| George Augustus Vaughn Jr. | |
| Birth Date: | 20 May 1897 |
| Birth Place: | Brooklyn, New York |
| Death Place: | Staten Island, New York |
| Placeofburial: | Staten Island, New York |
| Placeofburial Label: | Place of burial |
| Medal: | US-DSC-OBVERSE ONE.png |
| Allegiance: | United States of America |
| Branch: | United States Army Air Service |
| Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Battles: | World War I |
| Awards: | Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Flying Cross Silver Star |
| Laterwork: | Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology |
George Augustus Vaughn Jr. (May 20, 1897 – July 31, 1989) was an American fighter ace in World War I and Distinguished Service Cross, Britain's Distinguished Flying Cross, and Silver Star recipient.[1] Vaughn was America's second-ranking Air Service ace to survive the war.
Vaughn was born in Brooklyn and attended Adelphi Academy. Upon graduating in 1915 he entered Princeton University. While at Princeton Vaughn learned how to fly Curtiss Jenny biplanes.
After some training with the RAF, and an interim post ferrying aircraft to France,[2] Vaughn was posted in May 1918 to No. 84 Squadron RAF, based in Bertangles and commanded by Sholto Douglas. He was attached to "B" flight, led by Hugh "Dingbat" Saunders, the sometimes-wingman to RAF ace Andrew Beauchamp-Proctor (along with Philadelphia-born Joseph "Child Yank" Boudwin), all three pilots flying the Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a. Vaughn claimed seven air victories in his time with 84 Squadron.
In August 1918, Vaughn was transferred to the 17th Aero Squadron, United States Air Service, where he flew the Sopwith Camel, claiming another six victories.
Vaughn was America's second-ranking Air Service ace to survive the war.[3] He is credited with downing four German planes destroyed, seven shared destroyed, one kite balloon destroyed and one aircraft "out of control".[4] One of the German pilots he shot down was Friedrich T. Noltenius, a 21-victory ace, on September 22, 1918.[1]
In November 1919, Vaughn was presented with the Distinguished Flying Cross by the Prince of Wales aboard H.M.S. Renown, anchored in New York harbor. Vaughn's memoirs were published in a book called: War Flying in France, edited and annotated by Marvin L. Skelton.[5]
| Number | Date | Time | Aircraft | Opponent | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2000 | S.E.5.a | Pfalz D.III | Beaucourt | |
| 2 | 2035 | S.E.5.a | Fokker D.VII | E of Bray | |
| 3 | 0940 | S.E.5.a | Rumpler C.IV | Harbonnières | |
| 4 | 0800 | S.E.5.a | Rumpler C.IV | N of Bois de Tailles | |
| 5 | 1100 | S.E.5.a | Rumpler C.IV | SE of Villers-Carbonnel | |
| 6 | 1015 | S.E.5.a | Balloon | Ham | |
| 7 | 1120 | S.E.5.a | Rumpler C.IV | Maricourt | |
| 8 | 0845 | Sopwith Camel | Fokker D.VII | SE of Fontaine | |
| 9 | 1245 | Sopwith Camel | Fokker D.VII | SW of Cambrai | |
| 10 | 1745 | Sopwith Camel | LVG C.V | 51A M34 | |
| 11 | 0910 | Sopwith Camel | DFW C.V | E of Awoingt | |
| 12 | 0710 | Sopwith Camel | Halberstadt C.V | E of Bazael | |
| 13 | 1400 | Sopwith Camel | Fokker D.VII | NE of Hausey | |
Franklin Roosevelt, then Governor of New York, asked him in the early 1920s to help organize the New York Air National Guard, the 102nd Observation Squadron. He commanded that unit as a major for nine years. In 1933, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and assigned to the 27th Division Staff as Air Officer until he retired in 1939. As an honor in a special program in 1986, then New York Governor Mario Cuomo promoted him to brigadier general in the New York Air National Guard.[8]
Vaughn and Lee D. Warrender joined with Casey Jones in founding the Casey Jones School of Aeronautics, the predecessor of the Academy of Aeronautics, and as of September 1986, the College of Aeronautics. In September 2004, the name was changed to the Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology.
Vaughn died of a brain tumor while on Staten Island, on 31 July 1989.[2] He is buried in Rye, New York. Vaughn's military records, award certificate of military honors and uniform are now in the New York State Military Museum in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
"The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to George Augustus Vaughn, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Cambrai, France, September 22, 1918. Lieutenant Vaughn while leading an offensive flight patrol sighted 18 enemy Fokkers about to attack a group of five allied planes flying at a low level. Although outnumbered nearly 5 to 1, 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, General Orders No. 60, W.D., 1920[1]
"For conspicuous bravery in attacking enemy aircraft. On 23 August 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 22 August, 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 one kite balloon."DFC citation[1]