Lieutenant James Dudley Beane 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.

Beane attended Concord High School. He was employed in Boston before joining the Ambulance Service. He spent a year's duty on the Verdun front, from July 1916 though July 1917. He volunteered for aviation and trained with the Lafayette Escadrille

Lafayette Escadrille

The Lafayette Escadrille , was an escadrille of the French Air Service, the Aéronautique militaire, during World War I composed largely of American volunteer pilots flying fighters.-History:Dr. Edmund L...

. He was then assigned to Escadrille 69. In February 1918, he took a commission with American aviation but maintained his status with Escadrille 69 for a while. He then transferred into 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...

. Between 26 September and 29 October 18, he scored six aerial victories, though he shared one with Arthur Raymond Brooks

Arthur Raymond Brooks

Arthur Raymond Brooks was a World War I flying ace of the United States Army Air Service credited with shooting down six enemy aircraft. He was a pioneer in the development of radio navigational aids used by pilots for location and navigation as well as air-to-ground communications...

 and Clinton Jones

Clinton Jones (aviator)

Lieutenant Clinton Leonard Jones, Jr. was an American World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.Clinton Jones was a late arrival to World War I, arriving at the 22nd Aero Squadron on 27 August 1918...

, and another with Remington Vernam. He was killed in action on 30 October 1918.

Citations

• The Distinguished Service Cross
  Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
  The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
  
   is presented to James Dudley Beane, First Lieutenant
  First Lieutenant
  First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
  
   (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Bantheville, France, October 29, 1918. When Lieutenant Beane's patrol was attacked by eight enemy planes (Fokker type) he dived into their midst in order to divert their attention from the other machines of his group and shot down one of the Fokkers in flames. Four other Fokkers then joined in the battle, one of which was also destroyed by this officer.

• He instantly made his mark in the Squadron by his courage and spirit in fighting. On 30 June 1918, in the course of patrol duty, James Dudley Beane was attacked by several enemy planes, and although seriously wounded he succeeded in extricating himself and in bringing back his damaged machine. He showed in this circumstance much skill and great coolness

External links

• http://www.angelfire.com/ct/US22/History_of_US22nd_Aero_Sq.pdf
• http://www.gunjones.com/US22.html