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| Name: | Donald Hudson | Country: | United States | Rank: | Lieutenant | Service: | United States Air Service | Squadrons: | 27th Aero | Victories: | 6 | Born: | 21 December 1895 | Place of Birth: | Topeka, Kansas | Died: | 11 June 1967 | Place of Death: | Fort Meade, Maryland |
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| | In 1917, Hudson joined the United States Air Service in Kansas City, Missouri. Following flight training, he was assigned to the 27th Pursuit Squadron on 24 November 1917. In early 1918, the squadron shipped out for France where Hudson scored his first two victories flying the Nieuport 28. In August, the 27th Aero was re-equipped with the SPAD S.XIII with which Hudson scored four more victories. By the end of the war, he was the third highest scoring ace in his squadron. In 1919, Hudson traveled to South America where he became an instructor for the Bolivian Air Force and was the first pilot to fly across the Andes. In recognition of his achievement, the city of La Paz erected a monument in his honor. |
| Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) |
| "For extraordinary heroism in action near Fere-en-Tardenois, France, 1 August 1918. A protection patrol of which Lt. Hudson was a member, was attacked by a large formation of enemy planes; he was separated from the formation and forced to a low altitude by four enemy planes (Fokker type). He shot down one, drove off the other three and started to our lines with a damaged machine but was attacked by two biplanes. He shot down both of these planes and by great perseverance and determination succeeded in reaching out lines." DSC citation |
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