HEROES OF THE AIR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 49, Issue 66, 28 December 1928, Page 5

HEROES OF THE AIR.

SOUVENIRS SOLD IN PARIS. HIGH PRICES REALISED. (United Press Association —Copyright). LONDON, December 27. Souvenirs of famous French airmen realised high prices at a sale held in Paris in connection with a fete organised by the "Broken Mugs' Association" —soldiers whose faces were disfigured in the war—in aid of the dependent* of the airman Drouhin, who was killed while he was preparing to fly the Atlantic. For a portrait of Captain Rene Fonck, premier French ace, painted on canvas taken from the 18th enemy aeroplane that he shot down, £2OO was paid. Altogether Fonck brought down 75 German 'planes; A glove which belonged to Georges Guynemer, who was killed on the Western front in 1917, with 50 German 'planes to his credit, brought £BOO, and his signed photograph £BO. Memories were revived of the. disastrous Atlantic flight of Captain Nungesser and Coli, who were never seen again after taking off from Le Bourget. for America, just before Colonel Lindbergh made his successful attempt. Bidding for the kepi last worn by Nungesser went up to £4OO. The log book of Lieutenant Lebrix r giving details of the great flight which that airman made round the world with Lieutenant Costes, realised £240, and £l6O was given for a flying helmet belonging to Lieutenant Costes. Commander Guilbaud, who was lost with Captain Raoul Amundsen while searching for the crew of the airship Italia, was not forgotten. A stamped envelope, addressed by him, cost an eager buyer £Boj and the watch used by the French airman Reine during his recent captivity in Morocco brought £4O. The ex-Crown Prince Carl of Rumania paid £l2O for a model of the Couzinet monoplane in which Drouhin crashed.