| Jerry Cox Vasconcells | |
|---|---|
| Born | 3 December 1892 Lyons, Kansas, USA |
| Died | 17 April 1950 Denver, Colorado, USA |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | Aviation |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | 27th Aero Squadron |
| Commands held | 185th Aero Squadron |
| Awards | French Croix de Guerre |
Captain Jerry Cox Vasconcells was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.[1] Vasconcells was inducted into the Colorado Aviation Hall of Fame in its first ceremony of 1969.[2]
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Jerry Vasconcells was born in Lyons, Kansas on December 3, 1892. He attended East High School, in Denver, Colorado, attended Dartmouth College, and then graduated from the University of Denver Law School.[2]
Vasconcells joined the U.S. Army Air Corps[3] at the onset of World War I, and was sent to France in 1917 to fly combat. While flying the SPAD[4] biplane in combat, he was shot down, but with skilled flying he landed in "no man's land" and was rescued by allied soldiers. He became an "Ace" with a score of 6 airplanes and two balloons.[5] His WWI flying was described in the classic book "War Birds". He was awarded the French Croix de Guerre and other honors from both the French and American governments.[2] Jerry Vasconcells was a Flight Commander for the 27th Aero Squadron of the 1st Pursuit Group, American Expeditionary Forces(AEF) in 1918; and by wars end he was made Commander of the 185th Aero Squadron, the first night pursuit squadron of the AEF.[5]
Vasconcells military career included the associations with other renown aviators, including Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker, Gen. Billy Mitchell and Frank Luke. In 1919 he acquired a Military Aviator flight rating and was promoted to Major. Upon returning to the United States he had numerous health issues relating to his military flying. Jerry Vasconcells is Colorado's only Ace from World War 1. His association with Mayor Benjamin F. Stapleton they establish Denver's Municipal Airfield with scheduled flight service. During his commercial aviation career in Denver, he served two terms as chairman of the Colorado Aeronautics Commission, and helped organize the first Colorado Air Meet in 1921.[2]
Jerry helped to organize and the create the Quiet Birdmen Association. He died at his home in Denver, 1950.