Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
David
Endicott
Putnam
KIA (WWI)
December 10, 1898

–

September 12, 1918

Cemetery:

Lafayette Escadrille Memorial

A descendant of Revolutionary War General Israel Putnam, David Putnam attended Harvard before entering military service, where he became an ACE with 13 victories (12 airplanes and 1 balloon). At the time of his death on September 12, 1918, he was the American ACE of ACEs.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Service

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Air Service)

    Batallion:

    139th Aero Squadron

    Regiment:

    4th Pursuit Group

    Division:

    American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    September 12, 1918
    War Department, General Orders 71 (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 First Lieutenant (Air Service) David Endicott Putnam, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 139th Aero Squadron, 4th Pursuit Group, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., near Lachaussee, France, 12 September 1918. After destroying one of the eight German planes which had attacked him, Lieutenant Putnam was turning to our lines, when he saw seven Fokkers attack an allied biplane. He attacked the Germans and saved the biplane, but was himself driven down, shot through the heart.