Attitudes toward "Aces"...

[Gregvan]

The Americans who flew in the RFC, and later RAF, had some strong views on their fellow Americans in the USAS, and the term “ace”. Since American newspapers were full of stories about American aces like Rickenbacker, as well as Guynemer and Fonck, they were often asked about being an “ace” in letters from their relatives, etc.

Elliott White Springs [who had flown under Bishop and Mannock in 85 Sqn RAF, and was a Flight Leader in the US 148th] wrote to his mother on 1 September 1918: “And if anybody writes me again that ‘doubtless you hope to be an ace,’ I’ll send them an infernal machine. I am not an “ace” don’t want to be an “ace” and never will be an “ace”. We don’t have “aces” here. This “ace” stuff makes me tired. Call it off, wash it out! Also, this individual effort stuff is all wrong. If I get more Huns than [the other] men in my flight, it’s because I’m a better shot. If they don’t get Huns it’s because I’m a bad leader as much as anything else. My job is not to get Huns myself, but to lead my flight to the detriment of the Hun…”

Writing to his father from a hospital, on 9 October 1918, Springs said: “I’m still a 1st Lt… [Henry] Clay and I wander about and let all of the American aces hightone us. They think that [what] we are wearing [the D.F.C. ribbon] is a service ribbon, probably for ambulance work….While I was in Paris I wore my coat all the time so I wouldn’t have to answer questions about what it was. Typical conversation [As an American asks Springs what his D.F.C. was for]:

“Say, Lieutenant, pardon me but would you mind telling me what that decoration is you have? I’m not familiar with it.”
Look of extreme contempt. “It’s British.”
“Is it for service in a certain campaign?”
More contempt. “No.”
“Then it’s for valor?”
“It’s the D.F.C.”
“Did you get it for getting a Hun?”
“No.”
“What’s it for then, please?”
“They sometimes give it to people who get more than five.”
“Oh, so you’re an ace. Congratulations.”
“NO! I’m not an Ace! That’s a French vegetable. We don’t have ‘em with the British.”
“Oh, thank you, sorry to bother you.”
Clay is going to kill somebody before long. I heard him conduct that dialogue five times in one café!”


Alvin Andrew Callender was a successful SE5a pilot in No. 32 Sqn RAF. He wrote to his sister on 4 August 1918: “I’ll write as often as I hear from you folks, provided I have anything to write about. Only quit telling me to be an “ace,” because we don’t have those kind of things in the British Army, except four in each pack of cards. I have three Huns officially now. Five would make me an “ace” if I was in the French Flying Corps (Thank God I’ m not), but as I’m not a French pilot I’ll never be an “ace.” Compre?”

As you all know, Springs survived the War with 12 destroyed and four OOC “victories.” Henry Clay was credited with seven destroyed and one OOC, but died of influenza on 17 February 1919. Callender was killed on 30 October 1918, after getting 7 OOC’s and one destroyed.