May 09, 1918

French ace René Fonck records six aerial victories in one day. During the first mission, Capitaine Fonck, flying a SPAD XIII, shoots down a German reconnaissance aircraft and its two fighter escorts in three minutes. An hour and a half later, Capitaine Fonck dispatches a German two-seat observation aircraft and is then attacked by nine other enemy aircraft. He gets behind them and shoots down the trail aircraft. As the remaining aircraft try to force him to fly over German lines, he shoots down another aircraft and returns to base. He goes on to be the leading Allied ace of World War I and the leading French ace of all time with 75 confirmed victories.