James Meissner
| James Armand Meissner | |
|---|---|
Meissner in 1919
|
|
| Nickname(s) | Jimmy |
| Born |
July 20, 1896 Londonderry, Nova Scotia |
| Died | January 16, 1936 (aged 39) Birmingham, Alabama |
| Buried at | Arlington National Cemetery (Section 2, Site 4791) |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
Air Service, United States Army Alabama National Guard |
| Years of service | 1917–1922 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | 94th Aero Squadron |
| Commands held | 147th Aero Squadron |
| Battles/wars |
 World War I
|
| Awards | Distinguished Service Cross, French Croix de Guerre |
| Other work | Commanding Officer, 135th Observation Squadron, Alabama Air National Guard |
Major James Armand Meissner (July 20, 1896 – January 16, 1936) was a World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories and awarded two Distinguished Service Crosses.
Meissner grew up in Brooklyn, New York and graduated from Erasmus Hall High School there. He enrolled at Sibley College in Ithaca, New York to study engineering. As a member of the college's corps of cadets, he enlisted in the U.S. Signal Corps and was graduated with the first class of the School of Military Aeronautics on 14 July 1917.
Meissner completed his aeronautic combat training in Tours and was commissioned a 1st lieutenant on 20 November 1917, after which he reported to the 94th Pursuit Squadron commanded by Major John Huffer. Among his colleagues in the unit were Eddie Rickenbacker and members of the Lafayette Escadrille.
Piloting a French-made Nieuport 28, Meissner scored his first aerial kill over the Forêt De La Rappe on 2 May 1918; he was fortunate to survive, given the fabric was shredding off his top wing even as he scored. At any rate, the feat earned the Distinguished Service Cross and the Croix de Guerre. He shot a second plane down near Jaulny on 30 May, colliding with an Albatros fighter in the process. He then racked up two more kills—one of which he shared with Douglas Campbell—before being made commander of the 147th Pursuit Squadron in July. Now flying a SPAD S.XIII fighter, he scored four more kills, one of which was an observation balloon, and another of which was shared with Ralph O'Neill.
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