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In 1917, Donald Hudson joined the United States Air Service in Kansas City, Missouri. Following flight training, he was assigned to the 27th Aero Squadron on 24 November 1917. In early 1918, the squadron shipped out for France where Hudson scored his first two victories flying the Nieuport 28. In August, the 27th Aero was re-equipped with the SPAD XIII with which Hudson scored four more victories. By the end of the war, he was the third highest scoring ace in his squadron. In 1919, Hudson traveled to South America where he became an instructor for the Bolivian Air Force and was the first pilot to fly across the Andes. In recognition of his achievement, the city of La Paz erected a monument in his honor. Hudson died of a stroke at age 71.
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The Kansas City Star, Kansas City, Missouri, Saturday, 24 August 1918, page 2
The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio, Monday, 28 June 1920, page 22 |
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Combat Report, 12 September 1918 |
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| Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) |
| The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Donald Hudson, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Fere-en-Tardenois, France, August 1, 1918. A protection patrol of which Lieutenant Hudson was a member was attacked by a large formation of enemy planes. First Lieutenant Hudson was separated from the formation and forced to a low altitude by four enemy planes (Fokker type). He shot down one, drove off the other three, and started to our lines with a damaged machine, but was attacked by two planes. He shot down both of these planes and, by great perseverance and determination, succeeded in reaching our lines.
General Orders No. 46, W.D., 1919 |
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| Victories |
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Date |
Time |
Unit |
Aircraft |
Opponent |
Location |
| 1 |
02 Jul 1918 |
0715 |
27th |
Nieuport 28 |
Fokker D.VII 1 |
Vervilly |
| 2 |
02 Jul 1918 |
0715 |
27th |
Nieuport 28 |
Fokker D.VII 1 |
Entrepilly |
| 3 |
01 Aug 1918 |
0810 |
27th |
SPAD XIII |
Fokker D.VII 2 |
Fère-en-Tardenois |
| 4 |
01 Aug 1918 |
0811 |
27th |
SPAD XIII |
Rumpler C 3 |
Fère-en-Tardenois |
| 5 |
01 Aug 1918 |
0811 |
27th |
SPAD XIII |
Rumpler C |
Saponay |
| 6 |
06 Oct 1918 |
1550 |
27th |
SPAD XIII |
Fokker D.VII 4 |
Cuissy |
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| 1 |
Shared with Lt A A Grant, Lt W J Hoover, Lt John MacArthur, Lt F W Norton, Lt R S Schmitt |
| 2 |
Shared with Lt Jerry Vasconcells, Lt R V Nevius |
| 3 |
Shared with Lt I A Roberts |
| 4 |
Shared with Lt Jerry Vasconcells, Lt E W Hewitt |
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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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