Dogan Humphries Arthur
1913
Textiles
German Club
Union, SC
Married Miss Mary Eileen Farrell of Columbia, SC. His parents were Warren and Lenora Wilson Arthur.
Army Air Service, Captain
12th Aero Squadron
Distinguished Service Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster (2 Awards), World War I Victory Medal
Feb 1, 1886
Apr 24, 1923
Died non Battle - LT Arthur lost his engine while piloting a Sperry Messenger airplane at an altitude of 200 ft. over Langley Field, VA. He was killed on impact.
Forest Lawn Cemetery, Union, SC
Additional Information
Citation for the Distinguished Service Cross
War Department, General Orders No. 126 (1919)
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Captain (Air Service) Dogan H. Arthur, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 12th Aero Squadron, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., in the St. Mihiel salient 12 September 1918. Lieutenant Arthur, pilot, and Second Lieutenant Howard T. Fleeson, observer, executed a difficult mission of infantry contact patrol, without protection of accompanying battle planes, on the first day of the St. Mihiel offensive. After being driven back twice by a patrol of nine enemy planes, they courageously made a third attempt in the face of a third attack by the same planes, found the American lines, and after being shot down, but falling uninjured in friendly territory, communicated their valuable information to headquarters.
Citation for the Distinguished Service Cross
Second Award
War Department, General Orders No. 126 (1919)
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Captain (Air Service) Dogan H. Arthur, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 12th Aero Squadron, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., on October 18 and 30, 1918, while on artillery reglage. Lieutenant Arthur and his observer were attacked by four enemy planes. His observer’s guns were jammed, but Lieutenant Arthur, with splendid courage and coolness, outmaneuvered the hostile aircraft and escaped, although they followed his plane to within 25 meters of the ground, badly damaging it by machine-gun fire. On 30 October 1918, Lieutenant Arthur was one of a formation of nine planes which were to take photographs in German territory. Before the lines were reached six planes dropped out, but the remaining three entered the German lines, although they observed several large formations of enemy planes in the near vicinity. When they were 12 kilometers within the German lines they were attacked by 18 enemy Fokkers. Regardless of his own safety, Lieutenant Arthur engaged these planes in order to allow his companions to escape, and turning toward his own lines only when he saw them shot down. Then he fought his way home, and in the fight which ensued his observer shot down two enemy planes.
OTHER: Capt. Dogan H. Arthur was credited with three aerial victories in World War I.
Related Images Click to Enlarge
Index Journal, April 24, 1923
Dogan Arthur Obituaries, April 24, 1923: New Castle, PA Herald
Listing in 3rd Army Review of the American Forces in Germany.
Grave marker in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Union, SC
