Name: Joseph Frank "Fritz" Wehner Country: United States Rank: Lieutenant Service: United States Air Service Squadrons: 27th Aero (Eagle) Victories: 6 Born: 20 September 1895 Place of Birth: Roxbury, Massachusetts Died: 18 September 1918 Place of Death: Near Serronville Notes The son of a German immigrant, Wehner's athletic achievements in high school football earned him a scholarship to the Phillips Exeter Academy in 1914. Graduating in 1916, he left for Europe as an employee of the YMCA, living in Berlin until the United States severed diplomatic relations with Germany in April 1917. Returning home, he enlisted in the Signal Corps during June 1917. While receiving flight training, Wehner's German ancestry led to an FBI investigation followed by an unsubstantiated arrest for suspicion of treason by the Secret Service. Eventually, he was permitted to rejoin his unit and departed for England in February 1918. During aerial combat training at Issoudun, France, Wehner, now bitter and withdrawn over the question of his loyalty, became friends with another loner: Frank Luke. Both pilots were assigned to the 27th Pursuit Squadron under Harold Hartney on 25 July 1918. With six confirmed victories during September 1918, Wehner shot down one Fokker D.VII and five balloons in just three days of aerial combat. He was killed in action shortly after he and Luke knocked down two German balloons. Protecting Luke's attack on a third balloon, Wehner's SPAD S.XIII was shot down by Georg von Hantlemann of Jasta 15. Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) "For extraordinary heroism in action near Rouvers, France, 15 September 1918. While on a mission, Lt. Wehner found an enemy patrol of eight machines attacking a single American observation machine. He immediately attacked, destroying one and forcing another down out of control, his own plane being badly damaged by enemy machine gun fire. He managed to convoy the American plane to safety." DSC citation Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) Oak Leaf Cluster "For extraordinary heroism near Mangiennes and Reville, France, 16 September 1918. Amid terrific anti-aircraft and ground machine gun fire, Lt. Wehner descended, attacked and destroyed two enemy balloons. One of these balloons was destroyed in flames after it had been hauled to the ground and was resting in its bed." 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