Douglas Campbell

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Service) Douglas Campbell, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 94th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., on 19 May 1918. First Lieutenant Campbell attacked an enemy biplane at an altitude of 4, 500 meters, east of Flirey, France. He rushed to the attack, but after shooting a few rounds his gun jammed. Undeterred by this accident he maneuvered so as to protect himself, corrected the jam in midair, and returned to the assault. After a short, violent action, the enemy plane took fire and crashed to the earth.

War Department General Orders No. 121 (1918)

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Service) Douglas Campbell, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 94th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., on 27 May 1918. First Lieutenant Campbell encountered three enemy monoplanes at an altitude of 3, 000 meters over Montsec, France. Despite the superior strength of the enemy, he promptly attacked, and fighting a brilliant battle, shot down one German machine, which fell in three pieces, and drove the other two well within the enemy lines.

War Department General Orders No. 121 (1918)

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Service) Douglas Campbell, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 94th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., on 28 May 1918. First Lieutenant Campbell saw six German Albatross aeroplanes flying toward him at an altitude of 2, 000 meters, near Bois Rata, France. Regardless of personal danger, he immediately attacked, and by skillful maneuvering and accurate operation of his machine gun he brought one plane down in flames and drove the other five back into their own lines.

War Department General Orders No. 121 (1918)

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Third Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Service) Douglas Campbell, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 94th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., on 31 May 1918. First Lieutenant Campbell took the offensive against two German planes at an altitude of 2, 500 meters over Lironville, France, shot down one of them, and pursued the other far behind the German lines.

War Department General Orders No. 121 (1918)

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Fourth Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fifth Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Service) Douglas Campbell, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 94th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, U.S. Army Air Service, on 5 June 1918. Accompanied by another pilot, First Lieutenant Campbell attacked two enemy battle planes at an altitude of 5, 700 meters over Epley, France. After a spirited combat he was shot through the back by a machine-gun bullet, but in spite of his injury he kept on fighting until he had forced one of the enemy planes to the ground, where it was destroyed by artillery fire, and had driven the other plane back into its own territory.

War Department General Orders No. 121 (1918)

Remarquable pilote de chasse. Le 14 avril 1918 a abattu un avion ennemi dans nos lignes après un combat aussi rapide que brillant.

General Order of the Army

Source: The Aerodrome