Samuel Kaye: Difference between revisions
→References: date |
→Service: Revision, removal of direct quotation Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit Advanced mobile edit |
||
| Line 9: | Line 9: | ||
Kaye's first assignment was as a ferry pilot flying between [[Paris]] and [[London]]. Then, on 9 July 1918, he was assigned to the 94th Aero Squadron, [[1st Pursuit Group]], at [[Saints Aerodrome]], [[Saints, Seine-et-Marne|Saints]], France. The 94th was known as the "Hat in the Ring" Squadron and was under the command of Captain [[Eddie Rickenbacker]].<ref name="auto1"/> |
Kaye's first assignment was as a ferry pilot flying between [[Paris]] and [[London]]. Then, on 9 July 1918, he was assigned to the 94th Aero Squadron, [[1st Pursuit Group]], at [[Saints Aerodrome]], [[Saints, Seine-et-Marne|Saints]], France. The 94th was known as the "Hat in the Ring" Squadron and was under the command of Captain [[Eddie Rickenbacker]].<ref name="auto1"/> |
||
| ⚫ | Kaye was awarded his first [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]] for action over the region of [[Epinonville]], France, on Sept. 29, 1918. Lieutenants Kaye and [[Reed Chambers]] attacked a formation of 6 German planes shooting down one and forcing the others to retire back to German lines.<ref>Air Service Journal, 21 December 1918, page 16.</ref> |
||
From a 2011 ''[[Commercial Dispatch]]'' account by Rufus Ward: |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
:”Rickenbacker and Kaye became life long friends. After the war Rickenbacker, who founded [[Eastern Airlines]], would come to Columbus to visit Kaye. |
|||
| ⚫ | :”The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Service) Samuel Kaye, Jr., United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 94th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., over the region of [[Montfaucon-d'Argonne|Montfaucon]] and [[Bantheville]], France, 5 October 1918. Lieutenant Kaye encountered a formation of seven enemy machines (Fokker type). Regardless of their numerical superiority, he immediately attacked and by skillful maneuvering succeeded in separating one enemy plane from its formation and after a short combat shot it down in flames.”<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/16009|title=Samuel Kaye - Recipient - Military Times Hall Of Valor|website=valor.militarytimes.com}}</ref><ref>http://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/Magazine%20Documents/2013/May%202013/0513heroes.pdf</ref> |
||
| ⚫ | |||
Kaye was credited with four confirmed German Fokkers shot down and three probables. He was promoted to captain and served as the commander of the 94th Squadron's 1st Flight. <ref name="auto1"/> |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | : |
||
:“On another occasion, he shot down a German Fokker that had a new Spandau model machine gun that was air cooled and able to fire 650 rounds a minute. Kaye went to the crash site and recovered the machine gun so that it could be examined. His closest call came when an ‘air shell’ shot away part of his propeller and he was forced to land. |
|||
:“During aerial combat, Kaye was credited with four confirmed German Fokkers shot down and three probables. He was promoted to captain and served as the commander of the 94th Squadron's 1st Flight. At the close of the war pilots of the 94th painted their spad [''sic''] airplanes in distinctive colors. Sam painted his light blue with red and white polka dots. He called the airplane his ‘Acrobatic Easter Egg’. The 94th remained in Europe for several months as the last U.S. Army Air Service squadron there.”<ref name="auto1"/> |
|||
Kaye’s four credited victories came on 29 September 1918, 5 October 1918, 18 October 1918, and 29 October 1918. He held the rank of 1st Lieutenant during each of these.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/?id=NlopDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA86&lpg=PA86&dq=samuel+kaye+world+war+I+ace#v=onepage&q=samuel+kaye+world+war+I+ace&f=false|title=Aerial Victories of World War I|first=Arthur|last=Wyllie|date=June 9, 2017|publisher=Lulu.com|via=Google Books|isbn=9781365997167}}</ref> |
Kaye’s four credited victories came on 29 September 1918, 5 October 1918, 18 October 1918, and 29 October 1918. He held the rank of 1st Lieutenant during each of these.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/?id=NlopDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA86&lpg=PA86&dq=samuel+kaye+world+war+I+ace#v=onepage&q=samuel+kaye+world+war+I+ace&f=false|title=Aerial Victories of World War I|first=Arthur|last=Wyllie|date=June 9, 2017|publisher=Lulu.com|via=Google Books|isbn=9781365997167}}</ref> |
||
Revision as of 22:37, 25 January 2020
Samuel Kaye Jr. (8 November 1895 - 12 March 1939) was an officer in the United States Army Air Service during the Great War. He scored four victories and three probables while flying with the 94th Aero Squadron.
Background
Samuel Kaye Jr. was born in Columbus, Mississippi, on 8 November 1895. He was the first of five children born to Samuel Kaye (1861 - 1928) and Florence Hill Kaye, née Kimbell (1865 - 1944).[1]
Service
Kaye enlisted in the United States Army Air Service at the start of the Great War. He was sent to the Aviation Field School at Austin, Texas, and then to flight training at Chanute Field in Illinois. He was ordered to Europe and arrived in England in November 1917.[2]
Kaye's first assignment was as a ferry pilot flying between Paris and London. Then, on 9 July 1918, he was assigned to the 94th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, at Saints Aerodrome, Saints, France. The 94th was known as the "Hat in the Ring" Squadron and was under the command of Captain Eddie Rickenbacker.[2]
Kaye was awarded his first Distinguished Service Cross for action over the region of Epinonville, France, on Sept. 29, 1918. Lieutenants Kaye and Reed Chambers attacked a formation of 6 German planes shooting down one and forcing the others to retire back to German lines.[3]
The citation for Kaye's second Distinguish Service Cross reads:
- ”The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Service) Samuel Kaye, Jr., United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 94th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., over the region of Montfaucon and Bantheville, France, 5 October 1918. Lieutenant Kaye encountered a formation of seven enemy machines (Fokker type). Regardless of their numerical superiority, he immediately attacked and by skillful maneuvering succeeded in separating one enemy plane from its formation and after a short combat shot it down in flames.”[4][5]
Kaye was credited with four confirmed German Fokkers shot down and three probables. He was promoted to captain and served as the commander of the 94th Squadron's 1st Flight. [2]
Kaye’s four credited victories came on 29 September 1918, 5 October 1918, 18 October 1918, and 29 October 1918. He held the rank of 1st Lieutenant during each of these.[6]
In the action of 5 October, Kaye and fellow squadron mate 1st Lt. John N. Jeffers each downed a Fokker D-VII, which was witnessed from the ground by C.O. Rickenbacker and Chambers, who were returning to Rembercourt after retrieving a German Hanover that had been downed intact at Montfaucon on 3 October.[7]
Kaye flew SPAD S.XIII, serial S15130.[8]
The Armistice went into effect on 11 November 1918. Kaye was promoted to Captain by 18 November 1918.[9]
On 23 December 1918, Kaye was awarded Distinguished Service Cross 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster for action at Epinonville on 29 September and Montfaucon on 5 October.[9]
Post-War
“On June 15, 1919, the Columbus Dispatch reported that Capt. Sam Kaye had arrived home from France. The article described Kaye as a returning home ‘decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross, bestowed on him by his own government for bravery in action, and with the Croix de Guerre, bestowed by the French government for exceptional prowess in the air.’”[10][11]
Aerial Age Weekly reported on 12 April 1920 that Kaye had been awarded the Croix de Guerre with Bronze Star.[12]
Sam Kaye continued to live in Columbus after his return from France and had The Columbus Auto Co. which was the local Ford dealership.[2]
Death
Kaye died 12 March 1939 after an extended illness.[13] Unable to attend the funeral because of a business commitment, Eddie Rickenbacker sent a huge floral arrangement forming the insignia of the Hat in the Ring Squadron.[2]
He was buried at Friendship Cemetery in Columbus, Mississippi.[1]
Commemoration
On 6 August 1941, a newly established United States Army Air Force training base, established at Columbus, Mississippi, was designated an Air Corps Advanced Flying School. On 15 September 1941, it became known as Columbus Airfield.
“No one designated or suggested a name for the new military installation until Jan. 22, 1942. Then, on Feb. 24, 1942, the War Department announced the installation would be named Kaye Field in honor of Capt. Samuel Kaye Jr., a World War I flying ace.”[13]
The name did not last long, however. “Later, on March 27, 1942, the War Department announced that the base name had been changed from Kaye Field to Columbus Army Flying School. The name change was made to correct an issue of confusion which resulted from a similar sounding name of a nearby base, Key Field in Meridian, Mississippi. Planes often flew to the wrong airfield, and mail was even delivered to the wrong base.”[13]
After several more name changes, the installation became Columbus Air Force Base on 24 June 1948.
In 2007 the Auditorium at Columbus Air Force Base was named in Kaye’s honor and his uniform is displayed there.[2]
“The British company, Blue Rider, sells a decal kit for plastic model Spad airplanes titled "Samuel Kaye's Easter Egg Spad XIIIC." It is the only airplane kit listed that has an individual's name in the title.”[2]
Family
Kaye’s son, John M. (Jack) Kaye, was an Army Air Force fighter pilot in the Pacific during World War II.[2]
References
- ^ a b "Capt Samuel Kaye, Jr (1895-1939) - Find A Grave Memorial".
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Ask Rufus: Capt. Sam Kaye's 'Acrobatic Easter Egg'". The Commercial Dispatch.
- ^ Air Service Journal, 21 December 1918, page 16.
- ^ "Samuel Kaye - Recipient - Military Times Hall Of Valor". valor.militarytimes.com.
- ^ http://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/Magazine%20Documents/2013/May%202013/0513heroes.pdf
- ^ Wyllie, Arthur (June 9, 2017). Aerial Victories of World War I. Lulu.com. ISBN 9781365997167 – via Google Books.
- ^ David Lewis, W. (2005-12-08). Eddie Rickenbacker: An American Hero in the Twentieth Century. ISBN 9780801882449.
- ^ "World War I Aircraft Serial Numbers". www.theaerodrome.com.
- ^ a b "1st Pursuit Group Records - 1918 - November and December". acepilots.com.
- ^ Ward, Rufus, “Columbus Chronicles: Tales From East Mississippi,” Arcadia Publishing, unnumbered page.
- ^ Ward, Rufus (November 20, 2012). Columbus Chronicles: Tales From East Mississippi. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9781614237778 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Aerial Age". Aerial Age Company. August 11, 1920 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b c "What's in a Name: Columbus Air Force Base > Columbus Air Force Base > Display". www.columbus.af.mil.