Arthur Raymond Brooks | |
---|---|
![]() Lt. Ray Brooks | |
Nickname(s) | Ray |
Born | Framingham, Massachusetts | November 1, 1895
Died | July 17, 1991 Summit, New Jersey | (aged 95)
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/ | Air Service, United States Army |
Years of service | 1917-1922 |
Rank | ![]() |
Unit | Air Service, United States Army |
Battles/wars | ![]() |
Awards | Distinguished Service Cross |
Arthur Raymond Brooks (1 November 1895 – 17 July 1991) was an American World War I flying ace of the United States Army Air Service credited with shooting down multiple enemy aircraft. Among his most prominent achievements was when he single-handedly took on a squadron of German-flown Fokker (Dutch make) planes officially downing 2 of them in one aerial battle piloting his SPAD XIII named Smith IV.[3][4] He was a pioneer in the development of radio navigational 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.