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Navy Federal Credit Union
John
Sharpe
Griffith
November 26, 1898

–

October 14, 1974

John Griffith became a World War I Aerial ACE while flying with the British Royal Air Force, and was credited with shooting down 7 airplanes in aerial combat, and one balloon during World War I. He was credited with destroying a second balloon in 1919 in the North Russia operations. He served as a U.S. Army Air Forces colonel during World War II, and led a mission to the Soviet Union to establish bases there for the bombing of Germany. He retired as a U.S. Air Force Colonel in 1956.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Captain (Air Corps)

    Action Date:

    July 22, 1936
    War Department, General Orders No. 1 (1937)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain (Air Corps) John Sharpe Griffith, U.S. Army Air Corps, for heroism while participating in an aerial flight from Wright Field, Ohio, to Indianapolis, Indiana, 22 July 1936. While making a carbon monoxide test flight of a new Army airplane at an altitude of 2,000 feet, the engine burst into flames and smoke. Capitan Griffith, the copilot and the pilot, without though of themselves directed the crew of observers to jump and then by switching gas valves and using extinguishers succeeded in extinguishing the fire, thereby preventing not only possible loss of life but destruction to valuable Government property.