George Augustus Vaughn, Jr.

George Augustus Vaughn Jr. (May 20, 1897 – July 31, 1989) was an American fighter ace in World War I and Distinguished Service Cross, Britain's Distinguished Flying Cross, and Silver Star recipient. Vaughn was America's second-ranking Air Service ace to survive the war.

Early life Vaughn was born in Brooklyn and attended Adelphi Academy. Upon graduating in 1915 he entered Princeton University. While at Princeton Vaughn learned how to fly Curtiss Jenny biplanes.

World War I After some training with the RAF, and an interim post ferrying aircraft to France, Vaughn was posted in May 1918 to No. 84 Squadron RAF, based in Bertangles and commanded by Sholto Douglas. He was attached to "B" flight, led by Hugh "Dingbat" Saunders, the sometimes-wingman to RAF ace Andrew Beauchamp-Proctor (along with Philadelphia-born Joseph "Child Yank" Boudwin), all three pilots flying the Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a. Vaughn claimed seven air victories in his time with 84 Squadron.

In August 1918, Vaughn was transferred to the 17th Aero Squadron, United States Air Service, where he flew the Sopwith Camel, claiming another six victories.

Vaughn was America's second-ranking Air Service ace to survive the war. He is credited with downing four German planes destroyed, seven shared destroyed, one kite balloon destroyed and one aircraft "out of control". One of the German pilots he shot down was Friedrich T. Noltenius, a 21-victory ace, on September 22, 1918.

Verified aerial victories Number Vaughn would later comment: "I remember my first combat victory. The Pfalz I was engaged with got a long burst into my tail before I knew he was even in the sky. That was a great lesson never to be forgotten, always see the other fellow first and never let him see you first. Fortunately his aim was quite poor and after that it was only the routine we had learned in combat school. Eventually he turned for home. I chased him, which wasn't the right thing to do as it turned out. When I finally caught up with him I was quite far into German territory and my flight commander really told me off later, because he didn't relish being pulled that far into Germany just to watch over me. The Pfalz was confirmed by people in the squadron and on the ground. He fell in flames." 3: Shared with Lt Roy Manzer 4: Shared with Lt Roy Manzer 5: Shared with Lt Sidney Highwood 7: Shared with Lt Carl Frederick Falkenberg 8 & #9: Referenced in Vaughn's Distinguished Service Cross citation (see below). One of planes shot down was flown by Friedrich T. Noltenius, who survived. 11: Shared with Lt Howard Burdick "While on O.P., immediately after dropping bombs on Awoingt, saw 2 two-seaters, at 3,500 feet, at 9:10a, just E of Awoingt. Fired at them and they dived east. Lieut Burdick and I followed on D.F.W., with orange fuselage and camoouflaged wings, and shot him down attacking him first from the front. I got in 150 rounds from 75 yards. He went down in a half-dive, half-spin, and crashed into the ground at 57b.B.23."

Vaughn College Vaughn and Lee D. Warrender joined with Casey Jones in founding the Casey Jones School of Aeronautics, the predecessor of the Academy of Aeronautics, and as of September 1986, the College of Aeronautics. In September 2004, the name was changed to the Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology.

Death and legacy

Vaughn died of a brain tumor while on Staten Island, on 31 July 1989. He is buried in Rye, New York. Vaughn's military records, award certificate of military honors and uniform are now in the New York State Military Museum in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.