Arthur Raymond Brooks (1 November 1895 – 17 July 1991) was an American
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
flying ace
A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviation, military aviator credited with shooting down a certain minimum number of enemy aircraft during aerial combat; the exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ...
of the
United States Army Air Service
The United States Army Air Service (USAAS)Craven and Cate Vol. 1, p. 9 (also known as the ''"Air Service"'', ''"U.S. Air Service"'' and before its legislative establishment in 1920, the ''"Air Service, United States Army"'') was the aerial warf ...
credited with shooting down multiple enemy aircraft. Among his most prominent achievements was when he single-handedly took on a squadron of German Fokker airplanes, officially downing 2 of them in one aerial battle piloting his SPAD XIII named ''Smith IV''. He was a pioneer in the development of
radio navigation
Radio navigation or radionavigation is the application of radio waves to geolocalization, determine a position of an object on the Earth, either the vessel or an obstruction. Like radiolocation, it is a type of Radiodetermination-satellite servi ...
al aids (NAVAIDs) used by pilots for location and navigation as well as air-to-ground communications. Brooks also participated in early endeavors to commercialize aviation as a passenger-carrying business and was one of the earliest commercial pilots involved with carrying mail (air mail) for the US
Post Office Department
The United States Post Office Department (USPOD; also known as the Post Office or U.S. Mail) was the predecessor of the United States Postal Service, established in 1792. From 1872 to 1971, it was officially in the form of a Cabinet departme ...
.
Early life and World War I
Brooks was born in
Framingham, Massachusetts
Framingham () is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. Incorporated in 1700, it is located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Middlesex County and the MetroWest subregion of the Greater Boston ...
. He graduated as valedictorian from
Framingham Academy and High School in Massachusetts in 1913 and from
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a Private university, private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Established in 1861, MIT has played a significant role in the development of many areas of moder ...
in 1917. He enlisted in the
U.S. Army Signal Officer Reserve Corps and attended the School of Military Aeronautics with the
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was the air arm of the British Army before and during the First World War until it merged with the Royal Naval Air Service on 1 April 1918 to form the Royal Air Force. During the early part of the war, the RFC sup ...
in Canada from September to November 1917. Brooks then trained with the Texas
139th Aero Squadron
The 139th Aero Squadron was a United States Army Air Service unit that fought on the Western Front during World War I.
The squadron was assigned as a day pursuit (fighter) squadron as part of the 2d Pursuit Group, First United States Army. ...
from November 1917 to February 1918. In March 1918, Brooks was transferred to France with the
139th Aero Squadron
The 139th Aero Squadron was a United States Army Air Service unit that fought on the Western Front during World War I.
The squadron was assigned as a day pursuit (fighter) squadron as part of the 2d Pursuit Group, First United States Army. ...
, where he flew the
SPAD S.VII and shot down his first enemy aircraft on 29 July 1918. Afterwards he was transferred to the newly formed
22nd Aero Squadron
The 22nd Aero Squadron was a United States Army Air Service unit that fought on the Western Front (World War I), Western Front during World War I.
The squadron was assigned as a Day Pursuit (Fighter) Squadron as part of the 2nd Pursuit Group, ...
to help lead the unit's new pilots into combat. After his third victory he became a flight commander of the
22nd Aero Squadron
The 22nd Aero Squadron was a United States Army Air Service unit that fought on the Western Front (World War I), Western Front during World War I.
The squadron was assigned as a Day Pursuit (Fighter) Squadron as part of the 2nd Pursuit Group, ...
flying the
SPAD XIII C.1. His combat actions earned him a recommendation for the
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...
. The U.S. Army, upon review of the action awarded him the
Distinguished Service Cross.
Brooks' final SPAD, ''Smith IV'', resides in the aircraft collection of the
National Air and Space Museum
The National Air and Space Museum (NASM) of the Smithsonian Institution is a museum in Washington, D.C., in the United States, dedicated to history of aviation, human flight and space exploration.
Established in 1946 as the National Air Museum, ...
On September 14, 1918, Brooks and five other
SPAD S.XIIIs spotted three squadrons of
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII is a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the '' Fokker-Flugzeugwerke''. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the second half of 1918. In service with the ''Luftstreitkräfte'', the D.VII ...
s, generally regarded as the best fighter of
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. While moving in to attack, Brooks looked behind him and saw a fourth squadron of 12 Fokkers coming from behind the SPADs. Brooks turned into the Germans as they opened fire, separating him from his squadron. Four Fokkers continued their pursuit of the other SPADs while eight Fokkers stayed to take down Brooks in a furious aerial mêlée. Brooks used every known evasive maneuver to keep the Germans from getting a shot on him, skidding, looping and diving. One Fokker dived on him to make a pass, firing as he went down. Brooks climbed to face him. Before they could collide, the German pilot divided away. As he leveled out, Brooks faced another Fokker attacking him head on for a pass. Another Fokker also dived him. Brooks skidded by his fire, then rolled his plane to get a firing angle on the German as he went underneath him. A short burst from Brooks'
Vickers machine guns
The Vickers machine gun or Vickers gun is a Water cooling, water-cooled .303 British (7.7 mm) machine gun produced by Vickers Limited, originally for the British Army. The gun was operated by a three-man crew but typically required more me ...
shot the Fokker down in flames. Leveling out, Brooks shot down the next Fokker that approached him. Not remaining stationary for more than a moment, Brooks engaged the remaining Fokkers, firing at each one that approached.
Brooks
zoom climb
A zoom climb or an unrestricted climb is a maneuver in which the rate of climb is greater than the maximum climb rate using only the thrust of the aircraft's engines. The additional climb rate is attained by reduction of horizontal speed. Befo ...
ed to evade an attack, but as his plane was pointed directly at the sky, his engine sputtered, his propellers stopping. The fuel in his main tank had run dry. Brooks quickly switched to the auxiliary tank in the top wing as he stalled. As he stalled and began to fall away, a Fokker made a strafing pass, shattering his windshield and hitting his right Vickers gun. The gun could then only fire once per trigger-pull. As he dove away, he shot down two more Fokkers with only one functioning machine gun.
With the four remaining Germans now able to attack him with less risk of hitting each other, Brooks decided to call it a day and used the SPAD's superior diving speed to run, bobbing and weaving to avoid the Germans' fire. During the aerial mêlée he shot down four Fokkers, though U.S. Army records only credited him with two. During this combat his wingman 1Lt.
Philip Edward Hassinger was attacked and to this day is still listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Hassinger was credited with shooting down two German Fokkers before he went missing. Brooks was finally able to escape the last four pursuing enemy aircraft by using his superior diving speed.
Brooks is the subject of a 1963 book entitled ''Capt. Arthur Ray Brooks: America's quiet ace of W.W.I'' by Walter A Musciano. He is also the subject of the painting ''Last Victory'' by noted aviation artist
Roy Grinnell.
Brooks returned to the United States in July 1919 and was stationed at
Kelly Field
Kelly Field (formerly Kelly Air Force Base) is a Joint-use airport, Joint-Use facility located in San Antonio, Texas. It was originally named after George E. M. Kelly, the first member of the U.S. military killed in the crash of an airplane he ...
, Texas, where he was promoted to captain and assigned as the commander of the 1st Pursuit Group. He was subsequently assigned to the Air Service Field Officer's School,
Langley Field Langley may refer to:
People
* Langley (surname), a common English surname, including a list of notable people with the name
* Dawn Langley Simmons (1922–2000), English author and biographer
* Langley Wakeman Collyer (1885–1947), one ...
, Virginia.
He resigned from the army and received an Honorable Discharge in December 1922.
After World War I
As a civilian, Brooks established Florida Airways Corporation, which eventually became
Eastern Airlines
Eastern Air Lines (also colloquially known as Eastern) was a major airline in the United States that operated from 1926 to 1991. Before its dissolution, it was headquartered at Miami International Airport in an unincorporated area of Miami-Dade ...
. He was also involved in the Contract Air Mail Route No. 10, and worked for the U.S. Department of Commerce, Aeronautics Branch where he was responsible for surveying what would become the nation's first air routes. He also supervised the first installations of radiobeacons to aid airmail pilots navigating between New York and Washington, D.C.
He joined
Bell Telephone Laboratories
Nokia Bell Labs, commonly referred to as ''Bell Labs'', is an American industrial research and development company owned by Finnish technology company Nokia. With headquarters located in Murray Hill, New Jersey, Murray Hill, New Jersey, the compa ...
(1928), where he supervised air operations and the testing of electronic aids for air navigation and communications. He was responsible for the development of air-to-ground communications systems. He retired from Bell Labs as its Chief Pilot in 1960. He was also involved in numerous early flying clubs which were forming to encourage participation in aviation for both personal/pleasure and commercial purposes.
Brooks remained involved with aviation for the remainder of his life. Even in his nineties, he enjoyed flying all sorts of aircraft, including ultralights, gliders and hot-air balloons. He belonged to many aviation-related and professional associations and organizations including the
American Legion
The American Legion, commonly known as the Legion, is an Voluntary association, organization of United States, U.S. war veterans headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. It comprises U.S. state, state, Territories of the United States, U.S. terr ...
, Military Order of the World Wars, Combat Pilots Association,
Order of Daedalians,
Air Force Association
The Air & Space Forces Association (AFA) is an independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit, professional military association for the United States Air Force and United States Space Force. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, its declared mission is " ...
, OX-5 Aviation Pioneers Association,
Telephone Pioneers of America
Pioneers, a Volunteer Network, founded and more commonly known as the Telephone Pioneers of America, is a non-profit charitable organization based in Denver, Colorado in the United States. The association was organized in Boston in November 1911 ...
, Cross and Cockade, Associate Fellow of the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics,
Quiet Birdmen
The Quiet Birdmen is a secretive club in the United States for male aviators. Founded in 1921 by World War I pilots, the organization meets in various locations, never announced to the public. Members, called QBs, must be invited to join, and they ...
, World War I Overseas Flyers and the American Fighter Aces Association. Brooks also remained involved with the alumni affairs of his alma mater—MIT.
He attended numerous air shows and reunions, including the sixty-fifth, and final reunion, held for the
Lafayette Flying Corps
The Lafayette Flying Corps is a name given to the American volunteer pilots who flew in the French Air Force (Armée de l'Air) during World War I. It includes the pilots who flew with the bona fide Lafayette Escadrille squadron.
Numbers
The e ...
at Peterson AFB, Colorado in 1983. In 1980, he was inducted into the
Aviation Hall of Fame of New Jersey.
An extensive collection of his diaries, correspondence and other papers is maintained by the National Aviation and Space Museum. These papers relate to his military career with the U.S. Army Air Service (1917–22), his years in both civilian government service and the private sector (1923–60), as well as a lifetime's involvement in numerous military, academic, aeronautical and professional associations and organizations. Additionally, there are examples of correspondence and autographed photographs from such aerospace notables as
Eddie Rickenbacker
Edward Vernon Rickenbacker (born Edward Rickenbacher, October 8, 1890 – July 23, 1973) was an American fighter pilot in World War I and a Medal of Honor recipient.[Jimmy Doolittle
James Harold Doolittle (December 14, 1896 – September 27, 1993) was an American military general and aviation pioneer who received the Medal of Honor for his raid on Japan during World War II, known as the Doolittle Raid in his honor. He ma ...]
,
Billy Mitchell
William Lendrum Mitchell (December 29, 1879 – February 19, 1936) was a United States Army officer who had a major role in the creation of the United States Air Force.
Mitchell served in France during World War I and, by the conflict's end, ...
,
Clayton Bissell,
Reed Chambers and
Michael Collins Michael Collins or Mike Collins most commonly refers to:
* Michael Collins (Irish leader) (1890–1922), Irish revolutionary leader, soldier, and politician
* Michael Collins (astronaut) (1930–2021), American astronaut, member of Apollo 11 and Ge ...
.
Brooks died at age 95 on July 17, 1991, at his home in
Summit, New Jersey
Summit is the northernmost City (New Jersey), city of Union County, New Jersey, Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, located within the New York metropolitan area. Situated on a ridge in north Jersey, northern–central Jersey, centra ...
. At the time of his death, he was the last surviving American World War I ace who served in a U.S. Squadron. He is buried in a family plot in
North Framingham, Massachusetts.
Text of citations
Distinguished Service Cross
''The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Arthur Raymond Brooks, Second Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action over Mars-la-Tour, France, September 14, 1918. When his patrol was attacked by 12 enemy Fokkers over Mars-la-Tour, 8 miles within the enemy lines, Second Lieutenant Brooks alone fought bravely and relentlessly with eight of them, pursuing the fight from 5, 000 meters to within a few meters of the ground, and though his right rudder control was out and his plane riddled with bullets, he destroyed two Fokkers, one falling out of control and the other bursting into flames''."
DSC citation, General Orders No. 123, W.D., 1918
See also
*
List of World War I flying aces from the United States
The following is a list of flying aces from the United States of America who served in World War I.
Overview
Even before the United States entry into World War I in April 1917, many Americans volunteered to serve in the armed forces of Great B ...
References
Bibliography
''Capt. Arthur Ray Brooks: America's Quiet Ace of W.W.I'' Walter A. Musciano. Hobby Helper, 1963.
External links
*
History of the US 22nd Aero Squadron by Arthur R. Brooks (.pdf)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brooks, Arthur Raymond
Air Corps Tactical School alumni
Aviators from Massachusetts
American World War I flying aces
People from Framingham, Massachusetts
People from Summit, New Jersey
Military personnel from Massachusetts
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
1895 births
1991 deaths
Framingham High School alumni