Navy Federal Credit Union

The son of millionaire Andrew B. Hammond of San Francisco, California, socialite Leonard Coombes Hammond attended Harvard in 1901 and 1902. From November 1915 until November 1916 he was a driver in the Norton-Harjes Ambulance Corps on the Western Front. Upon his return to San Francisco, he entered officer’s training at the Presidio in May 1917 and was commissioned First Lieutenant on 15 August 1917. As an observer, Lieutenant Hammond was credited with 6 shared aerial victories, becoming an ACE in World War I.

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.

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Service

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Air Service)

    Batallion:

    91st Aero Squadron

    Division:

    American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    September 15, 1918

    War Department, General Orders No. 138 (1918)

    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.