Allegiance United States Name John Griffith Years of service 1917 - 1921 Battles and wars World War I | Rank Lieutenant Service/branch Royal Air Force Battles/wars World War I | |
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Born November 26, 1898
Seattle, Washington, USA ( 1898-11-26 ) Awards Distinguished Flying Cross with Bar, Russian Order of Saint Vladimir Other work Served as colonel in USAAF in World War II Died October 14, 1974, Riverhead, New York, United States Unit Royal Air Force, No. 60 Squadron RAF | ||
Lieutenant (later Colonel) John Sharpe Griffith (November 26, 1898 – October 14, 1974) was an American World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories while serving in the British Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force, also serving during the Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War. He returned to service during World War II in the United States Army Air Forces, and finally retired in 1956.
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Early life
Griffith was born in Seattle, Washington, the son of C. E. Griffith, and was educated at Broadway High School.
World War I
In July 1917 Griffith travelled to Vancouver where he enlisted into Royal Flying Corps Canada, learning to fly in Toronto before travelling to England in November. He was posted to No. 60 Squadron RFC in February 1918 to fly a S.E.5a single-seat fighter. Between 9 March and 7 July 1918, he destroyed five enemy aircraft, including one each shared with Art Duncan and George Hegarty. On 18 July, he was shot down by anti-aircraft fire, his wounds ending his participation in the war.
Post-war
In 1919 while serving as part of the North Russian Expeditionary Force Griffith flew 40 patrols in northern Russia against the Bolsheviks, shooting down one of their observation balloons. He finally left the Royal Air Force in 1921.