Frederick Libby
Encyclopedia
Frederick Libby was the first American ace of World War I, and of all time, achieved while serving as an observer in the Royal Flying Corps
.
. His mother died of tuberculosis when he was four years old, leaving him to be raised by his widower father, an older brother, and a live-in housekeeper. He attended local schools for his formal education, and began learning to ride at the age of six. One of his youthful feats was roping a pronghorn antelope at the age of ten.
In the autumn of 1903, he moved to Sabetha, Kansas to temporarily live with his older sister Minnie. By 1904, Libby's father and elder brother had re-established themselves as horse brokers
in Minco
, Indian Territory
; one of their clients was Buffalo Bill. Frederick Libby rejoined them in 1904. He then lived with his aunt in Marshfield, Massachusetts
during the school year to attend high school during his fifteenth and sixteenth years. In 1910, Frederick Libby moved to Phoenix, Arizona
because of his father's false concern that his son might have tuberculosis. The younger Libby first worked for wages as a cowboy while there. He then became an itinerant cowboy and mustanger
.
Libby was in Calgary, Canada when the war began. He claimed to have joined the Canadian Army on 2 September 1914, although his enlistment papers are dated 5 January 1915 and signed in Toronto. He gave his occupation as chauffeur
upon enlistment. His enlistment papers describe him as being 5' 8 1/2" tall, with a medium complexion, brown hair, and gray eyes. He was assigned to motor transport
duty in the Canadian Expeditionary Force
's supply column. When the Americans in Canadian service were notified that they could be discharged to avoid loss of their citizenship, Libby stayed on.
Libby shipped out of Halifax, Nova Scotia
for England on HMCS Metagama in April 1915. Upon arrival, his unit staged a short-lived mutiny because they had not been paid. After being paid, they were equipped with brand new trucks–a melange of Locomobiles, Packard
s, Pierce Arrows, Peerless
es, Leylands, and British Daimler
s. They took their new trucks to Rouen
, France to begin their assignment supporting the Canadian 2nd Division.
After serving in this motor transport unit through the winter of 1915–1916, he volunteered to join the Royal Flying Corps
, becoming an observer in a F.E.2b in 23 Squadron.
; if unsatisfactory, he would return to his old unit without prejudice. According to Libby, when he reported to 23 Squadron, he received his machine gun training in the morning, and went on flight status that afternoon. He scored his first victory on his very first combat mission, which coincidentally was his birthday, 15 July 1916, flying with Lieutenant E. D. Hicks.
, John Quested
, and Ernest Foot
. Libby presumed upon his new rank to suggest fabricating a buttstock for the Lewis machine guns used by observers. He believed that a weapon so modified would be more accurate for one-handed fire than an unstocked one for two-handed use. The hand freed up by the buttstock could be used to hang onto the airplane, adding both stability for more accurate fire, as well as greater safety for the observer. His commanding officer promptly appointed Libby as squadron Gunnery Officer to carry out his experiment with the buttstock, which proved so successful it was widely adopted.
Libby claimed a string of five victories while teamed with Captain (later Major) Stephen Price
; one of the victories was shared with Lionel Rees
. He became an ace on 25 August 1916, and by 20 October 1916 he was a double ace as an observer on FE.2s.
On 15 September 1916, Libby was an eyewitness to the first use of tank
s in battle while he was on observation duty over the battlefield. Two days later, in one of the great defeats of World War I aerial warfare, Oswald Boelcke
and his wingmen
shot down 11 Squadron's C Flight in its entirety, along with two escorting Airco DH.2
fighters. Libby's B Flight was thrown into the resulting breach in the aerial campaign, but suffered no losses.
On 28 October 1916, Libby was posted to Home Establishment for pilot's training. He was granted leave until 1 January 1917. His leave was interrupted for only one duty; on 13 December 1916, he and Captain Price were granted the Military Cross
by King George V in Buckingham Palace
.
two-seater reconnaissance planes. After scoring two victories, he was reassigned to No. 25 Squadron as a D.H.4 bomber pilot in August 1917, where he scored twice more. During this assignment, on 28 May 1917, he began flying the American flag as command streamers during his sorties.
Upon promotion to Flight Commander, Libby transferred to 25 Squadron, which shared its airfield with 43 Squadron. He was assigned B Flight and given a new Airco DH.4 to fly. Although he considered this craft the best airplane type he had ever flown, he was nearly killed by accident flying it. It had controls accessible to the observer, and while he was engaged in a dogfight
, a Lewis ammunition drum jammed the rudder, slewing it into a constant righthand turn. Once the problem was remedied, Libby returned to base. His complaint led to the rear seat rudder bar being covered by plywood.
Libby would serve with 25 Squadron until he left the RFC. By the time he transferred to U. S. service, his combat tally–as both observer and pilots–consisted of 2 enemy planes destroyed (including 1 shared), and 12 driven down out of control (including 4 shared).
, on the request of General Billy Mitchell. He returned to the United States and reclaimed his citizenship. He participated in the Liberty Loan drive by auctioning off his flight streamers, before joining the 22nd Aero Squadron
at Hicks Airfield
in Texas. Libby was seriously ill by this time and was found to be permanently disabled by spondylitis
and medically unfit for further military service. Libby never flew a combat mission for the United States Air Service.
. He was also the founder of Western Air Express. In the process, he made millions of dollars; he also went broke. Eventually, he wrote his memoirs, Horses Don't Fly, which was published after his death in Los Angeles on 9 January 1970.
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
.
Early life and service
Frederick Libby was born on 15 July 1891 in Sterling, ColoradoSterling, Colorado
The City of Sterling is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Logan County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 14,777 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Sterling is located at...
. His mother died of tuberculosis when he was four years old, leaving him to be raised by his widower father, an older brother, and a live-in housekeeper. He attended local schools for his formal education, and began learning to ride at the age of six. One of his youthful feats was roping a pronghorn antelope at the age of ten.
In the autumn of 1903, he moved to Sabetha, Kansas to temporarily live with his older sister Minnie. By 1904, Libby's father and elder brother had re-established themselves as horse brokers
Broker
A broker is a party that arranges transactions between a buyer and a seller, and gets a commission when the deal is executed. A broker who also acts as a seller or as a buyer becomes a principal party to the deal...
in Minco
Minco, Oklahoma
Minco is a city in Grady County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,672 at the 2000 census.-History :The town was originally included in the Chickasaw Nation, and is believed to be named after the great Chickasaw chief and warrior, Itawamba Minco, who later acquired the name of Levi...
, Indian Territory
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
; one of their clients was Buffalo Bill. Frederick Libby rejoined them in 1904. He then lived with his aunt in Marshfield, Massachusetts
Marshfield, Massachusetts
Marshfield is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States, on Massachusetts's South Shore. The population was 25,132 at the 2010 census.See also: Green Harbor, Marshfield , Rexhame, Marshfield Hills, and Ocean Bluff and Brant Rock....
during the school year to attend high school during his fifteenth and sixteenth years. In 1910, Frederick Libby moved to Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
because of his father's false concern that his son might have tuberculosis. The younger Libby first worked for wages as a cowboy while there. He then became an itinerant cowboy and mustanger
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
.
Libby was in Calgary, Canada when the war began. He claimed to have joined the Canadian Army on 2 September 1914, although his enlistment papers are dated 5 January 1915 and signed in Toronto. He gave his occupation as chauffeur
Chauffeur
A chauffeur is a person employed to drive a passenger motor vehicle, especially a luxury vehicle such as a large sedan or limousine.Originally such drivers were always personal servants of the vehicle owner, but now in many cases specialist chauffeur service companies, or individual drivers provide...
upon enlistment. His enlistment papers describe him as being 5' 8 1/2" tall, with a medium complexion, brown hair, and gray eyes. He was assigned to motor transport
Motor transport
Motor transport refers to the operation and maintenance of a military vehicle fleet , and sometimes to the servicemembers to operate and maintain them. Traditionally, motor transport organizations are responsible for a unit's military trucks and associated equipment, as well as the transport of...
duty in the Canadian Expeditionary Force
Canadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War. Units of the C.E.F. were divided into field formation in France, where they were organized first into separate divisions and later joined together into a single...
's supply column. When the Americans in Canadian service were notified that they could be discharged to avoid loss of their citizenship, Libby stayed on.
Libby shipped out of Halifax, Nova Scotia
Halifax Harbour
Halifax Harbour is a large natural harbour on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, located in the Halifax Regional Municipality.-Harbour description:The harbour is called Jipugtug by the Mi'kmaq first nation, anglisized as Chebucto...
for England on HMCS Metagama in April 1915. Upon arrival, his unit staged a short-lived mutiny because they had not been paid. After being paid, they were equipped with brand new trucks–a melange of Locomobiles, Packard
Packard
Packard was an American luxury-type automobile marque built by the Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan, and later by the Studebaker-Packard Corporation of South Bend, Indiana...
s, Pierce Arrows, Peerless
Peerless
Peerless was a United States automobile produced by the Peerless Motor Company of Cleveland, Ohio from 1900 to 1931. The company was known for building high-quality, precision luxury automobiles. Peerless' factory was located at 9400 Quincy Avenue in Cleveland...
es, Leylands, and British Daimler
Daimler
- Daimler with reference to motor vehicles :refers to:* Gottlieb Daimler , German automobile inventor- Business co-founded by Gottlieb Daimler :...
s. They took their new trucks to Rouen
Rouen
Rouen , in northern France on the River Seine, is the capital of the Haute-Normandie region and the historic capital city of Normandy. Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe , it was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy in the Middle Ages...
, France to begin their assignment supporting the Canadian 2nd Division.
After serving in this motor transport unit through the winter of 1915–1916, he volunteered to join the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
, becoming an observer in a F.E.2b in 23 Squadron.
No. 23 Squadron RFC
Frederick Libby volunteered for service with the Royal Flying Corps on a thirty-day probationary period; he said it was to get in out of the constant rain. If he proved satisfactory as an aerial observer, he would be commissioned a second lieutenantSecond Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
; if unsatisfactory, he would return to his old unit without prejudice. According to Libby, when he reported to 23 Squadron, he received his machine gun training in the morning, and went on flight status that afternoon. He scored his first victory on his very first combat mission, which coincidentally was his birthday, 15 July 1916, flying with Lieutenant E. D. Hicks.
No. 11 Squadron RFC
In August 1916, Libby was commissioned and transferred to 11 Squadron. Upon arrival there, the first pilots he met were Albert BallAlbert Ball
Albert Ball VC, DSO & Two Bars, MC was an English fighter pilot of the First World War and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British or Commonwealth armed forces...
, John Quested
John Quested (aviator)
Major John Bowley Quested was an English World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories, the most notable of which was over Gustav Leffers.-World War I service:Quested was commissioned in November 1914...
, and Ernest Foot
Ernest Foot
Major Ernest Leslie Foot MC was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories. He was the best friend of Albert Ball.In 1916, Foot served in 11 Squadron flying Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2b no. 7016. It was here he befriended Ball. Foot also destroyed three enemy airplanes during this...
. Libby presumed upon his new rank to suggest fabricating a buttstock for the Lewis machine guns used by observers. He believed that a weapon so modified would be more accurate for one-handed fire than an unstocked one for two-handed use. The hand freed up by the buttstock could be used to hang onto the airplane, adding both stability for more accurate fire, as well as greater safety for the observer. His commanding officer promptly appointed Libby as squadron Gunnery Officer to carry out his experiment with the buttstock, which proved so successful it was widely adopted.
Libby claimed a string of five victories while teamed with Captain (later Major) Stephen Price
Stephen Price (aviator)
Major Stephen William Price was a World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories....
; one of the victories was shared with Lionel Rees
Lionel Rees
Group Captain Lionel Wilmot Brabazon Rees VC OBE MC AFC RAF was a Welsh recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces...
. He became an ace on 25 August 1916, and by 20 October 1916 he was a double ace as an observer on FE.2s.
On 15 September 1916, Libby was an eyewitness to the first use of tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
s in battle while he was on observation duty over the battlefield. Two days later, in one of the great defeats of World War I aerial warfare, Oswald Boelcke
Oswald Boelcke
Oswald Boelcke was a German flying ace of the First World War and one of the most influential patrol leaders and tacticians of the early years of air combat. Boelcke is considered the father of the German fighter air force, as well as the "Father of Air Fighting Tactics"; he was the first to...
and his wingmen
Wingman
A wingman is a pilot who supports another in a potentially dangerous flying environment. Wingman was originally a term referring to the plane flying beside and slightly behind the lead plane in an aircraft formation....
shot down 11 Squadron's C Flight in its entirety, along with two escorting Airco DH.2
Airco DH.2
|-DH.2 aces:Distinguished pilots of the DH.2 included Victoria Cross winner Lanoe Hawker , who was the first commander of No 24 Squadron and ace Alan Wilkinson. The commander of No. 32 Squadron, Lionel Rees won the Victoria Cross flying the D.H.2 for single handedly attacking a formation of 10...
fighters. Libby's B Flight was thrown into the resulting breach in the aerial campaign, but suffered no losses.
On 28 October 1916, Libby was posted to Home Establishment for pilot's training. He was granted leave until 1 January 1917. His leave was interrupted for only one duty; on 13 December 1916, he and Captain Price were granted the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
by King George V in Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
.
No. 43 Squadron RFC; No. 25 Squadron RFC
After completing pilot training on 5 March 1917, Libby was posted to No. 43 Squadron on 7 March, piloting Sopwith 1½ StrutterSopwith 1½ Strutter
The Sopwith 1½ Strutter was a British one or two-seat biplane multi-role aircraft of the First World War. It is significant as the first British-designed two seater tractor fighter, and the first British aircraft to enter service with a synchronised machine gun...
two-seater reconnaissance planes. After scoring two victories, he was reassigned to No. 25 Squadron as a D.H.4 bomber pilot in August 1917, where he scored twice more. During this assignment, on 28 May 1917, he began flying the American flag as command streamers during his sorties.
Upon promotion to Flight Commander, Libby transferred to 25 Squadron, which shared its airfield with 43 Squadron. He was assigned B Flight and given a new Airco DH.4 to fly. Although he considered this craft the best airplane type he had ever flown, he was nearly killed by accident flying it. It had controls accessible to the observer, and while he was engaged in a dogfight
Dogfight
A dogfight, or dog fight, is a form of aerial combat between fighter aircraft; in particular, combat of maneuver at short range, where each side is aware of the other's presence. Dogfighting first appeared during World War I, shortly after the invention of the airplane...
, a Lewis ammunition drum jammed the rudder, slewing it into a constant righthand turn. Once the problem was remedied, Libby returned to base. His complaint led to the rear seat rudder bar being covered by plywood.
Libby would serve with 25 Squadron until he left the RFC. By the time he transferred to U. S. service, his combat tally–as both observer and pilots–consisted of 2 enemy planes destroyed (including 1 shared), and 12 driven down out of control (including 4 shared).
Transfer to American service
On 15 September 1917 Libby transferred to the United States Army Air ServiceUnited States Army Air Service
The Air Service, United States Army was a forerunner of the United States Air Force during and after World War I. It was established as an independent but temporary wartime branch of the War Department by two executive orders of President Woodrow Wilson: on May 24, 1918, replacing the Aviation...
, on the request of General Billy Mitchell. He returned to the United States and reclaimed his citizenship. He participated in the Liberty Loan drive by auctioning off his flight streamers, before joining the 22nd Aero Squadron
22nd Aero Squadron
-History:The 22d Aero Squadron was activated 16-June-1917 at Kelly Field it was then sent to Toronto for training with the Royal Flying Corps until 19-Oct-1917, when it returned to Taliaferro Field. On the 21-Jan-1918 it was shipped to Garden City, and shipped out on the RMS Adriatic on 31-Jan-1918...
at Hicks Airfield
Hicks Airfield
Hicks Field redirects here, for the baseball stadium in Edenton, North Carolina see Historic Hicks Field.Hicks Airfield is a public use airport located 14 nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Fort Worth, in Tarrant County, Texas, United States...
in Texas. Libby was seriously ill by this time and was found to be permanently disabled by spondylitis
Spondylitis
Spondylitis is an inflammation of the vertebra. It is a form of spondylopathy. In many cases, spondylitis involves one or more vertebral joint as well, which itself is called spondylarthritis.-Examples:...
and medically unfit for further military service. Libby never flew a combat mission for the United States Air Service.
Post World War I life
Frederick Libby lived a partial cripple for the rest of his life. Despite his disabilities, and a doctor's prediction he would die before age 40, Libby went into the oil prospecting business, founding Eastern Oil Company and consulting for Union Oil and RichfieldARCO
Atlantic Richfield Company is an oil company with operations in the United States as well as in Indonesia, the North Sea, and the South China Sea. It has more than 1,300 gas stations in the western part of the United States. ARCO was originally formed by the merger of East Coast-based Atlantic...
. He was also the founder of Western Air Express. In the process, he made millions of dollars; he also went broke. Eventually, he wrote his memoirs, Horses Don't Fly, which was published after his death in Los Angeles on 9 January 1970.
Memorable quote
His description of an observer's duties included this classic passage about manning the rear gun on a Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2. Keep in mind that the observer position was in the open front of the plane with the pilot behind him, and a reversed rotary engine/propeller drivetrain was situated behind both of them shoving all and sundry through the air.Libby's aerial victories
| Date | Time | Unit | Aircraft | Opponent | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 July 1916 | 1530 | 23 | F.E.2b | AGO C (DESF) | Bapaume Bapaume Bapaume is a commune and the seat of a canton in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A farming and light industrial town located 10 miles south of Arras at the junction of the A1 autoroute and the N17 and N30 national roads its location is... |
| 22 August 1916 | 1910 | 11 | F.E.2b (6994) | Roland C.II (OOC) | S of Bapaume |
| 22 August 1916 | 1910 | 11 | F.E.2b (6994) | Roland C.II (OOC) | S of Bapaume |
| 22 August 1916 | 1910 | 11 | F.E.2b (6994) | Roland C.II (OOC) | S of Bapaume |
| 25 August 1916 | 1300 | 11 | F.E.2b (6994) | Aviatik C (OOC) | Bapaume |
| 14 September 1916 | 0930 | 11 | F.E.2b (6994) | Two-seater (OOC) | SE of Bapaume |
| 22 September 1916 | 11 | F.E.2b | Scout (OOC) | Logeast | |
| 10 October 1916 | 1600 | 11 | F.E.2b (7678) | Scout (OOC) | Bapaume |
| 17 October 1916 | 1115 | 11 | F.E.2b (7027) | Albatros D.I (OOC) | Mory Mory Mory is the name or part of the name of three communes of France:*Mory in the Pas-de-Calais département*Mory-Montcrux in the Oise département*Mitry-Mory in the Seine-et-Marne départementMory is also the name of two locations in Poland:... |
| 20 October 1916 | 1130 | 11 | F.E.2b (7027) | Albatros D.I (OOC) | Douxcette-Ayette Ayette Ayette is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France.-Geography:A farming village located 9 miles south of Arras at the junction of the D7 and D919 roads.-Population:-Places of interest:... |
| 6 May 1917 | 1630 | 43 | Sopwith 1½ Strutter (A1010) | Two-seater (DES) | S of Avion Avion Avion may refer to:* Avion, the french name for airplane ; coming from latin "avus" . Same family as "aviation".* Avion * Avion... |
| 23 July 1917 | 1745 | 43 | Sopwith 1½ Strutter (A8785) | Albatros D.III (OOC) | NE of Lens Lens -Optics:*Lens , an optical element which converges or diverges light**Lens , a part of the eye**Corrective lens for correction of human vision***Contact lens, placed on the cornea of the eye**Photographic lens, a lens designed for use on a camera... |
| 8 August 1917 | 2130 | 25 | D.H.4 (A7543) | Albatros D.V (OOC) | Henin Lietard |
| 14 August 1917 | 0520 | 25 | D.H.4 (A7543) | Two-seater (OOC) | Lens |