Lieutenant Frank Kerr Hays was a
World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.
Hays was born to Charles and Bertha (Snider) Hays on November 3, 1896, in
Louisville, Kentucky. Hays was living in
Chicago when he joined the
U.S. Army Air Service
The United States Army Air Service (USAAS)Craven and Cate Vol. 1, p. 9 (also known as the ''"Air Service"'', ''"U.S. Air Service"'' and before its legislative establishment in 1920, the ''"Air Service, United States Army"'') was the aerial warf ...
.
He reported to the
13th Aero Squadron
The 13th Aero Squadron was a United States Army Air Service unit that fought on the Western Front during World War I.
The squadron was assigned as a Day Pursuit (Fighter) Squadron as part of the 2d Pursuit Group, First United States Army. It ...
on August 29, 1918, at the age of 21. On September 13, he won his first three victories in a melee in which he continued his attack after his guns jammed. He cleared them in time to rescue his
Flight Commander from enemy attack. The feat earned him a
Distinguished Service Cross (which can be seen on his portrait photo).
Hays would score three more times, his last win coming one week before the armistice ended the war.
[
Hays married Beulah Stevens on March 29, 1924, in Chicago. They had two children, Frank Jr. and Joyce. Hays died on February 29, 1988, in ]Monterey, California
Monterey (; es, Monterrey; Ohlone: ) is a city located in Monterey County on the southern edge of Monterey Bay on the U.S. state of California's Central Coast. Founded on June 3, 1770, it functioned as the capital of Alta California under bo ...
.
See also
* List of World War I flying aces from the United States
References
1896 births
1988 deaths
American World War I flying aces
Aviators from Kentucky
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
Military personnel from Louisville, Kentucky
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