Kenneth R. Unger
Encyclopedia
Rear Admiral Kenneth Russell Unger was a World War I flying ace
credited with fourteen aerial victories.
, earning Certificate No. 1356. Nevertheless, the United States Air Service rejected him for enlistment, so he went to Canada to join the Royal Flying Corps
in June 1917. Ironically, his RFC training took him back to Texas. He then transited England on his way to service with 210 Squadron in France as a Sopwith Camel
pilot.
and Lieutenant Ivan Sanderson; the trio shot down the distinctively marked Fokker D.VII
of German naval ace Kurt Schönfelder, and drove down a D.VII and two Pfalz D.III
s out of control on 26 June 1918. His next victory, when he drove down another Fokker D.VII, took place on 20 July. He scored again on 31 July, then took a break. He resumed with a win on 24 September and ran his total to thirteen by 30 October 1918. That was the sortie on which he took on seven enemy Fokkers despite his Sopwith Camel
's engine running rough. Two days later, Lieutenant Unger became a balloon buster
, destroying an enemy observation balloon. His final tally was seven enemy aircraft destroyed and seven driven down out of control; with the exception of the balloon and one observation plane, his victories were all over enemy fighters, principally Fokker D.VIIs. His reward for his efforts, a Distinguished Flying Cross, was not gazetted until 7 February 1919.
pilot, flying the Oakland to Salt Lake City route. On 19 September 1927, he was reportedly on the brink on competition in an air derby in Spokane, Washington; after the derby, he was going to fly down the West Coast
, across Panama, and up the Atlantic Coast in an amphibian. He also had his own aviation school at the Hadley Airport
, where he performed in air shows. During one of his exhibitions in 1932, his airplane broke up but he parachuted to safety.
Despite having 10,000 flying hours behind him, in April 1943 he was back in aviation school. He returned to service as a Lieutenant Commander in the U. S. Navy during February 1943; he flew transport planes. He eventually attained the rank of Rear Admiral
in the Naval Reserve. He retired to Florida in 1958; he died there on 6 January 1979.
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 fourteen aerial victories.
Early training
Unger took private instruction with the Aero Club of AmericaAero Club of America
The Aero Club of America was a social club formed in 1905 by Charles Glidden and others to promote aviation in America. It was the parent organization of numerous state chapters, the first being the Aero Club of New England. It thrived until 1923, when it transformed into the National Aeronautic...
, earning Certificate No. 1356. Nevertheless, the United States Air Service rejected him for enlistment, so he went to Canada 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...
in June 1917. Ironically, his RFC training took him back to Texas. He then transited England on his way to service with 210 Squadron in France as a Sopwith Camel
Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...
pilot.
Aerial victories
Unger opened his victory roll by sharing in a quadruple victory with Captain Lawrence CoombesLawrence Coombes (aviator)
Captain Lawrence Percival Coombes began his career as a World War I flying ace credited with 15 aerial victories.He joined the Royal Naval Air Service in July 1917. He was posted originally to No. 12 Squadron RNAS, but was transferred into No. 10 Squadron RNAS a couple of weeks later...
and Lieutenant Ivan Sanderson; the trio shot down the distinctively marked Fokker D.VII
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...
of German naval ace Kurt Schönfelder, and drove down a D.VII and two Pfalz D.III
Pfalz D.III
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962. ISBN 0-93385-271-1.* Grosz, Peter M. Pfalz D.IIIa . Berkhamsted, Herts, UK: Albatros Publications, 1995. ISBN 0-94841-425-1.* Guttman, Jon. Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1 ...
s out of control on 26 June 1918. His next victory, when he drove down another Fokker D.VII, took place on 20 July. He scored again on 31 July, then took a break. He resumed with a win on 24 September and ran his total to thirteen by 30 October 1918. That was the sortie on which he took on seven enemy Fokkers despite his Sopwith Camel
Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...
's engine running rough. Two days later, Lieutenant Unger became a balloon buster
Balloon buster
Balloon busters were military pilots known for destroying enemy observation balloons. These pilots were noted for their fearlessness. Seventy-six fighter pilots in World War I were each credited with destroying five or more balloons, and thus were balloon aces....
, destroying an enemy observation balloon. His final tally was seven enemy aircraft destroyed and seven driven down out of control; with the exception of the balloon and one observation plane, his victories were all over enemy fighters, principally Fokker D.VIIs. His reward for his efforts, a Distinguished Flying Cross, was not gazetted until 7 February 1919.
Post World War I
Postwar, Unger became a U. S. Air MailAirmails of the United States
Airmails of the United States or U.S. Air Mail relates to the servicing of flown mails by the U.S. postal system within the United States, its possessions, and/or territories, marked as "Via Air Mail" , appropriately franked, and afforded any then existing class or sub-class of U.S...
pilot, flying the Oakland to Salt Lake City route. On 19 September 1927, he was reportedly on the brink on competition in an air derby in Spokane, Washington; after the derby, he was going to fly down the West Coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
, across Panama, and up the Atlantic Coast in an amphibian. He also had his own aviation school at the Hadley Airport
Hadley Airport
Hadley Airport is a public-use airport located four nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Round Mountain, a town in Nye County, Nevada, United States.- History :...
, where he performed in air shows. During one of his exhibitions in 1932, his airplane broke up but he parachuted to safety.
Despite having 10,000 flying hours behind him, in April 1943 he was back in aviation school. He returned to service as a Lieutenant Commander in the U. S. Navy during February 1943; he flew transport planes. He eventually attained the rank of Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
in the Naval Reserve. He retired to Florida in 1958; he died there on 6 January 1979.
Reference
- Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920 Christopher F. Shores, Norman L. R. Franks, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1990. ISBN 0-948817-19-4, 9780948817199.
- American Aces of World War I. Norman Franks, Harry Dempsey. Osprey Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84176-375-6, 9781841763750.