Charles Rudolph d'Olive

First Lieutenant Charles Rudolph d'Olive was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.[1] He was the last World War I aviator to be declared an ace, in 1963.

Charles Rudolph d'Olive
Charles Rudolph d'Olive, 1918
Nickname(s)Charlie
Born10 July 1896
Suggsville, Alabama, USA
Died20 July 1974
Waterloo, Iowa, USA
Vine Street Hill Cemetery
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Allegiance United States
Service/branchAir Service, United States Army
Years of service1917 - 1918
RankFirst lieutenant
UnitAir Service, United States Army
Battles/wars World War I
AwardsDistinguished Service Cross

World War I

Although born in Alabama, d'Olive later lived in Cedar Falls, Iowa. He enlisted into aviation service in Memphis during Bloody April 1917. He trained in France, and was posted to the 93d Aero Squadron on 23 August 1918[2] as a Spad XIII pilot. He scored the new unit's first victory on 12 September. The following day, he shot down three Fokker D.VIIs, two in conjunction with George W. Furlow; it was an exploit that earned d'Olive the Distinguished Service Cross. He scored once more, on 18 October 1918.[3] Ten days later, he was transferred to the 141st Aero Squadron as a Flight Commander.

Post World War I
Unveiling of the painting of d'Olive's September 13, 1918 flight.

When d'Olive returned home, he went into business. For reasons that remain murky, d'Olive would not be officially recognized as an ace until 1963. He died of cancer on 20 July 1974.[4]

In 2016, the USAF Air Force Reserve Command Historian Office commissioned a painting of d'Olive's three-victory flight, unveiling it at an event at the National Museum of the United States Air Force on October 1, 2016.[5]

A number of historic items and documents from d'Olive's military service are on display at the 93d Bomb Squadron offices at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.[6] In 2018, his daughter, Susan d'Olive Mozena, flew on a B-52 training mission with the 93rd in honor of his World War I achievements.[7]

Honors and awards citations

Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Charles Rudolph d'Olive, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near St. Benoit, France, September 12, 1918, First Lieutenant D'Olive, in conjunction with another American pilot, engaged and fought five enemy planes. Outnumbered and fighting against tremendous odds, he shot down three enemy planes and outfought the entire enemy formation.[8]

See also

References
  1. www.theaerodrome.com Retrieved on 27 June 2010.
  2. American Aces of World War I. p. 79.
  3. www.theaerodrome.com Retrieved on 27 June 2010.
  4. American Aces of World War I. p. 80.
  5. 445th Airlift Wing Public Affairs. "Painting unveiling helps commemorate AF Reserve history". United States Air Force. Retrieved 2019-01-25.|
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2011-02-26.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)|Transporting the Past: A Reunion Story
  7. "Daughter of WWI American fighter ace flies a century after her father's first kill". Shreveport Times. September 24, 2018.
  8. (General Orders No. 123, W.D., 1918) as quoted at http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/usa/dolive.php www.theaerodrome.com Retrieved on 27 June 2010.

Bibliography
  • American Aces of World War I. Norman Franks, Harry Dempsey. Osprey Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84176-375-6, ISBN 978-1-84176-375-0.
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