William C. Lambert
Encyclopedia
William C. Lambert (August 18, 1894 – March 19, 1982) was an American
fighter pilot who flew in World War I
. He was probably the second-ranking American ace
of World War I
. He claimed 18 air-to-air victories, 8 fewer than "Ace of Aces" Eddie Rickenbacker
and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
.
. He was the son of Mary and William G. Lambert. Lambert had his first airplane flight in a Wright biplane on 4 July 1910.
In 1914, Lambert quit his job as a chemist in Buffalo, New York, to go enlist in the Canadian Royal Artillery. Finding no openings, he took a chemist's job with Canadian Explosives Limited until 1916.
He joined the Royal Flying Corps
in early 1917, and sailed for England after completion of his training, on 19 November 1917. He joined No. 24 Squadron RFC on 20 March 1918 flying the Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a, and, between April and August, scored 18 victories (1 balloon, 9 aircraft destroyed, 2 shared destroyed and 5 and 1 shared "out of control"). This number, however, is controversial, as other sources credit Lambert with 21½ air victories (http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=7154), and his autobiography lists in the appendix what he considered to be his true combat record.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
. The official documents granting Lambert the RFC are in the Ohio Memory Collection http://cdm267401.cdmhost.com/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/p267401coll36&CISOPTR=23934&REC=3
Suffering from combat fatigue brought on by a bombing attack on his airfield, he was rotated back to England for medical leave on 20 August 1918 but the war ended before he recovered. One of his prized memorabilia was a piece of red canvas from Von Richtofen's Fokker DR-1 triplane.
After the war Lambert did some barnstorming in the Ironton, Ohio area and worked as an engineer. He also was the inventor of a rather unusual "pipe rest" which allowed a smoking pipe to be rested upon the smoker's chin.
After the war, Lambert joined the U. S. Air Service and served with the Army Air Forces in World War II. He retired in 1954 as a lieutenant colonel in the U. S. Air Force.
After the Second World War, he was a frequent attendee at the RAF contingent's Battle of Britain celebration at Wright Patterson AF Base in Dayton, Ohio.
Lambert's wartime experiences were related in his excellent 1973 memoir, Combat Report.
He had several beagles later in life that he kept inside and claimed to never give them a bath.
He died in 1982 aged 87. He and his wife are buried in the Woodland Cemetery, Ironton, Ohio, in a mausoleum that he designed.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
fighter pilot who flew in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He was probably the second-ranking American ace
Ace
An ace is a playing card. In the standard French deck, an ace has a single suit symbol located in the middle of the card, sometimes large and decorated, especially in the case of the Ace of Spades...
of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He claimed 18 air-to-air victories, 8 fewer than "Ace of Aces" Eddie Rickenbacker
Eddie Rickenbacker
Edward Vernon Rickenbacker was an American fighter ace in World War I and Medal of Honor recipient. He was also a race car driver and automotive designer, a government consultant in military matters and a pioneer in air transportation, particularly as the longtime head of Eastern Air Lines.-Early...
and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
.
Biography
He was born William Carpenter Lambert in Ironton, OhioIronton, Ohio
Ironton is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Lawrence County. The municipality is located in southern Ohio along the Ohio River. The population was 11,211 at the 2000 census. Ironton is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the...
. He was the son of Mary and William G. Lambert. Lambert had his first airplane flight in a Wright biplane on 4 July 1910.
In 1914, Lambert quit his job as a chemist in Buffalo, New York, to go enlist in the Canadian Royal Artillery. Finding no openings, he took a chemist's job with Canadian Explosives Limited until 1916.
He joined the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
in early 1917, and sailed for England after completion of his training, on 19 November 1917. He joined No. 24 Squadron RFC on 20 March 1918 flying the Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a, and, between April and August, scored 18 victories (1 balloon, 9 aircraft destroyed, 2 shared destroyed and 5 and 1 shared "out of control"). This number, however, is controversial, as other sources credit Lambert with 21½ air victories (http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=7154), and his autobiography lists in the appendix what he considered to be his true combat record.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
. The official documents granting Lambert the RFC are in the Ohio Memory Collection http://cdm267401.cdmhost.com/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/p267401coll36&CISOPTR=23934&REC=3
Suffering from combat fatigue brought on by a bombing attack on his airfield, he was rotated back to England for medical leave on 20 August 1918 but the war ended before he recovered. One of his prized memorabilia was a piece of red canvas from Von Richtofen's Fokker DR-1 triplane.
After the war Lambert did some barnstorming in the Ironton, Ohio area and worked as an engineer. He also was the inventor of a rather unusual "pipe rest" which allowed a smoking pipe to be rested upon the smoker's chin.
After the war, Lambert joined the U. S. Air Service and served with the Army Air Forces in World War II. He retired in 1954 as a lieutenant colonel in the U. S. Air Force.
After the Second World War, he was a frequent attendee at the RAF contingent's Battle of Britain celebration at Wright Patterson AF Base in Dayton, Ohio.
Lambert's wartime experiences were related in his excellent 1973 memoir, Combat Report.
He had several beagles later in life that he kept inside and claimed to never give them a bath.
He died in 1982 aged 87. He and his wife are buried in the Woodland Cemetery, Ironton, Ohio, in a mausoleum that he designed.