The German observer had stopped firing. Puzzled, the young American flew his Nieuport 28 closer to the tail of the Rumpler. As he came within 50 feet, he saw a strange sight. The observer was standing up with his arms folded and his empty ammunition belt flapping over the edge of his cockpit. Could the American shoot down an unarmed enemy? He hesitated. Then, in a moment of decision, he started firing. In that moment, Lt. Douglas Campbell became an American ace of World War I. The Rumpler was his fifth officially confirmed air victory.

At 22, Californian Doug Campbell flew in the 94th Squadron –the famed “Hat-in-the-Ring” unit that was destined to score a record 69 enemy kills. Since there were no trainers available for beginners in August 1917, Campbell entered an advanced flying class. He learned to fly in a fast scout–a Nieuport 23. From that model, Campbell progressed to the Nieuport 28.

On April 14, 1918, the 94th received the first war flight order given to a squadron completely manned by American pilots. It marked the maiden flight over enemy lines for Eddie Rickenbacker. But credit for shooting down the first German plane that day – the first such victory by a member of the A.E.F. – went to Doug Campbell.

In the next six weeks, Campbell scored three more victories. Five days after his first Rumpler, he encountered another, his sixth and last victim. In the final seconds of the air battle, he and his plane

were hit. Campbell survived but never fought again. He returned to duty in November 1918, only to find that the fighting days of his old squadron were over.