Victor Chapman

[CROONAERT]

As he died near Douaumont during the 1916 Battle of Verdun whilst in the service of the French army, I was just wondering whether it was standard procedure to list his arm of service as 'US Army' or whether this is an erroneous listing by the ABMC. Any ideas?

Cheers.

Dave

[Pierre]

Maybe check some others, here is the list of killed from the Lafayette Escadrille

1 ASH, Alan Newton

2 Sgt BARCLAY, Leif N.

3 Sgt BAUGHAM, James H.

4 Sgt. BAYLIES, Frank L.

5 1st Lt. BAYNE, James Alexander

6 Corp BENNEY, Philip P

7 Corp BIDDLE, Julian C.

8 Sgt BLUETHENTHAL, Arthur

9 Sgt BOOTH, Veron Jr.

10 Sgt CAMPBELL, AC Jr

11 Corp CHADWICK, Oliver

12 Sgt CHAMBERLAIN, Cyrus F

13 1st Lt. CHAPMAN, CW Jr

14 Sgt CHAPMAN, Victor

15 2d Lt CLAPP, Roger Harvey

16 Capt COLLINS, Phelps

17 2nd Lt COOKSON, Linn P

18 2d Lt DAVIS, Philip Washburn

19 2d Lt De KRUIJFF, Theodore

20 Corp DOOLITTLE James R

21 DOWD, Dennis

22 2d Lt DOWD, Meredith L

23 Corp DREW, Sidney Rankin Jr

24 1st Lt. EDGAR, Stuart Emmet

25 2d Lt ELY, Dinsmore

26 Pilot Av FOWLER Eric A.

27 Sgt GENET, Edmond C

28 Sold. 2d cl GRIEB, Norman

29 1st Lt. GUNDELACH, Andre

30 Sold. 2d cl HANFORD, Robert M

31 1st Lt. HOBBS, Warren Tucker

32 Sgt HOSKIER, Ronald W

33 1st Lt. JOHNSON, Harry F

34 Corp LEE, Schuyler

35 Corp LEHR, Manderson

36 Sgt LOUGHRAN, Edward J

37 Maj LUFBERY, G R

38 Sgt MacMONAGLE, D

39 Sgt McCONNELL, James R

40 Sgt McKERNESS, William

41 Corp MEEKER, Wiliam Henry

42 2d Lt MILLER, Walter B

43 Sgt NICHOLS, Alan H

44 Sgt OVINGTON, Carter L

45 Corp PALMER, Henry B

46 Sgt PAVELKA, Paul

47 Sgt PELTON, Alfred D

48 Sgt PETERSON, David M

49 2nd Lt PRINCE, Norman

50 1st Lt. PUTNAM, D E

51 Sgt RHENO, Walter D.

52 Adjutant ROCKWELL, Kiffin Y

53 Sgt SCANLAN, Lawrence

54 Corp SKINNER, Samuel W

55 Corp SPENCER, Dumaresq

56 Sold. 2d cl STARRETT, Frank Elmer

57 Corp STONE, Donald E

58 Sgt TAILER, William Hallet

59 Ens TAYLOR, Elmer B

60 Ens TERRES, Hugh

61 Corp TRINKARD, Charles

62 Sgt TUCKER, Dudley G

63 Sgt TYSON, Stephen M

64 1st Lt. WALCOTT, B S

65 Corp WILSON, Joseph V

66 Corp WINTER, Wallace C

67 Corp WOODWARD, Houston

68 Sous Lt YORK, Walter R.

Cheers.

Pierre

[CROONAERT]

Thanks Pierre.

That had already crossed my mind and, other than Victor Chapman, the only others who's graves are in the care of the ABMC are Manderson Lehr and Carter Landram Ovington. In both of these cases, the ABMC listing states "US Army - attached to French Air Service" which, of course, is correct as , at the time of their deaths, both were flying for 103 Aero Sqdn of the US Army Air Service (in the service of France).

It's looking likely that Chapman's listing is, therefore, incorrect, but I'd like to see some other examples of men whose graves are in ABMC care but who were serving in foreign armies at the time of their death before sending a query regarding this to the ABMC.

Dave

[Pierre]

Dave,

There also are three Americans who are buried in Somme American Cem. Aisne.

They served in Commonwealth armies

HALL JAMES GRANTLEY

United Kingdom Lieutenant Royal Air Force 60th Sqdn. Age: 22 Date of Death: 08/08/1918 D.20.13

HILL SAMUELL DOUTHITT

New Zealand Rifleman N.Z. Rifle Brigade 4th Bn. 3rd Age: 26 Date of Death: 30/06/1918 Service No: 60371 A.29.1.

HOSTETTER T R

United Kingdom Lieutenant Royal Air Force 3rd Sqdn. Date of Death: 27/09/1918 A.34.4.

Pierre

[CROONAERT]

Thanks Pierre.

Looking at their entries - all stating 'US Army' before putting their actual designation - it looks like 'US Army' is the standard entry. Incorrect and curious, but standard procedure nevertheless.

Thanks again,

Dave