Leslie Rummell
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Leslie Jacob Rummell was a World War I flying ace
credited with seven aerial victories.
Rummell joined the 93d Aero Squadron on 7 August 1918. He shot down his first Fokker D.VII
on 12 September over Thiacourt. His triple win on the 29th, when he downed two more Fokker D.VIIs and shared a win over an Albatros
two-seater, won him the Distinguished Service Cross. He went on to score three more times in October, including a shared win with Chester Wright
.
Rummell died in the Influenza Pandemic
of 1919, on 2 February.
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Leslie J. Rummell, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in the region of Moirey, France, September 29, 1918. Lieutenant Rummell, leading a patrol of three planes, sighted an enemy biplace airplane which was protected by seven machines (Fokker type). Despite the tremendous odds, he led his patrol to the attack and destroyed the biplace. By his superior maneuvering and leadership, four more of the enemy planes were destroyed and the remaining three retired.
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 seven aerial victories.
Rummell joined the 93d Aero Squadron on 7 August 1918. He shot down his first 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...
on 12 September over Thiacourt. His triple win on the 29th, when he downed two more Fokker D.VIIs and shared a win over an Albatros
Albatros Flugzeugwerke
Albatros-Flugzeugwerke was a German aircraft manufacturer best known for supplying the German airforces during World War I.The company was based in Johannisthal, Berlin, where it was founded by Walter Huth and Otto Wiener on December 20, 1909. It produced some of the most capable fighter aircraft...
two-seater, won him the Distinguished Service Cross. He went on to score three more times in October, including a shared win with Chester Wright
Chester Wright
Lieutenant Chester Ellis Wright was an American World War I flying ace credited with nine confirmed aerial victories. He was the top scoring ace for his squadron....
.
Rummell died in the Influenza Pandemic
Influenza pandemic
An influenza pandemic is an epidemic of an influenza virus that spreads on a worldwide scale and infects a large proportion of the human population. In contrast to the regular seasonal epidemics of influenza, these pandemics occur irregularly, with the 1918 Spanish flu the most serious pandemic in...
of 1919, on 2 February.
Honors and awards
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Leslie J. Rummell, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in the region of Moirey, France, September 29, 1918. Lieutenant Rummell, leading a patrol of three planes, sighted an enemy biplace airplane which was protected by seven machines (Fokker type). Despite the tremendous odds, he led his patrol to the attack and destroyed the biplace. By his superior maneuvering and leadership, four more of the enemy planes were destroyed and the remaining three retired.