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Chambers, Reed, MAJ.
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CHAMBERS, REED MCKINLEY
(First Award)
First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army
Pilot, 94th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, Air Service, A.E.F.
Date of Action: October 2, 1918
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Reed McKinley Chambers, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Montfaucon and Vilosnes sur Meuse, France, October 2, 1918. At 7. 40 o'clock Lieutenant Chambers saw four enemy machines (Fokker type) attacking another American machine (Spad type). He immediately went to its rescue, and after a few minutes of fierce combat he succeeded in shooting down one.
Other Award: Four Total Awards: Distinguished Service Cross (WWI)
CHAMBERS, REED MCKINLEY
(Second Award)
First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army
Pilot, 94th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, Air Service, A.E.F.
Date of Action: September 29, 1918
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Reed McKinley Chambers, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action over the region of Epinonville, France, September 29, 1918. While on a mission Lieutenant Chambers, accompanied by another machine piloted by First Lieutenant Samuel Kaye, Jr. , encountered a formation of six enemy machines (Fokker type) at an altitude of 3, 000 feet. Despite numerical superiority of the enemy, Lieutenant Chambers and Lieutenant Kaye immediately attacked and succeeded in destroying one and forced the remaining five to retreat into their own lines.
Other Comments:
CHAMBERS, REED MCKINLEY
(Third Award)
First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army
Pilot, 94th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, Air Service, A.E.F.
Date of Action: October 2, 1918
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Reed McKinley Chambers, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Montfaucon and Vilosnes sur Meuse, France, October 2, 1918. Lieutenant Chambers, while on a mission, at an altitude of 2, 000 feet, encountered an enemy two-seater (Halberstadt type). He immediately attacked, and after a brief combat succeeded in shooting it down.
CHAMBERS, REED MCKINLEY
(Fourth Award)
Captain (Air Service), U.S. Army
Pilot, 94th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, Air Service, A.E.F.
Date of Action: October 21, 1918
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Reed McKinley Chambers, Captain (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near the Bois-de-la Cote-Lemonte, France, October 21, 1918. While on a voluntary patrol, Captain Chambers encountered five enemy planes (Fokker type), harassing our Infantry at an altitude of 300 meters. Attacking them without hesitation, he shot down two of them and drove off the others.
Reed McKinley Chambers was a pioneer in the American Aviation industry, as a fighter pilot in World War One, as founder of an early airline, and as founder and chairman of America's first aviation insurance company.
In 1914 he joined the Tennessee National Guard and served in the Mexican border campaign of 1916. When the United States entered World War One in 1917, Chambers received a transfer to the Army Signal Corps as an aviator. He served in the 94th Aero Pursuit Squadron, along with American Ace of Aces Eddie Rickenbacker. Chambers was credited with seven victories over German aircraft. Among his awards were the Distinguished Service Cross with three Oak leaf clusters, the French Legion of Honor, and the Croix de Guerre.
