Thomas Cassady
Encyclopedia
Captain Thomas Gantz Cassady was a patriot who served his nation in two World Wars, and was successful in business during peacetime.
and transferred to aviation. By July 1917, he was receiving flight training; on 6 October 1917, Sergent Cassady was brevetted a pilot. On 26 December 1917, he was assigned to Escadrille 157, which was a Spad
unit. He passed on to the United States Army Air Service
in February 1918 to serve in the 103rd Aero Squadron. From there, he was once again posted to another French Spad unit, Escadrille 163. While serving here, he scored a run of five confirmed and three unconfirmed aerial victories, between 28 May and 15 August 1918, sharing them with William Ponder
and James Connelly
, among others. He then transferred to the 28th Aero Squadron as a Flight Commander, and scored four more times between 14 September and 27 October 1918 using a Spad XIII, and sharing the honors with Martinus Stenseth
and George W. Furlow
among others.
during World War II, making four spying trips into Vichy France. He was subsequently captured by the Germans in 1942, and freed. He then worked with the OSS in Algiers on the invasion of southern France. The liberation of Paris brought Cassady the opportunity to be in charge of all intelligence activities there.
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Thomas G. Cassady, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Fismes, May 29, 1918, and near Epieds, France, June 5, 1918. On May 29, 1918, Lieutenant Cassady, single-handed, attacked an Lvg. German plane which crashed near Fismes. On June 5, 1918, as patrol leader of five spades, while being attacked by 12 German Fokkers, he brought down one of the enemy planes near Epieds and by his dash and courage broke the enemy formation. (General Orders No. 138, W.D., 1918)
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) Oak Leaf Cluster
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Thomas G. Cassady, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action on August 15, 1918, near St. Maire. While in action as protection for a Salmson, First Lieutenant Cassady was attacked by seven Fokkers, two of which he brought down and enabled the Salmson to accomplish its mission and return safely. (General Orders No. 138, W.D., 1918)
Légion d'Honneur
He came to serve France at a time when there was no military obligation or compulsion. Object of a brilliant citation and gravely wounded in the Medical Section. He has since passed to aviation where he is indispensable in turn by the greatness of his character, his skill as a pilot, and his absolute disregard for danger. Officially credited with five enemy planes. (Légion d'Honneur citation)
World War I
Cassady graduated from Chicago University and went to France in the Ambulance Corps during Christmas break, 1916. Once there, on 3 February 1917, he enlisted in the French Foreign LegionFrench Foreign Legion
The French Foreign Legion is a unique military service wing of the French Army established in 1831. The foreign legion was exclusively created for foreign nationals willing to serve in the French Armed Forces...
and transferred to aviation. By July 1917, he was receiving flight training; on 6 October 1917, Sergent Cassady was brevetted a pilot. On 26 December 1917, he was assigned to Escadrille 157, which was a Spad
Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés
SPAD was a French aircraft manufacturer between 1911 and 1921. Its SPAD S.XIII biplane was the most popular French fighter airplane in World War I.-Deperdussin:...
unit. He passed on to the United States Army Air Service
United 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...
in February 1918 to serve in the 103rd Aero Squadron. From there, he was once again posted to another French Spad unit, Escadrille 163. While serving here, he scored a run of five confirmed and three unconfirmed aerial victories, between 28 May and 15 August 1918, sharing them with William Ponder
William Ponder
Lieutenant William Thomas Ponder was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.-World War I:Ponder joined the French air service in the fall of 1917. He was originally assigned to Escadrille 67, then Escadrille 163...
and James Connelly
James Connelly (aviator)
Adjutant James Alexander Connelly, Jr. was a World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.-Reference:...
, among others. He then transferred to the 28th Aero Squadron as a Flight Commander, and scored four more times between 14 September and 27 October 1918 using a Spad XIII, and sharing the honors with Martinus Stenseth
Martinus Stenseth
Brigadier General Martinus Stenseth began his career in the Minnesota National Guard in June 1916, before the United States entered World War I. He remained in the military as a professional soldier, rising to the rank of brigadier general.-World War I:...
and George W. Furlow
George W. Furlow
Lieutenant George Willard Furlow was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.Furlow was posted to the 103rd Aero Squadron on 25 July 1918 as a Spad XIII pilot. On 11 August, he shared his first win over a German Albatros two-seater with Edgar Tobin. Over a month later, on 13...
among others.
World War II
Cassady served with the Office of Strategic ServicesOffice of Strategic Services
The Office of Strategic Services was a United States intelligence agency formed during World War II. It was the wartime intelligence agency, and it was a predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency...
during World War II, making four spying trips into Vichy France. He was subsequently captured by the Germans in 1942, and freed. He then worked with the OSS in Algiers on the invasion of southern France. The liberation of Paris brought Cassady the opportunity to be in charge of all intelligence activities there.
Honors and awards
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Thomas G. Cassady, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Fismes, May 29, 1918, and near Epieds, France, June 5, 1918. On May 29, 1918, Lieutenant Cassady, single-handed, attacked an Lvg. German plane which crashed near Fismes. On June 5, 1918, as patrol leader of five spades, while being attacked by 12 German Fokkers, he brought down one of the enemy planes near Epieds and by his dash and courage broke the enemy formation. (General Orders No. 138, W.D., 1918)
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) Oak Leaf Cluster
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Thomas G. Cassady, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action on August 15, 1918, near St. Maire. While in action as protection for a Salmson, First Lieutenant Cassady was attacked by seven Fokkers, two of which he brought down and enabled the Salmson to accomplish its mission and return safely. (General Orders No. 138, W.D., 1918)
Légion d'Honneur
He came to serve France at a time when there was no military obligation or compulsion. Object of a brilliant citation and gravely wounded in the Medical Section. He has since passed to aviation where he is indispensable in turn by the greatness of his character, his skill as a pilot, and his absolute disregard for danger. Officially credited with five enemy planes. (Légion d'Honneur citation)