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Born on a farm in southern Indiana, Thomas Gantz Cassady enrolled at the University of Chicago in 1914 but left school in 1916 to join the United States Ambulance Service during Christmas vacation in 1916. Sailing from New York, he arrived at the front on 3 February 1917. After serving in the Champagne, Chemin des Dames and Argonne sectors, he enlisted in the French Foreign Legion. In July 1917, he transferred to the French Air Service receiving his flight training at Avord, Tours, Pau and Plessis-Belleville. Breveted on 6 October 1917, Sergeant Cassady was posted to Spa157 on 26 December 1917. In February 1918, he joined the United States Air Service and after serving with the 103rd Aero Squadron, he was attached to Spa163 on 14 May 1918. The highest scoring ace in this escadrille, Cassady scored 5 victories as a SPAD pilot. On 8 September 1918, he was reassigned to the 28th Aero Squadron where he scored 4 more victories flying the SPAD XIII. Cassady was promoted to Captain in March 1919. In 1926 he formed an investment firm in Chicage. As an officer in the OSS during World War II, he worked closely with the French underground until detained by the Germans in 1942. Released in 1944, he was sent to Algiers where he resumed undercover assignments in preparation for the Normandy invasion. With the liberation of Paris, Cassady returned to that city to serve as chief intelligence officer. Following the war, he joined the Chicago investment firm, Farwell-Chapman and Company, and in 1953 he took over the American Wringer Company plant at Waterloo, Iowa. Later, he became chairman of the board of directors of the Chamberlain Corporation and was its largest single stockholder. He died at his home in Lake Forest, Illinois. He was survived by his widow, Elizabeth and a sister, Mrs. I. P. Swain. Cassady was 76.
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| Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) |
| The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Thomas G. Cassady, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Fismes, May 29, 1918, and near Epieds, France, June 5, 1918. On May 29, 1918, Lieutenant Cassady, single-handed, attacked an Lvg. German plane which crashed near Fismes. On June 5, 1918, as patrol leader of five spades, while being attacked by 12 German Fokkers, he brought down one of the enemy planes near Epieds and by his dash and courage broke the enemy formation.
General Orders No. 138, W.D., 1918 |
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| Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) Oak Leaf Cluster |
| The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Thomas G. Cassady, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action on August 15, 1918, near St. Maire. While in action as protection for a Salmson, First Lieutenant Cassady was attacked by seven Fokkers, two of which he brought down and enabled the Salmson to accomplish its mission and return safely.
General Orders No. 138, W.D., 1918 |
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| Légion d'Honneur |
| He came to serve France at a time when there was no military obligation or compulsion. Object of a brilliant citation and gravely wounded in the Medical Section. He has since passed to aviation where he is indispensible in turn by the greatness of his character, his skill as a pilot, and his absolute disregard for danger. Officially credited with five enemy planes.
Légion d'Honneur citation |
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| Victories |
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Date |
Time |
Unit |
Aircraft |
Opponent |
Location |
| 1 |
28 May 1918 |
1330 |
Spa163 |
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LVG C 1 |
Savigny |
| 2 |
05 Jun 1918 |
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Spa163 |
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Albatros D.V |
Epieds |
| 3 |
23 Jun 1918 |
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Spa163 |
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Halberstadt CL.II 2 |
Ferte Gaucher |
| u/c |
29 Jul 1918 |
1745 |
Spa163 |
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Two-seater |
Cornilette |
| u/c |
01 Aug 1918 |
1150 |
Spa163 |
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Two-seater 3 |
Montspar |
| 4 |
11 Aug 1918 |
1205 |
Spa163 |
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Two-seater 4 |
Betheniville |
| 5 |
15 Aug 1918 |
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Spa163 |
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Fokker D.VII 5 |
St. Marie-a-Py |
| u/c |
15 Aug 1918 |
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Spa163 |
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Fokker D.VII 5 |
St. Marie-a-Py |
| 6 |
14 Sep 1918 |
0733 |
28th |
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Fokker D.VII 6 |
Villers-sur-Troy |
| 7 |
26 Sep 1918 |
0723 |
28th |
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Fokker D.VII |
St. Marie-a-Py |
| 8 |
02 Oct 1918 |
1750 |
28th |
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Halberstadt C 7 |
Iviory |
| 9 |
27 Oct 1918 |
1500 |
28th |
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Two-seater 8 |
Briquesny |
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| 1 |
Shared with Lt William Ponder, Cpl Dequeker |
| 2 |
Shared with Sgt M Guillet, Sgt S Lederlin |
| 3 |
Shared with Sgt James Connelly, Sgt A A Cook |
| 4 |
Shared with Lt William Ponder, Sgt A A Cook |
| 5 |
Shared with Sgt James Connelly, Sgt Penevynick |
| 6 |
Shared with Lt H C Allen, Lt E J Hardy, Lt W T Jebb, Lt C I Merrick, Lt L P Moriarty |
| 7 |
Shared with Lt J R Hardendorf, Lt E J Hardy, Lt W T Jebb, Lt J F Merrill, Lt A H Smith, Lt Martinius Stenseth |
| 8 |
Shared with Lt B E Brown, Lt George Furlow |
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| Books |
- American Aces of World War 1
- by Norman Franks, Harry Dempsey (Illustrator) / Paperback / Osprey Publishing (September 25, 2001)
- Over the Front
- by Norman L. R. Franks, Frank W. Bailey / Hardcover / Grub Street the Basement (May 1992)
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