Ralph Ambrose O'Neill

Ralph Ambrose O'Neill
Nickname Rodolfo O'Neill, while in Mexico.
Born December 7, 1898(1898-12-07)
California, USA
Died December 23, 1980(1980-12-23) (aged 82)
Redwood City, California
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Air Service
Rank Lieutenant
Unit 147th Aero Squadron
Battles/wars World War I, Adolfo de la Huerta's rebellion (Mexico).
Awards Distinguished Service Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star, and French Croix de Guerre.

Ralph Ambrose O'Neill was a flying ace from World War I credited with five aerial victories.

He entered the United States Air Service in August 1917. In March 1918, he was assigned to the 147th Aero Squadron, flying the Nieuport 28 and the SPAD S.XIII. From 2 July to 10 October 1918, teaming with such squadronmates as Kenneth Porter, James Meissner, Francis Simonds, and James Healy, he shot down five German airplanes. He won a DSC with two Oak Leaf Clusters, a Bronze Star, and the Croix de Guerre in the process.[1]

After the war he returned to the United States, and left the U.S. Air Service on February 19, 1919.

On August 1920 he signed up a five-year contract to set up a functional Mexican Air Force and train Mexican pilots, as Mexico was undergoing numerous rebellions and coups. In 1923, he flew several combat missions against Adolfo de la Huerta's rebellion. He left Mexico in December 1925 with the rank of General, and began a career in civil aviation. He founded the New York, Rio, and Buenos Aires Line, flying the first airmail from Argentina to Miami in a Sikorsky S-38. [2] [3][4]

Contents

Military Awards

Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)

For extraordinary heroism in action near Château Thierry, France, 2 July 1918, Lt. O'Neill and four other pilots attacked twelve enemy battle planes. In a violent battle within the enemy's lines, they brought down three German planes, one of which was credited to Lt. O'Neill." DSC citation.

Victories

Date Time Unit Aircraft Opponent Location

1 02/Jul/1918 1730 147th Nieuport 28 Fokker D.VII 1 Château Thierry

2 05/Jul/1918 0930 147th Nieuport 28 Pfalz D.III 2 Château Thierry

3 24/Jul/1918 1735 147th Nieuport 28 Fokker D.VII 3 Bois de Eere

4 24/Jul/1918 1735 147th Nieuport 28 Fokker D.VII 3 Bois de Eere

5 10/Oct/1918 1615 147th SPAD XIII (S4625) Rumpler C 4 Bantheville

Notes:

1 Shared with Lt TC Bronson, Lt CW McDermott, Lt MO Parry, Lt Kenneth Porter, Lt JH Stevens

2 Shared with Lt Francis Simonds

3 Shared with Lt TJ Abernathy, Lt James Healy, Lt AH Jones, Lt CP Porter

4 Shared with Lt James Meissner, Lt GC Waters

References

Sources of information

  1. ^ American Aces of World War I. p. 74. 
  2. ^ Skyways. January 1999. 
  3. ^ His book, entitled "A Dream of Eagles," was published in 1973 and describes how he formed his airline to South America.
  4. ^ Article in Spanish