Douglas Campbell (aviator): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 01:14, 1 April 2006

Revision as of 22:03, 12 June 2006

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mission in unarmed planes. His first kill came while flying in an aircraft armed with only one rather that the usual two [[machine gun]]s.

He shared credit with Lt. Alan Winslow for the squadron's first confirmed victory, which was the first victory of any American flying unit in the war. [[http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/history/ww1/ww1-34.htm]] He became the first American flying for an American unit to become an ace when he downed his fifth enemy aircraft over Lironville, [[France]] on [[May 31]], 1918. {Lt. Winslow was WIA/Captured 31 July 1918; died 15 August 1933 in Ottawa, Canada.}

Campbell was awarded the [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]] with [[Oak Leaf Cluster]] for bravery in aerial combat over Flirey, France on [[May 19]], [[1918]]. He was also awarded the [[Croix de Guerre|Croix de Guerre avec palme]] by the French military. He scored his sixth and final victory on [[June 5]], 1918.