File:Walter Lindsey Avery (1892-1978) biography in History of Ohio State University.png

Walter Lindsey Avery, Arts-Engr. '14, Columbus, Ohio. DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS; CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM (French) 1st Lt., U.S.A.S., 471st French Escadrille and 95th U.S. Aer. Sq. East High School, Columbus, 0.; College of Engineering; College of Arts. Delta Upsilon. Degree from Harvard, 1917. E.R.C. June 13, 1917. Pvt. ld. Called to act. serv. June 14, 1917. A.S., Sig. C., to Aug. 18, 1917; Sch. of Milit. Aeronautics, Mass. Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass., to Dec. 24, 1917; 3rd Avia. Instr. Center to disch. Disch. Mch. 11, 1918 to accept comm. 1st Lt., A.S. A.E. F., Sept. 8, 1917 to Mch. 11, 1919. Tng. Cps. at Tours and Issoudoun, France; 471st French Escadrille; 95th Aer. Sq. to disch. Aisne-Marne; St. Mihiel; Meuse-Argonne. Severely wounded in action and taken prisoner Oct. 3, 1918. Prior to capture was credited with three German planes. After Armistice was released from Villingen Prison Cp. and returned to France. Disch. Mch. 26, 1919. Awarded D.S.C. under G.O. 121, Dec. 5, 1918. (Extract) : "For extraordinary heroism in action north of Chateau Thierry, France, July 25, 1918. While on his first patrol over the enemy's lines he attacked an enemy two seater bi-plane. While thus occupied he was vigorously attacked by another enemy plane, but by a quick turn, skillful maneuvering, and accurate shooting, he drove the second plane to the American side of the lines, where it crashed into the woods. Lt. Avery's motor had been badly damaged by bullets, but he made a successful landing back of our lines, where he learned that the enemy pilot who had been made prisoner was a German ace credited with sixteen victories. Lt. Avery's conduct was especially commendable because his plane had been seriously damaged at the beginning of the combat." (The German ace referred to was Capt. Mendkopf). On July 15, 1918 he was awarded the French Croix de Guerre under following citation: "Avery, 1st Lt., pilot, 471st French Escadrille: A skillful and energetic pilot. He had many patrols over the front lines and in the course of one of them, in spite of the violent infantry and artillery fire of the enemy, he repeatedly riddled with machine-gun fire the German trenches facing a sector occupied by an American Division."

Walter Lindsey Avery, Arts-Engineering 1914, Columbus, Ohio. Distinguished Service Cross; Croix De Guerre With Palm (French) 1st Lieutenant, United States Air Service, 471st French Escadrille and 95th United States Aero Squadron. East High School, Columbus, Ohio; College of Engineering; College of Arts. Delta Upsilon. Degree from Harvard, 1917. Enlisted Reserve Corps June 13, 1917. Private first class. Called to action served June 14, 1917. Air Service, Signal Corps, to August 18, 1917; School of Military Aeronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, to December 24, 1917; 3rd Aviation Instruction Center to discharge. Discharged March 11, 1918 to accept command 1st Lieutenant, Air Service, American Expeditionary Forces, September 8, 1917 to March 11, 1919. Training Corps at Tours and Issoudoun, France; 471st French Escadrille; 95th Aero Squadron to discharged Aisne-Marne; St. Mihiel; Meuse-Argonne. Severely wounded in action and taken prisoner October 3, 1918. Prior to capture was credited with three German planes. After Armistice was released from Villingen Prison Camp and returned to France. Discharged March 26, 1919. Awarded Distinguished Service Cross under General Order 121, December 5, 1918. (Extract): "For extraordinary heroism in action north of Chateau Thierry, France, July 25, 1918. While on his first patrol over the enemy's lines he attacked an enemy two seater biplane. While thus occupied he was vigorously attacked by another enemy plane, but by a quick turn, skillful maneuvering, and accurate shooting, he drove the second plane to the American side of the lines, where it crashed into the woods. Lieutenant Avery's motor had been badly damaged by bullets, but he made a successful landing back of our lines, where he learned that the enemy pilot who had been made prisoner was a German ace credited with sixteen victories. Lt. Avery's conduct was especially commendable because his plane had been seriously damaged at the beginning of the combat." (The German ace referred to was Captain Mendkopf). On July 15, 1918 he was awarded the French Croix de Guerre under following citation: "Avery, 1st Lt., pilot, 471st French Escadrille: A skillful and energetic pilot. He had many patrols over the front lines and in the course of one of them, in spite of the violent infantry and artillery fire of the enemy, he repeatedly riddled with machine-gun fire the German trenches facing a sector occupied by an American Division."

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