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Navy Cross Action in WW1


Belleauwood
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Small medal and document group formerly the property of George Hartwell Ludlow

 

Naval Aviator 342, Serial No. 27414

 

Born in St. Louis, Mo July 9, 1897 – Dartmouth College – MIT, BS in 1923, Sigma Chi

 

MM2c at Boston, Mass March 28, 1917 – MIT to Pensacola – Naval Aviator HTA and Ensign at Pensacola, February 11, 1918 – Lake Bolsena, Porto Corsini, Venice, Bay Shore – Honorable Discharge, March 27, 1921 as LTJG

 

WW2 September 23, 1942 an LT – XO NAS Norman, Oklahoma – RAD November 12, 1946 – Resigned October 9, 1953 as CDR, designator 1105

 

Navy Cross WW1, August 21, 1918 over Austrian port at Pola – Italian Bronze Medal of Valor for same action – Italian War Cross

 

 

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On the morning of August 21, 1918 US Navy pilots carried out their first raid against the Austrian naval base at Pola, on the Adriatic Sea that was launched from the new American Naval Aviation Station in Porto Corsini Italy. The raid was designed to drop propaganda leaflets on the city of Pola by two Macchi M-8 bombers. The M-8’s were Italian built two seat bombers, mounting a single machine gun and could carry up to four 24 pound bombs. They were to be escorted by five Macchi M-5’s single seat fighters that were mounting two machine guns each.

 

Early into the flight an M-8 and an M-5 developed engine trouble and returned to Porto Corsini. The remaining four fighters were piloted by squadron leader, Ensign George Ludlow, Ensigns E.H. Parker, Dudley A. Vorhees and Charles H. Hammann. At 1120 hours, the lone bomber dropped its leaflets at 8000 feet and turned for home as two enemy Lohner seaplanes and five Austrian Albatros fighters rose to challenge the American pilots. Ludlow signaled his squadron to protect the bomber with the Lohners dropping from view. The Albatros’ were closing rapidly as Ludlow dived to meet them with Hammann following. A wild dogfight ensued with Parker’s guns jamming intermittingly and he (Parker) broke off his engagement with the Austrian after peppering the Albatros with one operational gun, and rejoined the M-8 returning to Porto Corsini. - As Vorhees entered the fight, both guns jammed. He spotted Parker and the M-8 and followed them home.

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