Jerry Vasconcells

Jerry Cox Vasconcells
Born	3 December 1892 Lyons, Kansas, USA
Died	17 April 1950 Denver, Colorado, USA
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	Aviation
Rank	Captain
Unit	27th Aero Squadron
Commands held	185th Aero Squadron
Awards	French Croix de Guerre

Captain Jerry Cox Vasconcells was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.^[1] Vasconcells was inducteed into the Colorado Aviation Hall of Fame in its first ceremony of 1969.^[2]

History

Jerry Vasconcells was born in Lyons, Kansas on December 3, 1892. He attended East High School, in Denver, Colorado, attended Dartmouth College, and then graduated from the University of Denver Law School.^[2]

Vasconcells joined the U.S. Army Air Corps^[3] at the onset of World War I, and was sent to France in 1917 to fly combat. While flying the SPAD^[4] biplane in combat, he was shot down, but with skilled flying he landed in "no man's land" and was rescued by allied soldiers. He became an "Ace" with a score of 6 airplanes and two balloons.^[5] His WWI flying was described in the classic book "War Birds". He was awarded the French Croix de Guerre and other honors from both the French and American governments.^[2] Jerry Vasconcells was a Flight Commander for the 27th Aero Squadron of the 1st Pursuit Group, American Expeditionary Forces(AEF) in 1918; and by wars end he was made Commander of the 185th Aero Squadron, the first night pursuit squadron of the AEF.^[5]

Vasconcells military career included the associations with other renown aviators, including Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker, Gen. Billy Mitchell and Frank Luke. In 1919 he acquired a Military Aviator flight rating and was promoted to Major. Upon returning to the United States he had numerous health issues relating to his military flying. Jerry Vasconcells is Colorado's only Ace from World War 1. His association with Mayor Benjamin F. Stapleton they establish Denver's Municipal Airfield with scheduled flight service. During his commercial aviation career in Denver, he served two terms as chairman of the Colorado Aeronautics Commission, and helped organize the first Colorado Air Meet in 1921.^[2]

Jerry helped to organize and the create the Quiet Birdmen Association. He died at his home in Denver, 1950.^{[citation needed]}

References

• American Aces of World War I. Norman Franks, Harry Dempsey. Osprey Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1841763756, 9781841763750.

Sources of information

1. ^ Jerry Vasconcells TheAerodrom.com: Jerry Vasconcells
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Colorado Aviation Historical Society: Jerry Cox Vasconcells Aviation History
3. ^ American Aces of World War I. p. 71. 
4. ^ GoogleSearch: "SPAD XII/XIII aces of World War I" By Jon Guttman
5. ^ ^{a b} LafayetteFoundation.org Jerry Vasconcells

Further reading

• "Terror of the Autumn Skies: The True Story of Frank Luke, America's Rogue Ace of World War I", 2008, by Blaine L. Pardoe, Skyhorse Publishing, NY, NY; ISBN 978-1-60239-252-6

External links

• USA WWI: Aces
• SlideShare.net: USAS 1st Pursuit Group (Aviation Elite Units) by Jon Guttman

Persondata
Name	Vasconcells, Jerry
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	3 December 1892
Place of birth	Lyons, Kansas, USA
Date of death	17 April 1950
Place of death	Denver, Colorado, USA