Lieutenant John Knox MacArthur (14 January 1891 – 9 August 1918) was an American World War I
flying ace
A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace is varied, but is usually co ...
credited with six aerial victories.
He was his squadron's first ace.
Biography
MacArthur was an electrical engineer before he joined the
U.S. Army Air Force
The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...
.
[
MacArthur downed his half dozen Germany planes from 13 June through 19 July 1918, including a pair of ]Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the second half of 1918. In service with the ''Luftstreitkräfte'', the D.VII qui ...
s shared with Donald Hudson, and three other pilots on 2 July.[
On 20 July 1918, he was one of three pilots forced down by stormy weather.][ He was wounded and captured by the Germans. Taken to hospital, he died of his wounds.][
Having scored all of his victories in the ]Nieuport 28
The Nieuport 28 C.1, a French biplane fighter aircraft flown during World War I, was built by Nieuport and designed by Gustave Delage. Owing its lineage to the successful line of sesquiplane fighters that included the Nieuport 17, the Nieu ...
, he was one of the most successful pilots in the type, along with Douglas Campbell.
Honors and awards
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John Knox MacArthur, Second Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Luneville, France, June 13, 1918. Outnumbered and handicapped by his presence far behind the German lines, Second Lieutenant MacArthur and three flying companions fought brilliantly a large group of enemy planes, bringing down or putting to flight all in the attacking party, while performing an important mission.[
''Legion d'Honneur''][Richmond VA Times-Dispatch, 29 October 1918, via The Aerodrome websit]
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See also
* List of World War I flying aces from the United States
The following is a list of flying aces from the United States of America who served in World War I
Overview
Even before the United States entry into World War I in April 1917, many Americans volunteered to serve in the armed forces of Great Bri ...
References
Bibliography
* ''American Aces of World War I.'' Norman Franks, Harry Dempsey. Osprey Publishing, 2001. , .
* ''Over The Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914-1918 ''. Norman Franks, Frank Bailey. Grub Street Publishing, 2008.
External links
*
1891 births
1918 deaths
American World War I flying aces
Aviators from Pennsylvania
Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents
People from Columbia, Pennsylvania
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
American military personnel killed in World War I
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