Name: Field Eugene Kindley Country: United States Rank: Captain Services: United States Air Service Squadrons: 65 (RAF) 148th Aero (USAS) Victories: 12 Born: 13 March 1896 Place of Birth: Pea Ridge, Arkansas Died: 1 February 1920 Place of Death: Texas 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. For more information on American ace Field Kindley, please visit his page at the Kansas Adjutant General's Department. 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 been 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 Aces ╖ Aircraft ╖ Books ╖ Chat ╖ Forum ╖ Guests ╖ Links ╖ Medals ╖ News ╖ Search ╖ Vote Copyright ⌐ 1997,1998 The Aerodrome Page revised on 18 Nov 1997