Harold Robert Buckley, of Agawam, Massachusetts, was one of two aces who attended Phillips Academy, Andover. He went overseas with the Andover Ambulance Unit in April 1917 but wanted to do more: “The sight of old, tired men, as old as our fathers, covered with mud and carrying a pack of heavy equipment, dragging themselves along the roads to and from the trenches, was too much for us, and practically all of us have changed, or soon will, from the field service to something else where we can feel that we are doing all we can, and not merely a part.”1
On 25 October 1917 he enlisted in the United States Signal Corps, Aviation Section. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on 12 December 1917 and in March 1918 he was assigned to the 95th Aero Squadron at Toul. The other Andover ace, James Knowles, would join the same squadron three months later. With the 95th, Buckley scored 5 victories and was promoted to Captain on 1 November 1918 when he wrote: “Of the twenty aviators in my squadron who started with me at the front, there are only five left, including myself... I am now an ace, with five official victories to my credit.”
Buckley returned to the United States in March 1919. Published in 1933, his book, entitled "Squadron 95," was illustrated by another American ace, Lansing Holden.
1
Claude M. Fuess, Phillips Academy Andover in the Great War (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1919) 180.
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Harold Robert Buckley, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Perle, France, August 10, 1918. Lieutenant Buckley was on a patrol protecting a French biplane observation machine, when they were suddenly set upon by six enemy planes. Lieutenant Buckley attacked and destroyed the nearest, and the remainder fled into their own territory. He then carried on with his mission until he had escorted the allied plane safely to its own aerodrome.
General Orders No. 138, W.D., 1919
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) Oak Leaf Cluster
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Harold Robert Buckley, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Neville, France, and Boureuilles, France, September 16 - 27, 1918. Lieutenant Buckley dived through a violent and heavy antiaircraft and machine-gun fire and set on fire an enemy balloon that was being lowered to its nest. On the next day, while leading a patrol, he met and sent down in flames an enemy plane while it was engaged in reglage work.
General Orders No. 138, W.D., 1919
French Croix de Guerre
Pilote de chasse et chef de patrouille calme et déterminé. A attaqué des avions et des ballons et mitraillé des troupes à terre à faible altitude. Le 30 mai, 1918, a, avec sa patrouille livré combat à deux avions ennemis dont l'un fut abattu, l'autre forcé de descendre désemparé.
general order of the Army
Victories
Date
Time
Unit
Aircraft
Opponent
Location
1
30 May 1918
0800
95th
Two-seater 1
Apremont-Jaulny
2
10 Aug 1918
95th
Fokker D.VII
Perles
3
26 Sep 1918
0605
95th
Balloon 2
Reville
4
27 Sep 1918
1814
95th
Rumpler C 3
Montfaucon
5
27 Sep 1918
1925
95th
Rumpler C 3
Fleville
1
Shared with Lt W V Casgrain, Lt J A Hambleton, Lt S E McKeown, Lt J L Mitchell
2
Shared with Lt A H McLanahan
3
Shared with Lt T F Butz, Lt Edward Curtis, Lt H J Popperfuss, Lt G O Woodward
