"Gust" Moe served on the Mexican Border as a Sergeant with the Minnesota National Guard in 1916. According to Mr. Moe’s report, he had a lot of time on his hands, so he spent it perfecting himself in the use of his .45 Colt automatic handgun.
During the Great War, he served as an Observer with the 2nd Balloon Company, American First Army, A.E.F. He made three spectacular jumps during his service and the first was preceded by a rather spectacular incident.
On September 28, 1918, 7 Fokkers attacked his balloon, located near Clermont-en-Argonne. He took out his .45 Colt and emptied the clip pointing at the attacking Fokker’s engine. He then jumped out, noticing that the aircraft that he had fired at was forced to make a landing near the bed of the balloon. Thus, he may have been the only one to shoot down an attacking plane from a balloon.
|
