Frederick Libby
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| Frederick Libby | |
|---|---|
| 15 July 1892 – 09 January 1970 | |
| Place of birth | Sterling, Colorado, United States |
| Place of death | Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/branch | Royal Flying Corps, United States Air Service |
| Years of service | 1916-1917 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Awards | Military Cross (MC) |
Frederick Libby (15 July 1892 - 09 January 1970) was the first American ace of World War I, while serving as an observer in the Royal Flying Corps.
In Canada when the war began, Libby quickly joined the Canadian Army. Serving in an ambulance unit in the trenches of France in 1916 when he volunteered to join the Royal Flying Corps, becoming an F.E.2b observer. After completing pilot training in 1917, Libby was posted to 43 Squadron on 18 April. After scoring 2 victories, he was reassigned to 25 Squadron as a D.H.4 pilot in August 1917. On 15 September 1917 Libby transferred to the American Air Service, on the request of General Billy Mitchell. He returned to the United States and participated in the Liberty Loan drive before joining the 22nd Aero at Hicks Field in Texas. Libby was seriously ill by this time and was found to be permanently disabled and medically unfit for further military service. Libby never flew a combat mission for the United States Air Service. [1]
[edit] Victories
| Date | Time | Unit | Aircraft | Opponent | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jul 1916 | 1530 | 23 | F.E.2b | AGO C (DESF) | Bapaume |
| 22 Aug 1916 | 1910 | 11 | F.E.2b (6994) | Roland C.II (OOC) | S of Bapaume |
| 22 Aug 1916 | 1910 | 11 | F.E.2b (6994) | Roland C.II (OOC) | S of Bapaume |
| 22 Aug 1916 | 1910 | 11 | F.E.2b (6994) | Roland C.II (OOC) | S of Bapaume |
| 25 Aug 1916 | 1300 | 11 | F.E.2b (6994) | Aviatik C (OOC) | Bapaume |
| 14 Sep 1916 | 0930 | 11 | F.E.2b (6994) | Two-seater (OOC) | SE of Bapaume |
| 22 Sep 1916 | 11 | F.E.2b | Scout (OOC) | Logeast | |
| 10 Oct 1916 | 1600 | 11 | F.E.2b (7678) | Scout (OOC) | Bapaume |
| 17 Oct 1916 | 1115 | 11 | F.E.2b (7027) | Albatros D.I (OOC) | Mory |
| 20 Oct 1916 | 1130 | 11 | F.E.2b (7027) | Albatros D.I (OOC) | Douxcette-Ayette |
| 06 May 1917 | 1630 | 43 | Sopwith 1½ Strutter (A1010) | Two-seater (DES) | S of Avion |
| 23 Jul 1917 | 1745 | 43 | Sopwith 1½ Strutter (A8785) | Albatros D.III (OOC) | NE of Lens |
| 08 Aug 1917 | 2130 | 25 | D.H.4 (A7543) | Albatros D.V (OOC) | Henin Lietard |
| 14 Aug 1917 | 0520 | 25 | D.H.4 (A7543) | Two-seater (OOC) | Lens |
[edit] Reference
- ^ www.theaerodrome.com Accessed on 8 June 2008.
