16 Comments
User's avatar
Sika57's avatar

An interesting story, we could use more history lessons about our "airforce" pilots in WW1, not much is really taught about it as they didn't consider airplanes as destructive weapons to use in warfare back then. Amazing what 20 years later in WW2 did! Thanks Tara!

Expand full comment
Mark E Johnson's avatar

What a wonderful and unlikely event, to volunteer to work with Allied forces and with the experienced help of the pilot to score the first American kill! We can be proud of our fighting forces even today, for their unending striving for greatness. Thank you, Lt. Thompson and all those who choose to protect our great nation.

Expand full comment
Johnny Baker Jr. MLA's avatar

I'm glad he lived to get the credit he was due!

Expand full comment
Jim's avatar

Exactly Right ✅️ Johnny,better late than never!

Expand full comment
Samuel Vanderburg's avatar

Thanks for this unknown story that is actually historical significant! I do not recall reading his story although I grew up reading about aviation history in relation to warfare!

Expand full comment
Patty's avatar

A small action made a big difference! It took way too long to acknowledge Lt. Stephen W. Thompson’s heroic decision under pressure. At least it happened while he was still living.

Expand full comment
Dan Cale's avatar

Talk about tough, he dug out the bullet and returned to service. Wow! Thanks for another story I've never heard.

Expand full comment
David K Thiel's avatar

Praise the Lord he was alive to receive his well earned award. So many don't live long enough to receive the accolades they deserve.

Expand full comment
Boflys's avatar

I’m a retired army pilot and I didn’t know this!

Expand full comment
Wally Firkins's avatar

This is an amazing story. Thank you Tara. Lt. Stephen W. Thompson was the first man to shoot down an enemy plane from another plane in WW1 but it wasn't officially recognized until 1967 because he was shooting from a French plane. It's amazing that the record was ever corrected but, congratulations to Lt. Thompson for achieving the first ever kill by an American from an airplane during WW1. Thank you Tara for finding and writing about this story.

Expand full comment
Frances McGraw's avatar

Nice!

Expand full comment
joeasaunders's avatar

🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Expand full comment
Gregory Keller ⁷'s avatar

Thank you Tara! Great story!

Expand full comment
Sherman Homan's avatar

❤️ 🇺🇸 ✈️

Expand full comment
James M Airesman's avatar

Thank you, Tara.

Expand full comment
glenna.p's avatar

Great story! Thank you for telling these stories from WWI. Glad he was finally honored. Not easy being in airplanes at that time in history. Took a lot of courage especially being under attack and knowing what to do when aerial combat was a little known skill.

Expand full comment