Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Service) Leonard Coombes Hammond, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 91st Aero Squadron, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., in the region of Metz, France, 15 September 1918. While on a photographic mission Lieutenant Hammond’s formation was attacked by a superior number of enemy pursuit planes. Notwithstanding that the enemy planes succeeded in driving off the protecting planes, Lieutenant Hammond and his pilot, Lieutenant Dickens, continued on alone. Continually harassed by enemy aircraft, they completed their photographs, and on the return fought their way through an enemy patrol and destroyed on of the machines.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Captain (Air Service)

    Regiment:

    1st Army Observation Group

    Division:

    American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    October 31, 1918
    GHQ, American Expeditionary Forces, Citation Orders No. 2 (June 3, 1919)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Air Service) Leonard Coombes Hammond, United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action while serving as an Observer with the 1st Army Observation Group, American Expeditionary Forces, on 31 October 1918, in the vicinity of Longuyon, in protecting a photographic mission.