WWI Aviation Pictorial History An Illustrated history of  World War 1

American Aces of WW1 - Reed Chambers

Reed Chambers Name: Reed McKinley Chambers
Country: United States
Rank: Major
Services: United States Air Service
Units: 94th Aero
Victories: 7
Date Of Birth: August 18, 1894
Place of Birth: Onaga, Kansas
Date Of Death: January 16, 1972
Place of Death: St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
After joining the National Guard in 1914 and serving on the Mexican border in 1916, Chambers transferred to the United States Air Service. After the war, he andEddie Rickenbacker formed Florida Airways. When the business failed in 1927, he formed an insurance company. In 1968, he broke the sound barrier when he was invited to copilot an F106.

Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
"For extraordinary heroism in action over the region of Epinonville, France, September 29, 1918. While on a mission, Lt. Chambers, accompanied by another machine piloted by Lt. Samuel Kaye Jr., encountered a formation of six enemy machines (Fokker type) at an altitude of 3,000 feet. Despite numerical superiority of the enemy, Lt. Chambers and Lt. Kaye immediately attacked and succeeded in destroying one and forced the remaining five to retreat to their own lines." DSC citation

Légion d'Honneur "A very brave pilot, who, by dint of his sterling qualities was a fine example for the whole squadron. When he was on patrol with eight of his comrades, he attacked 24 enemies who were scattered and he came back in our lines with his plane severely damaged." Légion d'Honneur citation

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