Stephen W. Thompson
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Stephen W. Thompson (March 20, 1894 – October 9, 1977) was an American aviator of World War I. Flying as a gunner on a French aircraft in February 1918, he became the first member of the United States military to shoot down an enemy aircraft. Kiffin Rockwell achieved an earlier aerial victory as an American volunteer member of the French Lafayette Escadrille in 1916.
Quick Facts Born, Died ...
Stephen W. Thompson | |
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Born | (1894-03-20)March 20, 1894 West Plains, Missouri, United States |
Died | October 9, 1977(1977-10-09) (aged 83) Dayton, Ohio, United States |
Allegiance | United States Army Air Service |
Service/ | United States 1st Aero Squadron |
Years of service | 1917–1918 |
Awards | Croix de Guerre with Palm Purple Heart |
Relations | Wife: Dorothy Mary (Wright) Thompson (Born: August 25, 1896 – Died: October 1971)
Children: Dr. Stephen Wright Thompson (Born: September 24, 1926),died June 17, 2018) Dr. Robert James Thompson (Born: September 21, 1930), Mary Catherine (Thompson) Muller (Born: August 17, 1931) |
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