George
Vaughn
Name: George Augustus
Vaughn Jr.
Country: United States
Rank: Lieutenant
Service: Royal Air Force
United States Air Service
Units: 84 (RAF) 17th Aero (USAS)
Victories: 13
Date Of Birth: May 20, 1897
Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York
Date Of Death: July 31, 1989
Place of Death: Staten Island, New YorkVaughn learned to fly while attending Princeton University in
1917. He completed his flight training in England and was assigned
to 84 Squadron as an S.E.5a pilot in May of 1918. Before his
transfer to the United States Air Service on August 27, he had
scored 7 victories while serving with the Royal Air Force. Vaughn
scored his first two victories with the 17th Pursuit Squadron on
September 22, 1918. Twice that day, he engaged Fokker D.VIIs,
shooting down Friedrich Noltenius of Jasta 27 and Karl Bauerbfeind
of Jasta 34 before his own Sopwith Camel was shot down by Wilhelm
Neuenhofen of Jasta 27. Vaughn scored 4 more victories by the end
of the war.
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
"For conspicuous bravery in attacking enemy aircraft. On August
23, 1918, while on offensive patrol, he attacked an enemy kite
balloon near Ham. Closing to almost point blank range, he fired
upon it so that it burst into flames and was destroyed. Shortly
afterwards, he observed an enemy two-seater near Maricourt. He
attacked it, shooting it down from a height of 500 feet so that it
was completely crashed. On August 22, he drove to its destruction,
an enemy two-seater near Villers Carbonnel. In all, he has
accounted for six enemy aircraft, five machines destroyed and one
driven down completely out of control, and on kite balloon." DFC
citation
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
"For extraordinary heroism in action near Cambrai, France,
September 22, 1918. Lt. Vaughn, while leading an offensive flight
patrol, sighted eighteen enemy Fokkers about to attack a group of
five Allied planes flying at low level. Although outnumbered
nearly five to one, he attacked the enemy group, personally shot
down two enemy planes, the remaining three planes of his group
shooting down two more. His courage and daring enabled the group
of Allied planes to escape. Again on September 28, 1918, he alone
attacked an enemy advance plane, which was supported by seven
Fokkers, and shot the advance plane down in flames." DSC citation
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