 | This article may require copy editing for style. (November 2024) |
Hilbert Leigh Bair | |
|---|---|
 Hilbert Leigh Bair, 1918 | |
| Born | 15 November 1894 New York City, New York, United States |
| Died | 24 November 1985 Hawaii, USA |
| Buried | Section CT2-D, Row 400, Site 423, National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service | Royal Air Force (United Kingdom) Air Service, United States Army |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | Royal Air Force |
| Battles / wars |   World War I World War II |
| Awards | American Distinguished Service Cross, British Distinguished Flying Cross |
| Other work | Returned to service for World War II |
Lieutenant (later Lieutenant Colonel) Hilbert Leigh Bair began his service career as a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.[1]
Bair joined the U.S. Army Air Service on 18 July 1917. He was forwarded to the Royal Air Force for seasoning, and was assigned to 24 Squadron on 5 July 1918. On 22 August, he shared his first win with fellow ace William Lambert and a couple of other pilots, driving a Fokker D.VII down out of control. Bair also shared one of his two 29 August victories with another pilot. The next day, Bair and Horace Barton cooperated in the destruction of an Albatros reconnaissance plane. Bair singlehandedly destroyed a Fokker D.VII on 8 September. A week later, for his last triumph, he again teamed with Barton in the destruction of a Hannover recon plane. In October, Bair transferred back to an American unit, the 25th Aero Squadron.[2]
In World War II, Hilbert Bair returned to service in the U.S. Army Air Force as a lieutenant colonel.[3]
- ^ "Hilbert Leigh Bair". www.theaerodrome.com. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
- ^ Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. p. 56.
- ^ Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. p. 56.