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Article Title: Orville "Tubby" Ralston, Nebraska's War Bird

Full Citation: William G Chrystal, "Orville 'Tubby' Ralston, Nebraska's War Bird," Nebraska History 76 (1995): 164-175

URL of article: http://www.nebraskahistory.org/publish/publicat/history/full-text/NH1995Ralston.pdf

Date: 3/28/2013

Article Summary: Orville "Tubby" Ralston, born in Weeping Water, Nebraska, earned the Distinguished Service Cross in 1921. He was sometimes called "Nebraska's Forgotten Ace."

Cataloging Information:

Names: , Orville Alfred Ralston, Lawrence Callahan , Jarvis Offutt, Edward "Mick" Mannock, Captain DeCosta, Jesse O Creech, Neil Goen, Eddie Rickenbacker, George H Doran, John McGavock Grider, Ralph K Brooks, Captain "Tiny" Dixon, Captain McGregor, Reed Landis, Ford Lauer, Robert Reese, William A Bishop, Harold G Shoemaker

Place Names: Peru, Nebraska; Weeping Water, Nebraska; Fort Snelling, Minnesota; Toronto, ; Camp Rathbun, Ontario; Taliaferro Fields, Fort Worth, Texas; Romsey, England; Valentine, Nebraska; Ainsworth, Nebraska; Wood Lake, Nebraska; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Keywords: War Birds; Nocturne Militaire, Above the Bright Blue Sky, ' ; White Triangles; Nebraska National Guard; US Signal Corps; Seventeenth Aero Squadron (USAS); Carmania; DH4, DH9, RE8 [all bombers]; "Hat in the Ring Squadron" [Ninety-fourth Squadron]; ; RAF; D7 Fokker; 148th Squadron; Eighty-fifth squadron; Spad [fighter]; 304th Bomb Group; B-17

Photographs / Images: Orville Ralston; Ralston in a Curtiss JN4 trainer, Camp Rathbun, Deseronto, Canada; Ralston practicing on the , Camp Borden, Canada, 1917; Harold G Shoemaker and Ralston in Dallas, 1917; Jarvis Offutt and Ralston while at Marske on the English Coast; Ralston with Fokker [mascot of the 148th US Aero Squadron], 1918; Captain "Tiny" Dixon, Ralston, and Lt Lawrence Callahan, Eighty-fifth Squadron; 180 Viper SE5 ad Eight-fifth squadron, RAF and Sergeant Ralph Brooks, mechanic from the 148th US Aero Squadron; Drawing "Fly a Hump!" … Flopwith Camel" from Second Army Air Service souvenir album; Pilots of "B" Flight, 148th US Aero Squadron: Lt Percy Cunnius, Lt Sidney Noel, Lt Elliott White Springs, Lt Lawrence Callahan, Lt Orville Ralston, and Lt Harry Jenkinson, Jr; Ralston during World War II; Orville Ralston's flying suit and other memorabilia In his popular 1920s stories about aerial Called by Springs's successor, combat in , Elliott White Lawrence Callahan, "a man who could Springs sometimes mentioned Orville be absolutely depended upon in any Alfred Ralston (1894-1942). Few readers pinch" and possessing exceptional eye­ probably associated the Ainsworth, Ne­ sight, Orville Ralston was the "two-seater braska, dentist with the pilot nicknamed expert" in the 148th "American" Squad­ "Tubby," who, in War Birds, crashed his ron.s According to the squadron history, "dud bus" on purpose in order to get a He could pick out a Hun two-seater, in new airplane. I Nor did th ey realize that spite of its elaborate camouflage, many Ralston saved his flight commander's thousand feet below.. ..There are very life by taking aloft an airplane wheel to few "blind spots" on a Hun two-seater, the pilot firing through the propeller and communicate to Springs that one of his the observer swinging his gun quickly in wheels had been shot away, and he a wide arc, covering every point except would crash if he attempted to make a a spot just below the rear of the tail. The normallanding.2 other spot is directly in front and below. To gain these points of vantage is a most In print, Springs's affection for difficult feat, but Lieutenant Ralston Ralston is especially revealed through seemed to get there. As a result, he has humor. Describing his one-wheel land­ earned for himself an enviable ing in Nocturne Militaire, Springs, reputation.' tongue-in-cheek, claims "poor Ralston" In four months of war flying in both was "in such a hurry to get back with SE5s and Sopwith Camels, Ralston shot the news and get the ambulance ready down five German planes and sent sev­ for me that he crashed badly in landing eral others "down out of control." and wrote off the plane. His reputation Awarded the Distinguished Service suffered severely, and he got a good Cross in 1921 , the United States's second crack on the top of his head."3 In Above highest award for valor, he is Nebraska's the Bright Blue Sky, a fictional character only World War I ace. named "Tubby White" is "blind as a bat Yet Orville Ralston is also called and has done lost what little guts he "Nebraska's Forgotten Ace."7 Unlike his ever had," a jibe aimed at another friend Jarvis Offutt of Omaha, who was "Tubby," Orville Ralston. Two pages killed ferrying airplanes from England to later, however, Springs returns to the , no air force base is named for truth. The "blind" and "gutless" Tubby Ralston. Nor is much said about him in White leads an attack on a "Hun" two­ World War I aviation histories.8 Orville seater, the hardest German plane to de­ Ralston lived too long to achieve the stroy. Though Springs's readers didn't swift immortality of Offutt. Yet his death know it, in real life this was the kind of Photo courtesy of author at forty-seven in a World War II bomber action in which Ralston was a specialist.4 crash claimed Ralston at an age before most veterans have begun talking about William G. Chrystal is minister ofthe First the wars of their youth. Congregational Church ofReno, Nevada.

164 Orville Ralston

"My first machine." Ralston in a Curtiss JN4 trainer, Camp Rathbun, Deseronto, Canada, July 1917. (NSHS-MS0233)

At the suggestion of his "folks at Elliott Springs and Lawrence Callahan, Like many of his fraternity brothers, home," Orville Ralston began "a very both of whom are subjects of recent bi­ Ralston enlisted in the army after war informal and hastily written" diary, one ographies.lo Sometimes Ralston's diary was declared, reporting to the officers' that grew in length as the war pro­ clarifies the recollections of his com­ training course at Fort Snelling, Minne­ gressed. Along with other sources the di­ rades who reached old age. [n other in­ sota, on May 13, 1917. Though he had ary tells the story of a young Midwest­ stances, refreshingly, it is at odds with an advantage over some of his peers for erner who was both naive and brash, the historical "record." having served three years in the Ne­ struggling to master an "exciting game." When the United States declared war braska National Guard, the path to a [t also captures, in a timeless way, the on Germany on Apri[ 6, 1917, Orville commission was keenly competitive. bond between a remarkable group of Ra[ston was a second-year dental stu­ "Every fellow was on the jump," he young Americans and their British com­ dent at the University of Nebraska. A wrote. "The worst thing [ could imagine rades, the "War Birds" of 1917-18. 1915 graduate of Peru State Teachers at the time was to be sent home as hav­ Ra[ston was one of several Ameri­ College, he was born in Weeping Water ing failed to make good in becoming an cans who served in Eighty-fifth Squad­ on September 9, 1894. ." 12 ron of the Royal Air Force under the Ralston was nicknamed "Wob" at When a circular arrived from head­ command of the RAF's leading ace, Maj. Peru State because he "wobbled" from quarters seeking the names of anyone Edward "Mick" Mannock, about whom side to side when he walked. When he interested in aviation, Ralston rushed to much has been written.9 Ralston also entered dental school at the University of put his name on the list. "[ had tried sev­ fought with the "White Triangles," the Nebraska the ukelele-playing Ra[ston eral times, by writing to Washington, to 148th "American" Squadron, alongside joined the Kappa Sigma fraternity there. II see if [ could join the flying corps of our

165 Nebraska History - Winter 1995

army," he explained. "At that time I Ralston met his instructor almost im­ cattle as specks upon the green pastures. don't suppose there were more than mediately. "Captain DeCosta called me It was all so beautiful that I had hardly no­ ticed the sensation of flying, for in fact we ten men in the country who could fly over and said, 'Borrow some goggles seemed to be sailing slowly through the and I believe they all owned their own and crawl in .' The machine was a 'dep' air. machines." [dual] control Curtiss, with about a 90 Ralston was the first in his group to Ralston was bitten by the flying bug. horsepower motor." solo after two hours and thirty minutes Every day after training ceased, he and There was a moment's waiting until the of instruction. After completing his train­ a friend climbed to the top of a large prop had been turned over several times ing at Deseronto, consisting of five Fort Snelling water tower, imagining then from the A.M. [aircraft mechanic], ' hours of solo flying and twenty landings, what it would be like to be flying above 'All clear, contact.' The mechanic flipped the prop and then the roar of the motor Ralston was sent to North Toronto to the "beautiful Mississippi winding about was quite deafening. After running her a Leaside, for bombing and artillery'ob­ with tree-clad hills on either side ... It little to warm up the engine, the Captain servation, wireless from the air, and alti­ seemed to be the nearest thing to flying moved his hand and the chalks [chocks] tude and cross country flying. The final we could imagine. We kept this a were drawn away by the mechanic and we started to run along the ground to a' segment, aerial gunnery, was held at guarded secret from the rest of the fel­ suitable place from which to take off. Af­ Camp Borden. "Time went rather slowly lows as we were afraid to be kidded. n ter turning around and facing into the up here," Ralston wrote, "for we were Ralston completed officers' training wind, the engine was opened up with a paraded and had to attend lectures and on July 8, 1917, and was part of the first roar and the wind began to tear at my gun practice and shoot almost every American contingent transferred on de­ clothes like a hurricane. The next instant I looked over the side, we were off the day." The Americans who successfully tached service to the ground and rising rapidly with no notice­ completed their training were organized (RFC) at Toronto, Canada. 13 The United able motion. We flew around over the into the Seventeenth United States Aero States had no aviation program to speak aerodrome getting higher all the time. The country looked beautiful and reminded Squadron and ordered to Fort Worth of when war was declared, and arrange­ Texas. ' ments hurriedly were made with En­ me of a huge map. Silver rivers looked like threads, the deep green forest, the While Ralston and his peers trained gland and France to train American pi­ blue lake with irregular landmarks, the in Canada, the U.S. Signal Corps and the lots. Though two groups of Americans, white ribbon-like roads, the different col­ Royal Flying Corps were jointly building later immortalized as the "War Birds," ored fields, all seemingly geometrically several airfields in Texas. The agree- sailed to England in the late summer shaped, the tiny houses and still smaller and fall of 1917 for training by the Brit­ ish, Ralston's group was the first Ameri­ can contingent instructed by the RFC. 14 Ground school was held at the Uni­ versity of Toronto. "It seemed rather strange to be the first 'Yanks' in Canada who had come in Uncle Sam's uniform" Ralston wrote. "I know I felt embar- ' rassed at the way in which we were watched by the cadets as well as the public in general. However, we were cordially treated by all whom we met." At the university the Americans lived in old East residence. The ground school, conducted by British sergeants, consisted of classes in wireless, ma­ chine gun, and bombing, in addition to physical training and drill. Actual flight training was at Camp Rathbun, near Deseronto, a little town four hours from Toronto by train, close to the shore of Lake Ontario. "How horrified we were to see about seven crashes on the aero­ Ralston practicing on the Lewis gun, Camp Borden Canada drome," Ralston wrote. "It was not a (NSHS-MS0233) ". welcome sight, but why worry?"

166 Orville Ralston ment between the two countries speci­ second United States Aero Squadron.16 came quite proficient at running off and fied that the "Taliaferro Fields" in Fort Of the original sixteen, seven were visiting neighboring towns." Worth were to be under the control of killed during the war, five of them in Though he ranked as a flying cadet, th e RFC. The Signal Corps "was to pro­ combat. In addition to Ralston one of Ralston also served as an instructor dur­ vide all aeroplanes and necessary oper­ them, Jesse O. Creech (later Ralston's ing this period. Not surprisingly, when ating supplies for the training in Texas, squadron mate in the 148th USAS), be­ especially bored he liked "to take a new while the Royal Flying Corps was to sup­ came an ace, credited with eight Ger­ man up for his first ride and do stunts. ply all the guns, wireless and other in­ man aircraft. 17 He will invariably turn green," Ralston structional equipment." The benefits Ralston was named commander of wrote. On December 3, 1917, Ralston fi­ were obvious. British and Canadian pi­ Flight "C" in the Seventeenth USAS. Sta­ nally received his long-awaited commis­ lots could train, year around, in excel­ tioned at Hicks Field, one of three air­ sion as a first lieutenant. ls lent weather. And Americans would fields comprising the "Taliaferro Fields" The Seventeenth USAS was the first gain "from instruction by and associa­ (the other two were Everman and of the Texas-trained units to depart for tion with officers and men who have Benbrook), Ralston led his men in England, leaving for on De­ had practical experience at th e front." 15 unboxing, assembling, and painting cember 19,1917. Boardingthe Unlike the "War Birds" who trained their Curtiss JN4 aircraft. Soon they were Carmania on January 9, the squadron in England in the fall of 1917 and were airborne, flying within a radius of forty reached England without incident on immortalized in print by Elliott White miles from Hicks. "People in Texas had January 23, 1918, and went into a Royal Springs, little is known about the first never seen aeroplanes before except at Flying Corps Rest Camp at Romsey.19 American contingent in Canada. Fortu­ Camp Kelley or fairs, so you can imag­ Ralston probably got the nickname nately, Ralston listed the first sixteen ine how we were treated when we "Tubby" after reaching England. The sol­ Canada-trained graduates in his diary. would land at towns," Ralston wrote. idly built Peru State football player was Eight of them (Ralston included) "Hundreds would come out, flock not chubby. A fellow 148th pilot, reached Fort Worth on October 15, around the machine whenever we Clayton Bissell , said "Tubby" was an 1917, forming the Seventeenth United would land near a town. Often we had "affectionate" nickname, while squad­ States Aero Squadron (USAS). They meals out and met many swell girls ... I ron mechanic Neil Goen explained, "He were followed two weeks later by the think Creech and I were the first aviators was more stocky than fat." Though he other eight, organized into the Twenty- to land at Denton and Dallas. We be­ remained "Orville" to his family, "Wob"

Harold G. Shoemaker (aviator at left) and Ralston landed at Dallas while stationed at Fort Worth for training in October 1917. (NSHS-MS0233)

167 Nebraska History - Winter 1995

to college friends, and "Doc" to postwar I meet the Earl's wife, daughter, son, Maj . Edward Mannock, who assured friends, among the War Birds, for the and a lady cousin from Waddington. Ralston he would do all he could to get rest of their lives, Ralston was "Tubby. "20 Stay for tea and telephone back to him assigned to the squadron. It was a It took more than a month for the camp that I had a forced landing on ac­ smart decision. "Mick" Mannock was a RFC to decide how to employ the count of engine trouble." top scoring British ace. Not only did he American pilots who were arriving in Finally Ralston 's persistence paid off. have sixty-eight German planes to his England in growing numbers. On Febru­ He received orders to Marsk for training credit, Mannock also had a knack for in­ ary 19 Ralston wrote in his diary that the in single-seat Bristol fighters, "a wonder­ troducing young pilots to the dangerous "17th is split up." The mechanics were ful machine," he called it. He especially "game" of aerial combat. 21 sent to several RFC squadrons for on­ enjoyed dogfighting in BristoIs, remark­ The squadron Ralston hoped to join the-job training. Half of the pilots were ing, "It sure is exciting sport." was first rate. It had been formed and led initially by William A. Bishop, a Victoria Cross recipient, who had been sent back to his native Canada to train new pilotsY After the war Eighty-fifth Squadron, RAF, was among the best­ known flying outfits to the American public, along with the Lafayette Flying Corps, American volunteers who fl ew with the French before the United States entered the war, and Eddie Ricken­ backer's Ninety-fourth "Hat in the Ring" Squadron. Eighty-fifth Squadron's fame was the direct result of Elliott Springs's literary activity, particularly his "anony­ mous" diary of an "unknown aviator," War Birds, serialized in Liberty Magazine before being published by George H. Doran in 1926. A Princeton graduate and heir to a South Carolina cotton fortune, Springs Jarvis Offutt (left) of Omaha and Rolston "have a real feast on whole wheat and sugar was in the second group of "War Birds" from home," while at Marske on the English Coast. Offuff was killed in a flying occident on August 13,1918. (NSHS-MS0233) shipped to England in September 1917. His friendship with two other young to be trained as pursuit pilots, while the Ralston's "bomber" training was in Americans, Lawrence Callahan of Chi­ others would learn on bombers. Eventu­ demand, however. Hearing that he was cago and John McGavock Grider of Ar­ ally, all the Americans would join RFC about to be shipped to France to fly "the kansas, is the heart of the book. squadrons. Ralston was ordered to deadly DH9" in spite of his training in War Birds is a curious mixture of fact Salisbury to fly two-man DH4, DH9, and fighters, he talked his way into a job fer­ and fiction. Grider, presumably, is the RE8 bombers, but his heart wasn't in it. rying combat aircraft from England to "author" of the diary of the "unknown" From the first Ralston scrapped to ob­ France. It was a key step in his plan to airman. But his authorship was probably tain a transfer to single-seat pursuit or join a scout squadron in France. limited to a few entries at the beginning "scout" aircraft and became "rather dis­ Throughout June 1918 Ralston ferried of the book describing the "three Mus­ couraged." To relieve the monotony of aircraft across the English Channel. keteers'" (i.e. Springs, Callahan, and flying aircraft he didn't enjoy, Ralston Whenever possible, he visited old RAF Grider) journey to England. Springs occasionally made a "forced landing." friends (since April I, 1918, the RFC had completed and subsequently published Even English royalty was fascinated by been called the "Royal Air Force") and the "diary." 23 airplanes and brash young aviators. "I the handful of Americans who were al­ Orville Ralston, who is mentioned fly over Salisbury and look for a good ready flying in British squadrons in several times in War Birds, probably landing place," he recorded in his diary. combat. never met John McGavock Grider, who "I land in the courtyard of the Earl of On July 6 Ralston took a chance. was killed on June 18, 1918. Ralston Radnor's castle, a most magnificent While in France, he called the com­ was, however, well acquainted with huge old stone castle on the river Avon. mander of Eighty-fifth Squadron, RAF, Callahan and Springs, though Orville

168 Orville Ralston

"My war buss, 180 Viper SE5 at 85 Sqdn. RAF" and Sgt. Ralph K. Brooks, mecnanlc from the 148th U.S. Aero Squadron. (NSHS-MS0233)

Above: Ralston with Fokker, mascot of the 148th U.S. Aero Squadron, 1918. (NSHS-MS0233) Left: Captain "Tiny" Dixon, Ralston, and Lt. Lawrence Callahan, Eighty-fifth Squadron, RAF, . (NSHS-MS0233) served with Springs only later in the Ralston loved the camaraderie shared kid taken from some deserted shell torn 148th "American" Squadron-the British by everyone in the squadron, and de­ village, four beautiful little fat Chow pups, designation for one of two American scribed one evening's affair: one large Wolfhound and a black Collie dog, cats and every imaginable sort of pet. squadrons fighting alongside the RAF .24 There was singing, instrument playing, Late in the evening we sat around the an· Ralston joined Eighty-fifth Squadron story telling and a lively time furnished by teroom smoking, singing, and I finally got a few days after Elliott Springs was trans­ the talented members of the squadron. out myoid uke. Whiskey toddies were fre· ferred to the 148th "American." At Two great kegs of beer were nea r at hand quent and we sang and played around and everyone was "quaffing" beer. There Mannock's insistence, he took over with Major Mannock as happy and boyish are all kinds of pets about-an old nanny as the worst of us 's Springs's job as squadron bartender. goat that just gave birth to twins, a small

169 Nebraska History - Winter 1995

If Eighty-fifth Squadron played hard, he was a greenhorn, depending on the into him with both guns. He dived and I it is equally clear its pilots flew hard. advice of others. "I am told to go slow in followed until at 3,000 feet he flattened Ralston was assigned an SE5a and given order to learn," he wrote in his diary. out, when I fired about 50 rounds into a few days to practice gunnery before "Oh, how much a fellow realizes how him. His right extension of his top plane making his first patrol over "Hunland." little he knows about the game after he flew into pieces, and he went into a spin From then on, Ralston was in the thick has been out here a while." and crashed ."28 of it. Not only was he shot up by Two days after Ralston shot down his Against his wishes Ralston was trans­ "Archie," British slang for antiaircraft first enemy plane, "Mick" Mannock was ferred to the 148th "American" Squad­ fire, but by small arms fire from soldiers killed by ground fire. That evening ron on September 6, 1918. Ralston had in the trenches. On July 24, 1918, less many of Mannock's friends from other done well in Eighty-fifth Squadron-two than two weeks after enemy aircraft de­ joining Eighty-fifth stroyed and one Squadron, he brought driven down out of down his first German. FLY A HUMP , control. He wanted Six 07 Fokkers at­ • to remain there, fly­ tacked Eighty-fifth R RALLY old bean, y'know you're not quite the proper pilot, nol absolutely ing the reliable SE5, Squadron's lower for­ top hole y'know till you've flown the bally Camel. What? Dont but there were now be a silly ass about Spads and all that sort of rotten thing. Have a try at a Camel and see mation. Ralston was for yourself what ripping fun it is to go knocking about hospital, doing the odd stunting for your enough American pi­ flying in the top for­ bit of Buff, the joUy nurses y·know. Really topping sport. What? Of course I d>resay it does lots in France to form mation of four SE5s. knock. the patients about a bit, poor blighters, putting the wind up them, relapses and aU that separate U.S. squad­ "We take the Hun by sorl of thing. But still one must have a bit rons. All American pi­ of fun in a war like this, eh? Then too y'know complete surprise be­ there's really no buss like the jolly old Camel lots were ordered to cause they are diving for a forced landing. Air pressure or some such join U.S. units by Sep­ on our lower forma­ gadget always going dud and letting you tember 12,1918.29 down near a nice chateau for a bit of tea in tion," he wrote in his the afternoon. Really old dear you should The outgoing diary: have a try at it on your own, y'know. Ob Ralston knew and I fire at close range at a rawtber. liked most of the pi­ Fokker that spins out of lots in the 148th. He my line of aim, so I let had trained with him go and attack an­ Jesse Creech and other from behind and to the side. After firing flown in combat with nearly a whole drum of Lawrence Callahan. Lewis into him, as my His aversion to the Vickers has jammed, he 148th wasn't per­ turns slightly and goes From Second Army Air Service souvenir album. Courtesy of author into a vertical dive. I fol­ sonal. Ralston was low at a terrible rate and fire my remaining squadrons gathered at Eighty-fifth deathly afraid of the shots from the Lewis drum. He still dives on. Squadron to pay their respects and Sopwith Camel, with which the 148th The speed is so terrific that I flatten out at "cheer up all the boys of 85 with music, was equipped. 5,000 [feet] and see the Hun go on down liquor and a 'hilarious' time." Ralston "Still hold that I will crash and I really and vertically into the ground. appreciated the camaraderie but was am afraid I cannot fly them," Ralston Ralston was lucky. "My machine was otherwise stoic. "I guess there is no wrote the day he joined the squadron. struck partly by Hun shrapnel from the doubt it will come to all of us in this Told he would be transferred to bombers ground and had three large holes in the game." 27 unless he made good, Ralston launched wings," he wrote. But he had come Ralston shot down another Fokker a Camel and made "an awful show." through his first aerial combat un­ 07 on August 22. The squadron, in three The next day he tried again. "The scathed. "Believe me, it was great sport echelons, attacked nine Fokkers. "Our petrol and oil fumes make me very sick. and I was thoroughly crazed over the flight of five machines, led by Captain I make a bum landing and feel more in­ fight. It was lucky for me since I am so McGregor, attacked from the south," he clined to be afraid of the machine," he new at the game that a did not explained in his "Combats in the Air" re­ noted. But Ralston wasn't ready to quit. ensue for I would probably have gotten port. 'The Huns immediately dived on "I want to try to make good here for all the worst of it then."26 our lower formation . .. .I fired a burst the fellows are real boys and I like the Though Ralston displayed an apti­ into one who spiraled away. I then at­ RAF system fine. I only hope I will feel tude for aerial combat, he never forgot tacked another and got a short burst better and can learn to fly this soon

170 Orville Ralston

without any accidents." On September 9, 1918, Ralston's twenty-fourth birthday, CaIJahan re­ turned from leave and soon helped Ralston over his fear of flying the quirky aircraft. "We have a good talk over things in general and I decide to fly them and stick it out at aIJ hazards," he wrote.30 It didn't take Ralston long to master "old Mr. Camel" once he made up his mind. Six days later, on September 15, Ralston shared in bringing down a two­ seater Halberstadt and in driving "down out of control" a Hanoveranner, another two-seater. 31 On September 22 he fired into two Fokkers, driving one down out of control. "I did not see the first crash but I feel sure I hit the pilot for he kept in the slow spin for so long," Ralston wrote in his report.32 On September 26 Ralston left forma­ tion because of engine trouble. "Near the lines at 5,000 feet I met a Bristol fighter giving the signal for E.A. [enemy aircraft] sighted," Ralston explained. "I Pilots of "S" Flight, 148th U.S. Aero Squadron: (left to right), Lt. Percy Cunnius, Lt. Sidney joined the AIJied machine and upon Noel, Lt. Elliott White Springs, Lt. Lawrence Callahan, Lt. Orville Ralston, and Lt. Harry turning back, I saw three Camels being Jenkinson, Jr. (NSHS-MS0233,) driven down by five Fokkers. Another formation of Fokkers were above. Al­ Distinguished Service Cross for coming into a two-seater he last saw "1,500 feet though engine was defective, I attacked to the aid of his beleaguered flight, high, stiIJ diving and weIJ in enemy one E.A. on the tail of a Camel and though he didn't receive the award until territory."3 8 drove him down. At 3,000 feet he disap­ 1921 .35 EIJiott Springs, in a su pporting Ralston missed the big squadron peared in the clouds but I foIJowed letter wrote, "Upon returning to the "ambush" on October 28, when pilots of closely."33 Aerodrome, I examined Lieutenant the 148th shot down seven Germans, In his diary Ralston explained that Ralston's machine and found that one "because the e.0. thought I had done foIJowing a Fokker into the clouds was cylinder was cracked so that it had no too many shows lately."39 As it turned "risky business for we might coIJide. compression. I consider that his return out, Ralston would get no more chances However, I knew old 'Mick,' Major to the fight under these circumstances to fight. The 17th and 148th "American" Mannock, used to do it so I thought I and the subsequent maneuvering an act Squadrons were transferred from British would try." Ralston's gamble paid off. of unusual daring and courage."36 to American control. The pilots were "Upon emerging below the clouds I saw "Tubby" Ralston brought down an­ learning to fly Spad fighters when the E.A. a short distance ahead and below other Fokker a week later, just before Armistice was declared on November me. There were also four Fokkers not far going on leave. "I fired about 50 rounds 11,1918.40 off, coming in my direction. I opened from in front and to one side," Ralston Ralston did, however, fly a last war fire at very short range and saw E.A. puIJ reported, sending the enemy aircraft patrol. He and two other pilots accom­ up, turn to left and make one complete into a "slow spiral with smoke coming panied their friend, Capt. Reed Landis, spiral and crash . .. .By this time the four from his machine." Continuing in a slow commander of the Twenty-fifth U.S. Fokkers were very near, coming around spiral, the dark green Fokker with a Aero Squadron, on a flight just five min­ a cloud. I was then attacked by aIJ four white tail crashed near the railroad at utes before the Armistice took effect. E.A., but managed to dodge through CattenienesY FoIJowing leave in En­ Landis needed the patrol so his squad­ and escape in a nearby c1oud." 34 gland, Ralston engaged in his final scrap ron could end the war as officiaIJy "op­ Ralston was recommended for the with the enemy on October 25 , firing erational." "About five minutes to 11 :00

171 Nebraska History - Winter 1995 a.m. Captain Reed Landis, Lieutenants lotte. "I feel good about that."45 fore going overseas. On December 30, Callahan, Oliver, and I take up the four Ralston was sent to the Army Air 1942, he hitched a ride on a B-17 head­ new SE5s of 25 squadron and do a last Forces Intelligence School in Harris­ ing east from Great Falls, Montana, on a war patrol. We see nothing and have a burg, Pennsylvania, for training as a routine training flight. The bomber was fine flip as the machines are wonderful group intelligence officer. Assigned to scheduled to land at the Ainsworth, Ne­ and run fine," wrote Ralston. "We 'high the 304th Bomb Group, later designated braska, Army Air Field. At about 2:30 tone' the other squadrons down here by the Second Bomb Group, Ralston en­ P.M ., Mountain Time, the bomber went taking off in formation." With that joyed military life, although he knew it down eleven miles south of Musselshell, "Tubby" Ralston's war, "hell on roller was taking a heavy toll on his family. "I Montana, killing all aboard. "The plane skates" as Elliott Springs once called it, sometimes wonder if I should not have had all but cleared a rolling slope when was finally over. 41 it struck," a local newspaperman re­ After his discharge from the army in ported. "From gouges made in the earth March 1919, Ralston returned to Ne­ the plane apparently bounced once, braska. To earn money for his final year then slithered about 100 yards before of dental school, he spent the summer bursting into f1ames ."48 It was a tragic touring the Midwest with the Redpath­ story, repeated hundreds of times dur­ Horner Chautauqua. Not only did ing World War II. Ralston's funeral was Ralston share his war experiences, using held in Valentine, and he was buried at airplane models built for that purpose, Wood Lake. he also discussed the mechanical im­ Orville Ralston should rightly be hon­ provements in aircraft and their com­ ored as Nebraska's only World War I mercial potentialY ace, one of the "War Birds.'" And like so After graduating from the University many others from his native state who of Nebraska as a Doctor of Dental Sur­ responded when the United States was gery in 1920, Ralston married Charlotte attacked in 1941, he didn't calculate Hanna, also a 1920 university graduate, ahead of time what it might cost him and established a dental practice in personally. Hoping to "help out," Ainsworth. He was active in community Ralston went. and veterans' affairs, serving as town "Tubby and I talked a bit about this councilman, mayor, and head of the lo­ war coming up for each of us again," cal American Legion post. Ralston wrote Robert Reese to Charlotte Ralston served in the Air Service Officers' Re­ after Ralston's death. Reese was a friend serve Corps from 1923 to 1928, attending from the first war who met Ralston again summer camp in Kansas City in 1925 Ralston during World War II. at the intelligence school in Pennsylva­ and participating with other World War Courtesy of author nia. "I know that it was his idea that the I aviators in what a local newspaper danger involved was worthwhile-that called an "air circus."43 stayed at home with you," he wrote life could not be hoarded when our Inheriting a ranch near Valentine, Charlotte, "and do my share at the old cause was in peril. "49 "Doc" Ralston and his family left office... .That probably would have Ainsworth in 1937, and he started a been the smart thing to do, but I hated Notes practice in Valentine about a year later. so much to think that I was too old to I [John McGavock Grider], War Birds: Diary of An avid hunter and fisherman, Ralston help out if I could."46 an Unknown Aviator (New York: George H. Doran enjoyed life in the Nebraska Sand Hills. As the Second, a B-17 heavy bom­ Co., 1926),234-35. Except for a few paragraphs, When the United States was plunged bardment group, prepared for overseas Elliott Springs was the author of the "diary." into World War II, however, Ralston re­ deployment, Ralston sometimes accom­ ' Ibid., 264. panied his commanding officer, Col. turned to the Army Air Corps on April 3 Elliott White Springs, Nocturne Militaire (New 14,1942.44 Ford Lauer, on squadron visits. Once, York: George H. Doran Co., 1927),268-71. Every Ralston completed officers' training Ralston wrote, "The Colonel let me fly time Springs related this story it changed. school in Miami Beach in May. He was the plane about half the time as his co­ 4 Elliott White Springs, Above the Bright Blue Sky: one of only a few officers commissioned pilot. Was lots of fun and just like old More About the War Birds (New York: Grosset & a major: "[It] was evidently my previous times only so darned many more gad­ Dunlap, 1928),204,206. 10 years military service that made their gets to look after. "47 S Lawrence K. Callahan to Capt. L. W. Miller, Apr. recommendation stick," he wrote Char­ Ralston hoped to visit his family be­ 27, 1920, in MS0233, Orville A. Ralston Papers, Ne­

172 Orville Ralston

' In James J. Hudson , Hostile Skies: A Combat History ofth e American Air Service in World War I (Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 1968), Ralston is mentioned twice, in passing. In the his­ tory written by Lt. Lucien H. Thayer, America's First Eagles: The Official History ofthe u.s. Air Ser­ vice, A.E.F (/917-1918), Donald Joseph McGee and Roger James Bender, eds., (San Jose: R. James Bender Publishing, 1983), the single refer­ ence to Orville Ralston (p. 257) reads "c. Ralston."

9 See Ira Jones, King ofth e Air Fighters (New York/: Nicholson and Watson, 1935), and Frederick Oughton, Ace With One Eye (London: Frederick Muller, 1963).

10 Burke Davis, War Bird: The Life and Times of Elliott White Springs (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1987) and Marvin L. Skelton, Callahan, The Last War Bird (Manhattan, Kans.:MAlAH Publishing, 1980).

11 Orville Ralston's obituary, The Republican, Val­ entine, Nebr., Jan. 8, 1943; Orville Ralston to Paul Hansell, Jan. 26, 1940, in possession of Dr. Robert O. Ralston (hereafter ROR) gives additional bio­ graphical details. An undated typewritten note by Charlotte Ralston, found in one of Orville Ralston 's war diaries held by Janet Ralston Johnson (hereaf­ ter JRJ) relates th e first version of how Ralston got his nickname. Ralston's nephew, Dr. David H. Mickey of Lincoln, Nebraska, in a May 8, 1995, note to the author remembers his "Uncle Wob" of­ fering a different explanation. As a young man, Ralston was impressed by stories about the Indus­ trial Workers of the World, "The Wobblies." His strut and nickname, Dr. Mickey recalls, were in­ spired by the IWW. The author gratefully acknowledges Janet Ralston Johnson, Dr. Robert O. Ralston, and Dr. David H. Mickey for their assistance with his re­ search.

12 Form No. 612, Adjutant General's Office, certi­ fying that Orville Ralston was "Honorably Dis­ charged from the Provisional Training Regiment," dated Aug. 14, 1917; certificate, Nebraska Adjutant General's Department, indicating "Orval A. Ralston" was discharged from the Nebraska Na­ tional Guard at Auburn, Nebraska, Apr. 24, 1915, both in the Ralston Papers; Orville A. Ralston di­ ary, May 25, 1917. This, and subsequent quoted references to his ground and flight training were written after the fact, all under the date "May 25 , Orville Ralston's flying suit; the control stick, gunsight, and trigger device from his 1917." The original diary is in the possession of Sopwith Camel; and the national insignia removed from a downed German plane. JRJ. A microfilm copy is in the Ralston Papers. (NSHS Collections) 13 Form No. 612 , A.G.O. , Aug. 14, 1917, Ralston Papers. (Lancaster, S.C.: Tri-County Publishing Company, braska State Historical Society, Lincoln (hereafter 1957),46. This valuable history is ava ilable from 14 Hudson, Hostile Skies, 24-45, and Thayer, Ralston Papers). Callahan's letter supports the MAlAH, a division of Sunflower University Press of America's First Eagles, 9-52, 247-49, give a good awa rding of the Distinguished Service Cross to Manhattan, Kans. overview of flight training programs in England Orville Ralston. and France. Hudson, 33, indicates "the first group 7 George T. Shestak, "Nebraska's Forgotten Ace," 6 W. P. Taylor and F. L. Irvin, comp., History of of fifty-three American cadets arrived at the British Sunday Omaha World-Herald Magazine ofthe Mid­ the 148th Aero Squadron Aviation Section, School of Military Aeronautics in Oxford in early u.s. lands, Apr. 4, 1971 , 7-8. Army Signal Corps, A.E.F-B.E.F, 1917-1918 September, and by October I, most of the more

173 Nebraska History - Winter 1995

than 200 cadets to be immortalized as the 'War wrote War Birds, echoing Lawrence Callahan, made one complete spiral and crashed northwest Birds' had arrived in England to begin primary quoted in Callahan, The Last War Bird, 80-8 I. of Bourlon Wood. Four more Fokkers now at­ flight training." Royal Flying Corps programs in "Springs wrote it," Callahan recalled. "Grider, and tacked Lieutenant Ralston but he managed to get Canada and the United States are discussed in I can remember it very clearly, when we started back in the clouds and return safely to our lines, George A. Drew, Canada's Fighting Airmen off on the boat, said he was going to keep a diary. as did the rest of his Flight." So he started keeping the diary but he got so busy ([oronto: Maclean Publishing Company, 1931), 36 Elliott Springs letter, Apr. 12 , 1920, Ralston with many things that he wrote, I would say, about 237-305, and HA Jones, The War In The Air, Vol. V Papers. (Oxford: Clarendon, 1935),464-68. the first ten pages in War Birds and that's all." 37 Combat Report No. 62, Oct. 3,1918, Ralston 24 Ralston is mentioned in War Birds on 234-35, 15 Drew, Canada's Fighting Airmen, 293, 295. Papers. 264, and 274. 16 The eight from the Seventeenth Squadron 38 Combat Report No. 63, Oct. 25, 1918, Ralston 25 Ralston Diary, July 10, 1I, 1918. were Ralph D. Gracie, Minneapolis, Minn.; Oliver Papers. P. Johnson, New Orleans, La.; Ralph Snoke, Los 26 Ibid., July 24 , 1918. Angeles, Calif.; Jesse O. Creech, Washington, D.C.; 39 Ralston Diary, Oct. 28, 1918. This action has Walter Jones, Minneapolis, Minn.; Harold Shoe­ 27 Ibid, July 20; 26, 1918. been described by James J. Hudson, "Ambush Over No Man's Land, The 148th Aero Squadron's maker, Ridgetown, N.J.; Charles France, Milford, 28 Army Form W. 3348, "Combats in the Air," Big Day," Cross and Cockade (Winter 1981), Nebr.; and Orville Ralston. Those in the Twenty­ Eighty-fifth Squadron, Aug. 22, 1918, Ralston Pa­ 344-48. second Squadron were Pau l Lowden, Troy, N.Y.; pers. Lawrence Roberts, Wilmington, Del.; Lawrence 40 Ralston diary, Nov. I, 1918, describes the jour­ 29 C. M. Grove, commanding No. 85 Squadron, Hoover, Washington, D.C.; E. T. Comegies, Wash­ ney of the 17th and 148th Squadrons from the Brit­ RAF, to officer commanding 148 American Aero ington, D.C.; Jarvis Offutt, Omaha, Nebr.; Rowland ish sector to Toul in cattle cars. Blessley, Minneapolis, Minn.; George Siebold, Squadron, Sept. 5, 19 I 8, Ralston Papers. Grove's 41 Ralston Diary, Nov. I 1,1918; War Birds, 274. Washington, D.C.; and August L. Grimm, New Jer­ letter states that Ralston "has never flown a rotary The last combat flight of the war by the four SE5s sey. Ralston Diary, May 25,1917. engine of any kind, and I consider that if it is es­ sential that he should fly Camels he should be has been vividly described in Callahan, The Last 17 Ralph Gracie, Harold Shoemaker, Lawrence given a period of training." War Bird, 62-63, and in James J. Hudson, "Inter­ Roberts, E. T. Comegies, and George Siebold were view with Reed Landis, One of the Top American 30 Ralston Diary, Sept. 6, 7, 9, 1918. Ralston's killed in action. Walter Jones was killed in a Texas Aces of World War I," James J. Hudson Papers, aversion to the Sopwith Camel was shared by training accident and Jarvis Offutt, for whom Special Collections, U.S. Air Force Academy Li­ many other pilots. In the Second Army Air Offutt Air Force Base is named, was killed while brary, Colorado Springs, Colo., Series 8, Box 7, F. Service's souvenir album, produced in France and ferrying an airplane from England to France. 5, No.8, 40-1 . Neither account confirms Ralston's in the author's possession, there is a mock adver­ Creech is mentioned in Hudson, Hostile Skies, 212, involvement in the "raid," though Hudson specu­ tisement for the "Flopwith Camel, the Hospital 2 I 7- I 9, 228, and 309. lated that Ralston was the third pilot from the Hound's Delight!" 18 Form No. 525, Adjutant General's Office, "Hon­ 148th Squadron. The author thanks Duane J. Reed, orable Discharge from the ," 31 Combat Report No. 33, "Combats in the Air," chief, Special Collections, U.S. Air Force Academy discharged Ralston as a flying cadet on Dec. 3, Sept. 15, 1918, Ralston Papers. Libraries for his assistance in obtaining source ma­ terials for this essay. 19 I 7, and announced his commission as a first 32 Combat Report No. 46, Sept. 24, 1918, Ralston lieutenant, Ralston Papers. Papers. 42 Undated Redpath-Homer Chautauqua clip­ ping, ROR. 19 Jones, War in the Air, 466; Ralston Diary, Jan. 33 Combat Report No. 50, Sept. 26, 1918, Ralston 9-23, 1918. Papers. 43 Official Statement of Commissioned Service, July 31, 1942 , Ralston Papers. ROR has several 2{) Maj. Gen. Clayton Bissell to Charlotte Ralston, 34 Ibid. June 26, 1964; Neil M. Goen to Charlotte Ralston, clippings, one of which, "Heroes at Richards Field 35 Adjutant General E. C. Harris to Orville A. Mar. 20, 1964, ROR. Ralston's friendships can al­ Tell of War 'Hair Raisers,''' is dated Aug. 5, 1925. Ralston, Sept. 7, 1921, Ralston Papers. Ralston's ci­ most be dated by the names people called him. In­ 44 The date of Ralston's departure is established tation reads, "For extraordinary heroism in action deed, during World War II, he was called "Orville" in a "Statement of Service," NA Form 1304 I (Rev. on September 26, 1918. Having engine trouble he by new military acquaintances. Only those who 4-90) from the National Personnel Records Center, signaled his flight commander, left his formation knew him from World War I used the nom de and started for the lines. Shortly afterwards his en­ 9700 Page Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63132-5100. "Ma­ gueffe "Tubby." gine picked up and he decided to rejoin his for­ jor Ralston called to aviation service," Cherry County News, Valentine, Nebr., Apr. 16, 1942. 21 Ralston Diary, Febr. 19; May 8, 10, 18,21,29; mation. He found three of them engaged with

July 6, 1918. Mannock's genius is discussed by seven Fokker over Bourlon Wood. Seeing 45 Orville A. Ralston to Charlotte Ralston, Apr. 15, Lawrence Callahan in Callahan, The Last War that one of our machines was hard pressed and in 1942 , ROR. Bird,72-75. distress, Lieutenant Ralston instantly went to its as­ 46 Ibid., Nov. 4, 1942, ROR. sistance and drove one Fokker down into the 22 Bishop's story is told in William Avery Bishop, 47 Orville A. Ralston to Robert O. Ralston, Dec. 9, Winged Warfare (New York: George H. Doran, clouds below. He followed directly behind the en­ 1942, ROR. 1934). emy machine and as they came out of the clouds, at a height of 3,000 feet, opened fire again on this 48 Omaha World-Herald, Jan. 1, 1943. 23 Davis, War Bird, 103, explains that Springs Fokker at fifteen yards range. The enemy machine 49 Robert A. Reese to Charlotte and Robert O. Ralston, Febr. 23, 1943, ROR.

174 Among Orville Ralston's mementos do­ Interned as an enemy alien, Mannock nated to the Nebraska State Historical spent months in Turkish prisons and Edward Society by Charlotte Ralston is a small camps. Released through the efforts of leather case containing Ralston's snap­ the Red Cross, he finally reached En­ "Mick" shot of Maj. Edward Mannock, com­ gland by way of , Syria, and mander of Eighty-fifth Squadron, RAF. . First joining the Royal Army Above the photograph Ralston stitched Medical Corps, Mannock transferred to Mannock two ribbons to the case on which sev­ the and eventually to eral "bars" are attached (in RAF slang, the Royal Flying Corps. "barnacles"). These ribbons and bars Mannock was slow in learning how signify multiple awards to Edward to fly, and in his first aerial combats he Mannock of the Distinguished Service was so awkward he was almost accused Order and the . of cowardice. Once he got the hang of it, On the back of the photo Ralston however, he displayed a remarkable wrote, "Major E. Mannock. Had a credit aptitude for war flying. Lawrence of 71 Huns when he was killed in action Callahan, a friend of Ralston's in Eighty­ the morning of July 26, 1918, S.E. of fifth Squadron, RAF, and later in the Forest of Nieppe, near Cassel. He was 148th United States Aero Squadron, ex­ shot down by concentrated M.G. [ma­ plained that Mannock had "tremendous chine gun] fire from the ground since tactical ability," and "his own original he went so low in shooting down a Hun idea about how things should be done." two-seater in flames. Many of the fel­ Unlike William A. Bishop, Victoria Cross lows who knew him in the RAF all agree recipient and first commander of Eighty­ that he was the most wonderful leader fifth Squadron who Callahan character­ the RAF orany air corps ever produced. " ized as a loner, Mannock "contributed Ralston wasn't exaggerating. "Mick" to the science of aerial warfare, often Mannock, posthumously awarded Great using his own plane as bait to draw the Britain's highest decoration for valor, enemy into an ambush." the Victoria Cross, officially downed sev­ Above all, Edward Mannock "was a enty-three German aircraft, making him very brilliant pilot. He could fly a plane the leading British ace of the war. He on the very edge of stability and going was also universally regarded as a great into a spin but not do it," Callahan re­ combat leader. called. "He could make it turn shorter An unlikely hero, Mannock was prac­ and do more things with it than most tically blind in his left eye from child­ people." hood. He resorted to trickery when tak­ Mannockwelcomed 'Tubby" Ralston ing his aviation flight physical, covering to his squadron in early July 1918. the bad eye twice with different hands Ralston enjoyed the "happy and boy­ and reading the eye chart perfectly. ish" major. According to Ralston's di­ Mannock was born on May 21,1889, ary, Mannock seemed to share a side of in Brighton, the son of an enlisted sol­ himself with the young Nebraskan that dier in the Second Inniskilling Dragoons, few others saw. Although some remem­ who later deserted his family. Poverty bered Mannock as a bloodthirsty killer propelled him to work at an early age. in aerial combat, Ralston had a differ­ Hewasashop boy fora grocer, a barber's ent perspective: "He never killed with helper, and a clerk forthe National Tele­ the sort of lust some fellows have. Many phone Company. When World War I times I have heard him say how he Major Edward Mannock In a snapshot by began in August 1914, Mannock was an hated to kill the poor devils, but did it Orville Rolston. (NSHS-MS0233) employee of the English Telephone only to help end the terrible war." Company in .

175