Capt. Field Eugene Kindley, RAF/USAS
Victories:
11
Squadrons:
65 (RAF) 
148th
Aero (USAS)
Born:
13 March 1896 Pea Ridge, Arkansas
Died: 1 February 1920 Killed In Flying Accident
Texas
Awards:
American Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) with Oak Leaf
Cluster, British Distinguished Flying Cross
Notes
A motion picture
operator from Coffeyville, Kansas, Kindley joined the Kansas
National Guard in May 1917. Transferring to the U.S. Army's
Signal Corps, he attended the School of Military Aeronautics at
the University of Illinois before going to England for advanced
flight training at Oxford. To gain combat experience, he was
assigned to the Royal Air Force's 65 Squadron on the Western
Front on 22 May 1918. Flying the Sopwith Camel , Kindley scored
his first victory on 26 June 1918, shooting down a Pfalz D.III
flown by the commanding officer of Jasta 5, Wilhelm Lehmann.
Reassigned to the 148th Pursuit Squadron as a flight commander,
Kindley's patrol engaged Jasta 11 on 13 August 1918. That day, he
scored his fourth victory, shooting down a Fokker D.VII possibly
flown by Lothar von Richthofen who was wounded in the battle.
Promoted to Captain on 24 February 1919, Kindley assumed command
of the 94th Pursuit Squadron at Kelly Field in Texas in January
1920. Less than a month later, he was killed during training
maneuvers when a control cable broke and his plane crashed to the
ground. His Sopwith Camel F.1, claimed to be the only surviving
Camel in the United States, was used during the filming of
"The Blue Max" in 1968. It is currently on loan to the
Aerospace Education Center in Arkansas. Kindley Field in Bermuda
was named in his honor.
Distinguished
Flying Cross (DFC)
"On 24
September [1918], Lt. Kindley led his flight down on seven
Fokkers north of Bourlon Wood, one of which he followed down and
saw crash and burst into flames. On 26 September [1918], while
working in conjunction with another of our flights, Lt. Kindley's
flight accounted for two EA crashed, one of which he got. On 27
September [1918], this officer on low flying duty dropped bombs
on railways near Marcoing, then attacked a balloon near
Noyelles-sur-l'Escaut, driving same down and compelling the two
observers to jump. He then, at an altitude of 600 feet, attacked
and silenced an enemy machine gun and shot up troops. Being then
attacked by a Halberstadt, he engaged it and brought it down in
flames. Lt. Kindley's ammunition then being used up, he started
for the lines but on the way back, he saw two EA which he dived
on. They turned and went east. This officer has been on active
service in France since 23 May 1918. His work in this squadron
has been consistently good and since 30 July [1918], he has bee n
leading 'A' Flight with marked success. He has accounted for a
total of seven and one half EA destroyed and has driven down out
of control, three." DFC citation, London Gazette
Distinguished
Service Cross (DSC)
"For
extraordinary heroism in action near Bourlon Wood, France, 24
September 1918. Lt. Kindley attacked a formation of seven hostile
planes (Fokker type) and sent one crashing to the ground."
DSC citation
Distinguished
Service Cross (DSC) Oak Leaf Cluster
"For
extraordinary heroism in action near Marcoing, France, 27
September 1918. Flying at a low altitude, this officer bombed the
railway at Marcoing and drove down an enemy balloon. He then
attacked German troops at low altitude and silenced a hostile
machine gun after which he shot down in flames an enemy plane
(Halberstadt type) which had attacked him. Lt. Kindley has so far
destroyed seven and one half enemy aircraft and driven down three
out of control." DSC Oak Leaf Cluster citation
The Aerodrome ©
1996,1997 All Rights Reserved
Back to Ace List
- WWI - American