| Hilbert Leigh Bair | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 15, 1894 |
| Died | November 24, 1985 (aged 91) |
| Place of birth | New York City, New York, USA |
| Place of death | Hawaii, USA |
| Section CT2-D, Row 400, Site 423, National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific | Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | Aviation |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | British: No. 24 Squadron RAF; 25th Aero Squadron USAS |
| Awards | American Distinguished Service Cross, British Distinguished Flying Cross |
| Other work | Returned to service for World War II |
Lieutenant (later Lieutenant Colonel) Hilbert Leigh Bair began his service career as a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.[1]
Bair joined the U.S. Army Air Service on 18 July 1917. He was forwarded to the Royal Air Force for seasoning, and was assigned to 24 Squadron on 5 July 1918. On 22 August, he shared his first win with fellow ace William Lambert and a couple of other pilots, driving a Fokker D.VII down out of control. Bair also shared one of his two 29 August victories with another pilot. The next day, Bair and Horace Barton cooperated in the destruction of an Albatros reconnaissance plane. Bair singlehandedly destroyed a Fokker D.VII on 8 September. A week later, for his last triumph, he again teamed with Barton in the destruction of a Hannover recon plane. In October, Bair transferred back to an American unit, the 25th Aero Squadron.[2]
In World War II, Hilbert Bair returned to service in the U.S. Army Air Force as a lieutenant colonel.[3]
Sources of information[]
- ↑ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/usa/bair.php Retrieved on 11 February 2010.
- ↑ Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. p. 56.
- ↑ Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. p. 56.
References[]
Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. Christopher F. Shores, Norman L. R. Franks, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1990. ISBN 0-948817-19-4, ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.
The original article can be found at Hilbert Leigh Bair and the edit history here.