August Thayer Iaccaci

Name:

the Thayer Quarterly, March 2004, Volume 12, 1

Country:

United States

Rank:

Captain

Service:

Royal Flying Corps
Royal Air Force

Units:

20, 48

Victories:

Born:

06 June 1893

Place of Birth:

Hingham, Massachusetts, USA

Died:

30 April 1980

Place of Death:

Madison, Connecticut, USA

The son of August Florino and Mable Thomas (Thayer) Jaccaci, August Thayer Iaccaci and his brother Paul joined the 7th Regiment, National Guard New York in June 1913 and served in Texas, on the Mexican border, in the summer of 1916. Later that year, August enrolled as a freshman at Princeton University. He was employed by H. K. McCann Company before he and his brother went to Toronto, Canada to join the Royal Flying Corps in 1917. Arriving in England, they completed their training at Netheravon and received commissions. In April 1918, they were posted to Calais where they flew Bristol Fighters with 20 Squadron. Each of them was credited with 17 victories while serving with this squadron. Promoted to Captain in October 1918, August Iaccaci was reassigned to 48 Squadron as a flight commander. Later that month, he was wounded in the eye and sent back to England, spending the duration of the war in hospital. He and his brother returned to the United States in May 1919.

Also known as August Thayer Jaccaci.

Captain August Thayer Iaccaci, D.F.C. (left) and Captain Paul Thayer Iaccaci, D.F.C., No. 20 Squadron, RFC.

Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

"Lieut. August Thayer Iaccaci.
This officer has taken part in many engagements, and he and his observer have been most successful in destroying enemy machines. A resolute and skilful airman."

Supplement to the London Gazette, 3 August 1918 (30827/9200)

Victories

	Date	Time	Unit	Aircraft	Opponent	Location
1	19 May 1918	1040	20	Bristol F.2b (C859) ¹	Pfalz D.III (DES)	S of Vieux Berquin
2	22 May 1918		20	Bristol F.2b ¹	Two-seater (DES)	Bailleul
3	27 May 1918	1215	20	Bristol F.2b (B1114) ¹	Pfalz D.III (DES)	S of Neuve Eglise
4	31 May 1918	0800	20	Bristol F.2b (C4762) ²	Albatros D.V (OOC)	SW of Armentières
5	31 May 1918	1850	20	Bristol F.2b ³	Pfalz D.III (OOC)	N of Comines
6	01 Jun 1918	1200	20	Bristol F.2b (C976) ⁴	Pfalz D.III (OOC)	N of Merville
7	08 Jun 1918	1720	20	Bristol F.2b (C892) ¹	Pfalz D.III (DES)	NE of Wervicq
8	17 Jun 1918	0715	20	Bristol F.2b (C892) ¹	Pfalz D.III (DES)	Houthem
9	30 Jun 1918	0730	20	Bristol F.2b (C892) ¹	Pfalz D.III (DES)	W of Halluin
10	14 Jul 1918	0900	20	Bristol F.2b ⁵	Fokker D.VII (OOC) ⁶	SE of Ypres
11	06 Sep 1918	0830	20	Bristol F.2b (E2213) ¹	Fokker D.VII (OOC)	Cambrai-St. Quentin
12	06 Sep 1918	0855	20	Bristol F.2b (E2213) ¹	Fokker D.VII (DES)	NE of St. Quentin
13	15 Sep 1918	1115	20	Bristol F.2b (E2213) ¹	Fokker D.VII (DES)	S of Lesdin
14	15 Sep 1918	1120	20	Bristol F.2b (E2213) ¹	Fokker D.VII (DES)	S of Morcourt
15	16 Sep 1918	0825	20	Bristol F.2b (E2213) ¹	Fokker D.VII (DES)	W of Lesdin
u/c	20 Sep 1918		20	Bristol F.2b	Fokker D.VII	St. Quentin
16	27 Sep 1918	1030	20	Bristol F.2b (E2213) ¹	Fokker D.VII (DES)	S of Fontaine
17	27 Sep 1918	1030	20	Bristol F.2b (E2213) ¹	Fokker D.VII (OOC)	N of Bernot

1	Observer Arthur Newland
2	Observer Sgt D A Malpas
3	Observer Lt Ernest Hardcastle
4	Observer Sgt W O'Neill
5	Observer Lt Ronald Turner
6	Shared with Capt Dennis Latimer & Lt Tom Noel

Books

Bristol F 2 Fighter Aces of World War 1: by Jon Guttman / Paperback / Osprey Publishing (September 18, 2007)
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)
In Clouds of Glory: American Airmen Who Flew With The British During The Great War: by James J. Hudson / Paperback / University of Arkansas Press (October 1, 1990)