Sergeant Fred C. Graveline, Aerial Gunner/Observer

One of four enlisted Distinguished Flying Cross recipients

Sergeant Fred C. Graveline of the 20th Aero Squadron received his commendation for a series of 15 dangerous missions as a volunteer gunner in the 20th Aero Squadron of the 1st Bombardment Group from September 30th - November 5th 1918.

In one 35-minute battile in which Graveline remarked he "aged 10 years", he helped drive off nearly two dozen German planes, shooting down two. While serving with the 20 AS, he flew more combat sorties than any other enlisted man in World War I and is credited with two German aircraft kills as well.

Right: The Airco DH-4 was a British two-seat biplane day-bomber of the First World War. It was designed by Geoffrey de Havilland (hence "DH") and was the first British two seat light day-bomber to have an effective defensive armament. The majority of DH-4's were actually built as general purpose two-seaters in the USA, for service with the American forces in France.