Lieutenant Frank Kerr Hays was a World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

 flying ace

Flying ace

A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...

 credited with six aerial victories.

He was living in Chicago when he decided to join the U.S. Army Air Service.

He reported to the 13th Aero Squadron on 29 August 1918. On 13 September, he won his first three victories in a melee in which he continued his attack after his guns jammed. He cleared them in time to rescue his Flight Commander from enemy attack. The feat was good for a DFC. He would score three more times, his last win coming one week before the armistice ended the war.

Reference

• American Aces of World War I. Norman Franks, Harry Dempsey. Osprey Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84176-375-6, 9781841763750.