David E.
Putnam
Name: David Endicott
Putnam
Country: United States
Rank: Lieutenant
Services: French Air Service
United States Air Service
Units: MS156, Spa38, Spa94 (FAS)
139th Aero (USAS)
Victories: 13
Date Of Birth: December 10, 1898
Place of Birth: Jamaica Plains, Massachusetts
Date Of Death: September 12, 1918
Place of Death: Limey
Buried: Lafayette Memorial du Parc de Garches Paris
David Putnam attended Harvard before joining the French Air
Service in 1917. After serving with the Lafayette Flying Corps, he
joined the United States Air Service in June of 1918. He was
recommended for the Medal of Honour and posthumously awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross. Putnam's SPAD S.XIII was shot down by
German ace Georg von Hantelmann. At the time of his death, Putnam
was the American "Ace of Aces." Thought to have shot down more
than 30 enemy aircraft during the war, many of his victories were
deep within German territory and were never confirmed.
Médaille Militaire
"By his spirit and disregard for danger, he has shown himself to
be a pilot of the highest order. He recently attacked a patrol of
nine enemy planes and shot down one of them. The next day, during
the course of a protection mission, he resolutely attacked a
patrol of eight enemy planes and shot down two of his adversaries,
reporting therewith, his 5th and 6th victories.
Three citations." Médaille Militaire citation Légion d'Honneur "An
admirable and devoted pilot of exemplary endurance, will and
courage. With his escadrille for only six months, he has revealed
himself to be an exceptional pilot of skill and competency beyond
compare. Untiring, seeks every occasion for combat, pushes his
boldness to the limit, and has the initiative to attack the enemy
20 kilometres inside the lines. In less than a month, has
officially shot down six enemy planes bringing to nine the number
of his victories. Already cited twice in orders." Legion d'Honneur
citation
|