World War I American aviators and pilots

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David Ingalls, US Navy Ace

Lt. David S. Ingalls. Ingalls, who went by "Crock", was one of the Sopwith pilots was also the grand nephew of former President William Howard Taft. He had enlisted in naval aviation before the United States joined the war signing up in March, 1917 being one of the members of the First Yale Unit. He first crossed the Atlantic in September of that year to head to Gosport, England for training. He trained with various British units eventually getting two weeks of on the job training with 213 Squadron. They were flying escort for bomber raids striking Bruges, Zeebrugge and Ostend, but to his chagrin, he was unable to encounter any enemies.

Ingalls was also sent to Clermont-Ferrand for bomber training. He duly reported for duty and promptly showed up his instructor, turning the tables on him during a mock engagement which was supposed to teach him what it was like to be in front of an enemy fighter. In spite of being in an underpowered trainer, he managed to get behind the instructor and tail him relentlessly in view of hundreds at the aerodrome below. Not surprisingly, Ingalls then managed to get posted back to 213 Squadron.

His scoreless streak changed on August 11th. Over the port city of Dixmude, Ingalls and his leader flying their Camels bounced an Albatros flying at 10,000 feet, four thousand feet below his own flight path. They plugged short bursts of rounds into it even as it dove to return to base. They last saw it heading into a slow spin and out of control.

Two nights later he ran a low level strafing raid on the German aerodrome of Varsenaere, 10 miles south of Zee-brugge. Flying so low that he almost hit the ground and skating through vengeful Archie, he slammed 450 rounds into the aerodrome, circled around and then dropped four bombs knocking out searchlights and causing chaos at the German field.

On August 21st, Ingalls shared a victory with another pilot in knocking down an LVG.

On September 15th, he attacked another enemy base – Uytkerke –along the coast just four miles before Zeebrugge. This time he unloaded 400 rounds and dropped his bombs on Fokkers parked below. Returning to base, he and a fellow Camel pilot spotted a Rumpler and scored.

On the 18th, he and two other Camel pilots pounced on a kite balloon at 3,500 feet. The Germans saw them too and started to winch the balloon. By the time the Camels hit it, it was at 900 feet. The two German balloonists jumped out to their safety even as the balloon went down in flames.

On the 20th he scored his fifth victory over a D.VII. He was now the first US navy ace ever and had made it in less than six weeks.

On the 24th he and another pilot hit a Rumpler from 100 yards. Each fired approximately 200 rounds at it sending it down in flames. This was his sixth and final victory of the war. He had achieved glory and survived. For Ingalls it had been a good war.

Much of the above are excerpts from my book "American Eagles". Please support this website and our efforts to recognize our first combat aviators by buying it.

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American Eagles - The Illustrated History of American Aviation in World War I
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Lafayette Escadrille: America's Most Famous Squadron
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"American Eagles - The Illustrated History of American Aviation in World War I" ($19.95, paperback, 400 pages, 8.5"x11", black and white, $5 for shipping and handling (US) or free download):

American Eagles is packed with 220 photos, new maps and beautiful artwork by Michael O'Neal. It is the story of American World War I combat aviation, the aviators, their planes, their aerodromes, their stories and what happened to them after the war. Read about the first American fighters, bombers and observation planes, the Lafayette Escadrille, United States Naval Aviation, United States Marine Aviation, the United States Air Service, now the USAF, and more.

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"Lafayette Escadrille: America's Most Famous Squadron" ($14.95, 204 pages, digest size, black and white, $5 for shipping and handling (US) or free download):

The Lafayette Escadrille is about the brave Americans who volunteered to fly for France and the United States 103rd Aero Squadron during World War I. Read about Raoul Lufbery, Bill Thaw, Kiffin Rockwell, Norman Prince, Charles Biddle and the early days of American World War I military aviation before it was known as the United States Air Force. These men flew Nieuports and Spads against Fokkers and Albatroses. This book has lots of new research and is thoroughly well-documented. 204 pages, 62 photos and maps.

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