William Carpenter Lambert

Name:

Country:

United States

Rank:

Captain

Service:

Royal Flying Corps
Royal Air Force

Unit:

Victories:

Born:

18 August 1894

Place of Birth:

Ironton, Ohio, USA

Died:

19 March 1982

Place of Death:

Ironton, Ohio, USA

Cemetery:

Woodland Cemetery, Ironton, Ohio, USA

   The son of William G. and Mary Lambert, William Carpenter Lambert was born and raised in Ironton, Ohio. He was first introduced to aviation at the age of 10 or 11 when an aviator flying a Wright Flyer arrived in Ironton for the annual 4th of July celebration. Lambert went for a ride and the pilot allowed him to handle the controls.
    In 1914 Lambert left his job as a chemist, in Buffalo, New York, to go to Canada to enlist in the Royal Artillery. When he arrived, there were no openings and he found work as a chemist and factory supervisor at the Nobel plant in Montreal. He was employed by Canadian Explosives Limited from 1914 to 1916.
   In the spring of 1917 Lambert joined the Royal Flying Corps and received his training at Long Branch, Camp Borden, Camp Mohawk and Camp Rathbone. He sailed from Canada on 19 November 1917. Posted to 24 Squadron in France on 20 March 1918, he had 32 aerial combats and scored 18 victories before he was sent to hospital for battle fatigue on 20 August 1918. He was given home leave and remained at home for the remainder of the war.
   After the war, Lambert spent a year barnstorming with air shows in the eastern United States. He worked as an engineer, started manufacturing airplanes with a friend in Dayton, Ohio, and flew the U.S. Air Mail route from Cleveland, Ohio to Washington, D.C. Active in the U.S. Army Air Corps Reserve since the 1920s, he served as an engineer during World War II and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1954.
   An accomplished artist who made many sketches and paintings of his flying experiences, Lambert sold prints from his collection later in life. He also wrote two books: "Barnstorming and Girls" and "Combat Report." One of his prize memorabilia from the Great War was a piece of fabric from Manfred von Richthofen's red Fokker DR.I triplane.
   Lambert died following a long illness. He was buried in the uniform he wore so proudly as a Lieutenant Colonel in World War II. He was 87.

World War I Ace Buried
Marysville Journal-Tribune - Wednesday, March 24, 1982

Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Lt. William Carpenter Lambert.
He has destroyed six enemy machines and driven down four others out of control, displaying at all times dash and determination. On one occasion, when attacked by two Fokker biplanes, he drove down one, engaged the other at twenty yards range, and crashed it to earth.

Supplement to the London Gazette, 3 August 1918 (30827/9201)

Victories

	Date	Time	Unit	Aircraft	Opponent	Location
1	07 Apr 1918	1550	24	S.E.5a (B79)	Albatros D.V (OOC)	Moreuil Wood
2	12 Apr 1918	1615	24	S.E.5a (C1084)	Albatros D.V (DES)	Hangard-Moreuil
3	21 Apr 1918	1100	24	S.E.5a (C1082)	Balloon (DES) ¹	La Quesnil
4	04 May 1918	1845	24	S.E.5a (C1082)	Pfalz D.III (OOC)	Bray-Dompierre
5	09 May 1918	1945	24	S.E.5a (C1082)	Albatros D.V (DES) ²	Hangard Wood
6	20 May 1918	0835	24	S.E.5a (C1870)	Pfalz D.III (OOC)	Chaulnes-Albert
7	02 Jun 1918	1115	24	S.E.5a (C1870)	S.S. D.III (DES)	Davenescourt
8	17 Jun 1918	1200	24	S.E.5a (C1870)	Fokker D.VII (DES)	Villers-Brettoneaux
9	17 Jun 1918	1200	24	S.E.5a (C1870)	Fokker D.VII (DESF)	Villers-Brettoneaux
10	27 Jun 1918	1925	24	S.E.5a (C1084)	Pfalz D.III (OOC)	Chipilly
11	29 Jun 1918	1850	24	S.E.5a (C1084)	Albatros D.V (DES)	N of La Quesnel
12	04 Jul 1918	0900	24	S.E.5a (C1084)	Fokker D.VII (DES)	Bayonvillers
13	04 Jul 1918	0901	24	S.E.5a (C1084)	Fokker D.VII (DES)	Bayonvillers
14	04 Aug 1918	0920	24	S.E.5a (C1084)	LVG C (DES) ²	E of Morlancourt
15	10 Aug 1918	0750	24	S.E.5a (B8395)	LVG C (OOC) ³	NE of Rosières
16	10 Aug 1918	1400	24	S.E.5a (B8395)	Fokker D.VII (OOC)	Fouquescourt
17	10 Aug 1918	1405	24	S.E.5a (B8395)	Hannover C (DES)	NE of Parvillers
18	19 Aug 1918	1159	24	S.E.5a (B8395)	Fokker D.VII (DES)	W of Nesle

1	Shared with Lt George Johnson
2	Shared with 2Lt T B Hellett (C1845)
3	Shared with Capt Wilfred Selwyn, Lt Thomas Harries, 2Lt Hilbert Bair

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)
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)
Combat Report: by William Lambert / Hardcover / Kimber