Douglas Campbell (aviator)
| Douglas Campbell | |
|---|---|
Lieutenant Douglas Campbell, 94th Aero Squadron
|
|
| Born |
June 7, 1896 San Francisco, California |
| Died | December 16, 1990 (aged 94) |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch | Air Service, United States Army |
| Years of service | 1917-1918 |
| Rank | Second Lieutenant |
| Unit | |
| Battles/wars |
 World War I
|
| Awards |
DSC Croix De Guerre |
Air Service, United States Army
Douglas Campbell (June 7, 1896 – December 16, 1990) was an American aviator and World War I flying ace. He was the first American aviator flying in an American-trained air unit to achieve the status of ace.
Campbell was born in San Francisco, California. He was the son of famed astronomer William W. Campbell, the head of the Lick Observatory and future president of the University of California. At the time the United States entered World War I in April 1917, he was a student at Harvard University noted for his athletic prowess. Campbell and close friend Quentin Roosevelt, the son of former President Theodore Roosevelt, immediately dropped out of college and enlisted in the United States Army. He would receive an A.B. Harvard Class of 1917.
Assigned to the Air Service, Campbell learned to fly in a Curtiss Jenny aircraft and was later trained in a Nieuport fighter. He was assigned to the famous Pursuit 94th Aero Squadron (the "Hat in the ring" gang) - at this stage flying Nieuport 28 fighters. He was noted for several firsts in his service. He flew the squadron's first patrol along with two other famous aviators, Eddie Rickenbacker and Raoul Lufbery. Due to supply problems, the trio flew their first mission in unarmed planes. His first kill came while flying in an aircraft armed with only one rather than the usual two machine guns.
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