[3] On 25 January 1916, flying in a literal fog of war, de la Tour helped down a German kite balloon, setting it afire.

He pressed his attack down to an altitude of fifty meters in one of the first air-to-air wins over an observation balloon.

On 27 December 1916, he had switched to a Spad VII for his eighth victory by downing Gustav Leffers.

On 25 January 1916, he was surprised by a sea of fog, out of which emerged a German balloon which he decided to attack.

Completely lost and with his motor acting up, he returned by dint of his coolness and strength, and landed behind the British lines."