George Augustus Vaughn, Jr., World War I Ace and 102nd Commander

George A. Vaughn, Jr. was born in Brooklyn in 1897. He attended Adelphi Academy in that city graduating in 1915 to enter Princeton University. He discontinued studies there to enlist in the Aviation Section, Signal Corps, U.S. Army in 1917 and was assigned to the first class of the Princeton School of Military Aeronautics for ground school training. He and a number of others in the class were sent to England for further training at the Royal Flying Corps ground school at Oxford University.

Completing the course there in November 1917, he then attended various Royal Flying Corps flight schools and was certified ready for combat on SE-5 aircraft in April 1918. After a brief tour of duty ferrying new aircraft to the Continent, he was finally posted to the 84th Squadron, Royal Air Force, then stationed at Bertangles, just north of Amiens, on the British front. This Squadron was equipped with SE-5 aircraft.

While with the 84th Squadron, Vaughn was officially credited with six enemy aircraft shot down, and one balloon. In August 1918, Vaughn was transferred to the 17th Pursuit Squadron, U.S. Air Service, as a flight commander. This squadron was made up entirely by American personnel flying British Sopwith Camels.

While with the 17th Vaughn was credited with six more aircraft shot down, with a total of thirteen official aerial victories, making him the second ranking U.S. Air Service Ace to survive WWI. The distinction is on the word survive. Following the war he became one of a group of war-time pilots who reorganized the first National Guard Air Squadron, the 102nd, and commanded the unit with the rank of Major for some nine years. In 1933 he was promoted to Lt. Colonel and assigned to the 27th Division Staff as Air Officer, an assignment he held until his retirement from the military in 1940. Lt. Col. Vaughn was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, The British Distinguished Cross, the Silver Star and two citations.

1st Lieutenant George A. Vaughn, Jr.

by Marvin Skelton

George Augustus Vaughn, Jr. was born in Brooklyn, New York on May 20th, 1897. He attended Princeton University where he was a member of the Aero Club in 1917. Princeton’s School of Military Aeronautics had a distinct advantage over every other similar program in the United States because the Princeton school had airplanes and the cadets actually learned to fly! All programs covered ground school, but because of the generosity of a wealthy alumnus the Princeton school had several Curtiss JN4D trainers and instructors. Princeton cadets completed ground school then began learning to fly. The only drawback was that once you flew solo your flying stopped to permit more time for other cadets still in the pipeline.

Still, Princeton graduates went to England having accumulated actual flight experience, flying was not just a theory to them!

The first Princeton class numbered about 30 students. Among Vaughn’s peers were Frank Dixon, Elliott White Springs, Frank Sidler, Harold K. Bulkley, Lansing Holden, Arthur Taber, and Hagood Bostick. Their fates were varied, some achieving glory like Vaughn and Springs, others perishing without ever reaching France.

Frank Sidler died piloting a SPAD XIII with the 124th Aero Squadron. Hagood Bostick crash landed in “No Man’s Land” and was severely injured. While he survived he was not returned to flying status. Bulkley was Vaughn’s best friend at Princeton and was killed in a flying accident in England. Bulkley had successfully landed his Avro when another landing Avro, piloted by a British student, pancaked onto Bulkley’s aircraft and killed him. Frank Dixon flew Camels with the 17th Aero Squadron and survived the war, as did Lansing Holden who finished the war second only to Frank Luke in balloons destroyed. Holden died in the postwar crash of a US Air Guard DH4 in Tennessee. Taber completed his training and was ferrying airplanes while awaiting a squadron assignment. His engine quite on take-off and he perished in the crash.

Upon graduation from Princeton, George Vaughn was sent to Bedloe Island (better known today as Liberty Island, home of the Statue of Liberty) to wait for transportation to England to complete his aviator’s training. Vaughn was in the second wave of pilots sent to Oxford, England for training, a group collectively known as “The Second Detachment”. Upon arrival, Vaughn was sent to Hounslow for Flight School and after graduation was assigned to Ayr, Scotland for Air Fighting School. Vaughn flew SE5s at Ayr, which destined him for assignment to a British squadron flying the SE5. The military command didn’t allow pilots to fly other types, so whatever you trained on was what you flew in combat. While training in Scotland, Vaughn crashed his SE5 into an orchard when he suffered an engine failure on take-off. The aircraft was a total loss but Vaughn walked away with just a black eye.

The Camels of 17th Aero Squadron

Elliott White Springs later described this incident in his book “Warbirds.” He assigned to a squadron until Pershing agreed to allow the commissioning of pilots. Pershing finally gave in to allow squadron assignments to occur. The law was changed in November 1917 decreeing that all subsequent aviators would be commissioned 2nd Lieutenants.

Vaughn’s first squadron assignment was to 84 Squadron, RAF, flying SE5a scouts. In June 1918, the time of Vaughn’s posting, 84 Squadron was commanded by Sholto Douglas. Douglas had an illustrious RAF career, eventually serving as Air Vice Marshall in WWII. Sholto Douglas really liked American pilots and he had more of them in his squadron than any other RFC/RAF squadron. Vaughn was assigned to “B” Flight, commanded by Hugh “Dingbat” Saunders. Saunders, like Douglas, is best known for his role in the RAF during WWII. 84 Squadron was stationed at Bertangles with Richtofen’s grave located in a nearby cemetery. Life at the Front was quite a bit different from Vaughn’s assignments in England. Living quarters in the English military schools were old castles and mansions; living quarters in Bertangles were large tents with crude toilet facilities. On his first combat patrol with 84 Squadron on the 16th of June Vaughn destroyed a Pfalz D.III fighter. Vaughn was credited with seven victories while flying with 84 Squadron. The victories comprised one balloon, four recon aircraft, and two fighters.

Vaughn was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for his last two victories with 84 Squadron. On the 23rd of August, Vaughn attacked a German balloon, closing to point blank range before firing at his target.

The balloon burst

Following graduation from Air Fighting School Vaughn was assigned to aircraft ferry duty and was stationed in London. All the U.S. pilots were caught up in red tape, waiting for General Pershing to “decide” about commissioning pilots as officers. Pershing was firmly against it fearing a dilution of the Army’s officer ranks due to the large number of pilots the war would require, however, Congress had passed a law requiring all pilots who had earned their wings be commissioned a 1st Lieutenant. No one could be into flames fell to the ground. Continuing his patrol, Vaughn observed a German recon machine and attacked it, shooting it down from an altitude of 500 feet. The Rumpler was destroyed in the crash. While with 84 Squadron Vaughn’s roommate was 1/ Lt. Alexander Matthews. Matthews was a “First Detachment” pilot, i.e., an American pilot cadet in the first wave of students sent to Oxford. Instead of flight training though, Matthews was one of 20 men selected for immediate commissioning and assigned the task of building the administrative infrastructure necessary for the subsequent training effort. Completing that task Matthews had completed flight training and joined Vaughn at 84 Squadron. Matthews was killed during a German night raid on the airfield by Gotha bombers.

The attack disturbed a movie and personnel scattered in all directions. Matthews and Vaughn started out together, but split up in the rush to the trenches. A Gotha gunner killed Matthews during a strafing run.

On the 27th of August, Vaughn was assigned to the 17th Aero Squadron, USAS and he reported for duty on the 29th. Vaughn was one of nine replacement pilots required at the end of August to keep the 17th Aero operational. Vaughn and Elliott White Springs were assigned to be flight commanders. The 17th had seen heavy fighting during the Battle of Cambrai, suffering significant losses, but on the 26th of August the squadron lost six pilots in a single combat against Jagdgeschwader III (Jastas 26, 27, 36 and Jasta Boelke). Three pilots were killed during the combat, one was wounded and died afterwards, and the flight commander and deputy flight commander were shot down and made prisoner. This was a tough sector!

This action proved to be the single largest loss by a US fighter squadron during WWI.

Neither Vaughn nor Elliott White Springs had ever flown a Sopwith Camel and both transitioned to their new fighter in a single day. Without mentioning their lack of experience with the Camel both men checked out a Camel and took off, flying to a remote field nearby where they could practice landings, take-offs, and various flight maneuvers without being observed by their new squadron.

The 17th Aero was stationed at Auxi-le-Chateau, which was the airfield James McCudden died at in a flying accident. McCudden was returning to his squadron from leave in England flying a brand new presentation SE5a. Lost, he had landed at Auxi-le-Chateau to ask directions, and his motor failed on take-off. McCudden attempted to turn back to the airfield, spun in, and died in the crash. Living conditions at Auxi-le-Chateau were no better than at Bertangles with 84 Squadron. Members of “B” Flight under Vaughn’s command were Glenn Wicks, Gerald Thomas, and Theose Tillinghast. Wicks and Thomas were both killed in action while Tillinghast was shot down and made prisoner. Vaughn stated that it always weighed heavily on his mind that he had lost his men in combat.

Vaughn was credited with another six victories while flying with the 17th Aero, split evenly between recon machines and scouts. Vaughn was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for an action on September 22nd, 1918. While leading a “high patrol” of 5 Camels near Cambrai Vaughn saw 15 Fokker D.VIIs about to attack a 17th Aero Squadron “low patrol”, another group of 5 Camels. Vaughn immediately led his squadron to the attack, despite observing another large formation of D.VII fighters waiting for him to expose his flight during the rescue. Despite being outnumbered, Vaughn destroyed two of the German fighters while his squadron mates downed another two Fokkers. Their intervention allowed their squadron mates to safely regain the lines. One of Vaughn’s victims was Ltn. Fritz Noltenius of Jasta 27. Noltenius, a 21-victory ace, survived his encounter with Vaughn and lived to fight again. Vaughn’s other victory, Karl Bauerbfeind of Jasta 34 was killed during the combat.

Vaughn’s last victory claim was for a Fokker D.VII on the 14th of October 1918. Shortly afterwards, the 17th Aero Squadron was pulled from service to transition to the SPAD XIII. Based at Toul, the squadron had barely started the transition process when the Armistice was signed. Just as well… none of the 17th Aero pilots liked the SPAD and really wanted nothing to do with it! None had accumulated more than three or four hours of flight time in the new machines. All training ceased with the surrenderof Germany.

Postwar, Vaughn remained in aviation. In 1919 the Prince of Wales visited America aboard a British warship and Vaughn was presented with his DFC in a ceremony held aboard the ship anchored in New York harbor. George acquired a degree in aeronautical engineering and became a partner in a flying school based at La Guardia airfield in New York. He was also active in the NY Air Guard between the wars, achieving the rank of Brigadier General.

During the 1970’s I was working on an article for Cross & Cockade with Frank Dixon of the 17th Aero Squadron when Dixon mentioned that Vaughn was looking for someone to assist him with publishing his memoirs. Dixon thought I was the man for the job and introduced me to George Vaughn. The collaboration was successful, resulting in George’s memoirs being published as “War Flying in France”. The book is still available from Sunflower University Press by special order. Hugh “Dingbat” Saunders wrote the Forward for the book.

17th Aero Squadron, Toul, France (Nov. 1918). Standing from the left, Lt. Vaughn, Everett, Goodnow, Donoho, Burdick, Dixon, Myers, Corse, Snoke, Armstrong and Capt. Eckert. Kneeling, Lt. Lubbers, Mason, Schadt, House, Giesecke, Clements, and Desson. They are standing in front of a Spad XIII which the 17th flew at Toul as part of the 4th Pursuit Group7th Aero

George Vaughn died on July 31, 1989 on Staten Island, New York from a brain tumor. One of George’s last appearances was at the first seminar held by The League of WWI Aviation Historians in Dallas in 1988. Vaughn appeared with Douglas Campbell and Ray Brooks, leading a lively discussion of flying and fighting in France in 1918.

Eagle Biography

Lieutenant Colonel George A. Vaughn, Jr. is the greatest living ace who served in the World War I American Expeditionary Force. Only Rickenbacker, Luke, and Lufbery surpassed his 13 aerial victories. Of these great aces, Vaughn and Rickenbacker were the only two who survived the war. Born in 1897, Vaughn grew up in Brooklyn and learned to fly the Curtis Jenny with the Princeton University Aero Club.

When the United States entered the war in 1917, he left school and joined the Aviation Section of the US Army Signal Corps. Vaughn completed flight training with the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and, in May 1918, entered combat with Flying No. 84 Squadron, RFC. The combat tour with the British was intended to provide him fighter experience before he joined one of the American squadrons forming in France. Flying the SE-5A for 3 months with the British, Vaughn downed six enemy aircraft and an observation balloon. His English commander, Sholto Douglas, described him as a very good shot in "Dead-Eye-Dick fashion." During his time with No. 84 Squadron, Vaughn was the most successful American fighter pilot in the unit and was one of the first American pilots to receive the British Distinguished Flying Cross. In August 1918, he transferred to the US Air Service as a flight commander with the 17th Aero Squadron and transitioned to Sopwith Camels. In less than 2 months he shot down six more aircraft, becoming an ace with both the Royal Flying Corps and the US Air Service.

After the war, he returned to Brooklyn where he was welcomed as a hero and given a homecoming parade. He later completed his engineering degree at Princeton and, in 1928, founded the Eastern Aeronautical Corporation. Vaughn also helped organize the first post-war National Guard Air Squadron, the 102nd, in New York and commanded the unit from 1923 to 1931. He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1940. Vaughn served as Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Trustees of the Academy of Aeronautics, a firm he co-founded in 1932.

84th Aero Squadron

Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology

NOTE: George A. Vaughn is a trustee of the College. Probably the grandson of our George Vaughn.

The New York State Board of Regents has approved a name change for the College of Aeronautics. Effective September 1, 2004, the institution will be known as Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology.

Our new name is a reflection of what we have become by building upon a foundation of excellence and hard work. Our reputation as an educational institution is longstanding. But that reputation of excellence has broadened in scope and strengthened over the years. We have an enrollment of more than 1,300 students and offer bachelor and associate degree programs. Our new name is a natural evolution of this quality we have established and nurtured over the past 72 years. This name change reflects our deep roots in the aviation industry, while at the same time focuses on the College's future as a greatly expanded academic institution with new programs to include engineering and master's level management offerings. The continued growth of our institution brings many more opportunities for the residents of the New York metropolitan area, and its surrounding environs, to pursue higher education programs in technology, management and aviation. We are also excited about the economic benefits these changes will bring to our neighbors and friends in Queens County.

The name change is part of the College's five-year strategic plan that was developed in 2001. It is the fourth such name change in the institution's 72-year history. It began in 1932 when Charles S. "Casey" Jones, a pioneer aviator and aviation company executive, foresaw the need for highly trained technicians to design, build and service aircraft and engines. George A. Vaughn, Jr. 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.

This change brings up many logistical questions, however. Changing the name of such an institution will take some time. As we ease into our new name, we want to lovingly acknowledge our former names and assure that all of our constituencies realize that Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology is the same quality institution that once bore the name College of Aeronautics.

The new College logo and seal are now being designed and approved, along with standards for their use. College departments are to use all stationery, envelopes, business cards and brochures with the former name until these supplies are exhausted before reprinting with the new name.

This is a pivotal time in the history of this wonderful College. I hope you are as excited as I am about possibilities yet to come.

John C. Fitzpatrick, Ed.D. President

Not until August 1918 did this squadron officially become known as the 17th Aero Squadron. Prior to that it was called Company M, Company B and the 29th Provisional Aero Squadron.