George Augustus Vaughn Jr.

George Augustus Vaughn Jr.
  
Lt. George A. Vaughn Jr., 17th Aero Squadron. Distinguished Service Cross.
Born (1897-05-20)May 20, 1897
Brooklyn, New York
Died July 31, 1989(1989-07-31) (aged 92)
Staten Island, New York
Place of burial Staten Island, New York
Allegiance United States United States of America
Service/branch United States Army Air Service
Rank Lieutenant
Battles/wars World War I
Awards Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross
Silver Star
Other work Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology

George Augustus Vaughn Jr. (May 20, 1897 – July 31, 1989) was an American fighter ace in World War I and Distinguished Service Cross, Britain's Distinguished Flying Cross, and Silver Star recipient.[1] Vaughn was America's second-ranking Air Service ace to survive the war.

Early life

Vaughn was born in Brooklyn and attended Adelphi Academy. Upon graduating in 1915 he entered Princeton University. While at Princeton Vaughn learned how to fly Curtiss Jenny biplanes.

World War I

After some training with the RAF, and an interim post ferrying aircraft to France,[2] Vaughn was posted in May 1918 to No. 84 Squadron RAF, based in Bertangles and commanded by Sholto Douglas. He was attached to "B" flight, led by Hugh "Dingbat" Saunders, the sometimes-wingman to RAF ace Andrew Beauchamp-Proctor, all three pilots flying the Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a. Vaughn claimed seven air victories in his time with 84 Squadron.

In August 1918, Vaughn was transferred to the 17th Aero Squadron, United States Air Service, where he flew the Sopwith Camel, claiming another six victories.

Vaughn was America's second-ranking Air Service ace to survive the war.[3] He is credited with downing four German planes destroyed, seven shared destroyed, one kite balloon destroyed and one aircraft "out of control". [4] One of the German pilots he shot down was Friedrich T. Noltenius, a 21-victory ace.[1] 22 September 1918.

In November 1919, Vaughn was presented with the Distinguished Flying Cross by the Prince of Wales aboard H.M.S. Renown, anchored in New York harbor.

Vaughn's memoirs were published in a book called: War Flying in France, edited and annotated by Marvin L. Skelton (ISBN 9780891260820). [5]

Verified aerial victories

Number[1] Date Time Aircraft Opponent Location
1 June 16, 1918 2000 S.E.5.a Pfalz D.III Beaucourt
2 July 24, 1918 2035 S.E.5.a Fokker D.VII E of Bray
3 July 28, 1918 0940 S.E.5.a Rumpler C.IV Harbonnières
4 July 29, 1918 0800 S.E.5.a Rumpler C.IV N of Bois de Tailles
5 Aug 22, 1918 1100 S.E.5.a Rumpler C.IV SE of Villers-Carbonnel
6 Aug 23, 1918 1015 S.E.5.a Balloon Ham
7 August 23, 1918 1120 S.E.5.a Rumpler C.IV Maricourt
8 Sep 22, 1918 0845 Sopwith Camel Fokker D.VII SE of Fontaine
9 Sep 22, 1918 1245 Sopwith Camel Fokker D.VII SW of Cambrai
10 Sep 28, 1918 1745 Sopwith Camel LVG C.V 51A M34
11 Oct 2, 1918 0910 Sopwith Camel DFW C.V E of Awoingt
12 Oct 14, 1918 0710 Sopwith Camel Halberstadt C.V E of Bazael
13 Oct 14, 1918 1400 Sopwith Camel Fokker D.VII NE of Hausey

Notes on Vaughn's victories

New York Air National Guard

Franklin Roosevelt, then Governor of New York, asked him in the early 1920s to help organize the New York Air National Guard, the 102nd Observation Squadron. He commanded that unit as a major for nine years. In 1933, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and assigned to the 27th Division Staff as Air Officer until he retired in 1939. As an honor in a special program in 1986, then New York Governor Mario Cuomo promoted him to brigadier general in the New York Air National Guard.[9]

Vaughn College

Vaughn and Lee D. Warrender joined with Casey Jones in founding the Casey Jones School of Aeronautics, the predecessor of the Academy of Aeronautics, and as of September 1986, the College of Aeronautics. In September 2004, the name was changed to the Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology.

Death and legacy

Replica of Vaughn's Camel F.I currently displayed at the National Museum of the United States Air Force
Replica of Vaughn's Camel with 17th Aero Squadron "B" Flight markings

Vaughn died of a brain tumor while on Staten Island, on 31 July 1989.[2] He is buried in Rye, New York. Vaughn's military records, award certificate of military honors and uniform are now in the New York State Military Museum in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Citations

Distinguished Service Cross

"The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to George Augustus Vaughn, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Cambrai, France, September 22, 1918. Lieutenant Vaughn while leading an offensive flight patrol sighted 18 enemy Fokkers about to attack a group of five allied planes flying at a low level. Although outnumbered nearly 5 to 1, he attacked the enemy group, personally shot down two enemy planes, the remaining three planes of his group shooting down two more. His courage and daring enabled the group of allied planes to escape. Again on September 28, 1918, he alone attacked an enemy advance plane which was supported by seven Fokkers and shot the advance plane down in flames." DSC citation, General Orders No. 60, W.D., 1920 [1]

Distinguished Flying Cross

"For conspicuous bravery in attacking enemy aircraft. On 23 August 1918, while on offensive patrol, he attacked an enemy kite balloon near Ham. Closing to almost point blank range, he fired upon it so that it burst into flames and was destroyed. Shortly afterwards, he observed an enemy two-seater near Maricourt. He attacked it, shooting it down from a height of 500 feet so that it was completely crashed. On 22 August, he drove to its destruction, an enemy two-seater near Villers Carbonnel. In all, he has accounted for six enemy aircraft, five machines destroyed and one driven down completely out of control, and one kite balloon." DFC citation [1]

See also

List of World War I flying aces

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "First Aero Company, New York National Guard Website". Aero Company, New York National Guard Website. 2009. Retrieved July 28, 2009.
  2. 1 2 American Aces of World War I. p. 47.
  3. ↑ "National Museum of the US Air Force Website". National Museum of the US Air Force Website. 2009. Archived from the original on July 22, 2009. Retrieved August 15, 2009.
  4. ↑ Above The Trenches. p. 371.
  5. ↑ "ISBNDB.com". ISBNDB.com. 2009. Retrieved Aug 3, 2009.
  6. ↑ "The Intellectual and Leadership Center of the Air Force, Air University Website". The Intellectual and Leadership Center of the Air Force, Air University. 2009. Retrieved August 18, 2009.
  7. ↑ "First Aero Company, New York National Guard Website". Aero Company, New York National Guard Website. 2009. Archived from the original on May 1, 2011. Retrieved July 28, 2009.
  8. ↑ War Flying in France, Sunflower University Press, 1980
  9. ↑ Fowler, Glenn (August 2, 1989). "New York Times Obituary". New York Times. Retrieved July 30, 2009. Check date values in: |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
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