Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Service

    Rank:

    Second Lieutenant (Air Service)

    Batallion:

    147th Aero Squadron

    Regiment:

    1st Pursuit Group

    Division:

    American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    October 26, 1918

    War Department, General Orders No. 37 (1919)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant (Air Service) Meredith L. Dowd, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 147th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., near Dannevoux, France, 26 October 1918. Having been unable to overtake and join a patrol, Lieutenant Dowd alone encountered four German planes, which he daringly attacked. He fought with most wonderful skill and bravery, diving into the formation and sending one of the enemy to earth. In the course of the combat his machine was disabled and crashed to the earth, killing him in the fall.