John Sharpe Griffith | |
Birth Date: | 26 November 1898 |
Birth Place: | Seattle, Washington US |
Death Place: | Riverhead, New York, US |
Allegiance: | United States |
Branch: | British Army Royal Air Force |
Serviceyears: | 1917–1921 |
Rank: | Lieutenant |
Unit: | No. 60 Squadron RFC/RAF |
Battles: | |
Awards: | Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar Order of Saint Vladimir (Russia) |
Laterwork: | Served as colonel in USAAF in World War II |
Lieutenant (later Colonel) John Sharpe Griffith, (November 26, 1898 – October 14, 1974) was an American World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories while serving in the British Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force, also serving during the Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War. He returned to service during World War II in the United States Army Air Forces, and finally retired in 1956.[1]
Griffith was born in Seattle, Washington, the son of C. E. Griffith, and was educated at Broadway High School.
In July 1917, Griffith travelled to Vancouver where he enlisted into Royal Flying Corps Canada, learning to fly in Toronto before travelling to England in November. He was posted to No. 60 Squadron RFC in February 1918 to fly a S.E.5a single-seat fighter. Between 9 March and 7 July 1918, he destroyed five enemy aircraft, including one each shared with Art Duncan and George Hegarty. On 18 July, he was shot down by anti-aircraft fire, his wounds ending his participation in the war.
In 1919, while serving as part of the North Russian Expeditionary Force, Griffith flew 40 patrols in northern Russia against the Bolsheviks, shooting down one of their observation balloons.[2] He finally left the Royal Air Force in 1921.
+Combat record | ||||||
No. | Date/Time | Aircraft/ Serial No. | Opponent | Result | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 9 March 1918 @ 1110 | S.E.5a (C5385) | Out of control | |||
2 | 18 March 1918 @ 1250 | S.E.5a (C1069) | Albatros D.V | Out of control | ||
3 | 30 March 1918 @ 1150 | S.E.5a (C1069) | LVG C | Destroyed | Bécourt [3] | |
4 | 6 May 1918 @ 1115 | S.E.5a (D3503) | Albatros D.V | Destroyed | Shared with Lieutenant William Duncan. | |
5 | 16 May 1918 @ 0845 | S.E.5a (D3503) | LVG C | Destroyed | Shared with Lieutenant Herbert Hegarty. | |
6 | 1 July 1918 @ 0845 | S.E.5a (D3503) | Albatros D.V | Destroyed | Lamotte | |
7 | 7 July 1918 @ 1140 | S.E.5a (D5992) | DFW C | Destroyed | ||