordering them to do this or considered to be a prize. At a training camp nearby were three Aggressive and dynamic, World War I would realize he was tough — very tough. that and he quickly discovered, to his surprise, that they obeyed. Americans who had just learned to fly — Springs, Callahan, and ace Elliot White Springs brought his Grider were their names. They were known throughout the camp combat-honed skills back home and His father, Col. Leroy Springs, had set a very demanding pat- The school soon had a few new officers assigned but Elliot they came in very useful when he took tern for his son. Elliot had thus grown up with found out that they also knew little of military matters. He as ‘The Three Musketeers’ and they had a reputation of being — over his father’s company. the conviction that if he failed at any- developed various plans and projects (usually all for his benefit) all of them — wonderful pilots. In fact, the first time they flew thing he attempted he would not and when one of the officers came up with a weak objection, along, each one of them, one after the other, looped, did a spin RAF as cosmopolitan as that of No. 85. only be failing himself but all Elliot would firmly quote Rule 115 or 124 from an imaginary and some other stunts that the trained pilots are accustomed to do. Six pilots were from Canada, those that believed in manual he had created and what little resolve the officers had This, of course, made their reputation. They were anxious to go to two from Australia, two from him. It was a quickly melted and Elliot really began France with my squadron — and I applied for them.” New Zealand, two from Scotland, one from Ireland, heavy load to carry enjoying military life. The Three Musketeers were now part of a squadron — one from South Africa, six from England, and three on his shoulders and he No. 85 Squadron, Royal Air Force. On 22 May 1918, from the United States. Once in France, there was thought about responsibility they headed out across the English Channel more training to do but Springs rebelled at what he quite a bit. His father wrote him with their SE.5a fighters. There viewed as overcautious actions on the part of Bishop. lengthy letters that were devoid of humor was probably not another The commander was very strict on this point — telling but filled with how he “expected great squadron in the the pilots they needed two weeks of combat training things” from his son. Elliot began to dread the before facing the Germans. Springs was a reckless roman- arrival of the postman and soon developed an tic — not just dreaming of adventure but seeking it. aversion to “the doing of great things.” Bishop, however, went directly into action and shot down With America’s entry, the young men at a two-seater on 29 May and then another a few days later. Princeton were joining the Navy or drilling on campus for This made Springs and his fellows chafe even more. Patrick Nightingale displays the Kingcobra’s clean lines during a 2015 photo flight. COBRAFULL HISTORY OF THE PALM SPRINGS AIR MUSEUM’S BELL P-63A for BY MICHAEL O’LEARY AND JOE SCHEIL the ACE 30 WARBIRDS INTERNATIONAL/June 2017 warbirdsintlnow.com 31.

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