He enlisted in the USAAS in Paris, underwent training, and reported to the 95th Aero Squadron in February 1918. He was promoted to Flight Commander, and went on to score five victories over enemy planes between 3 June and 18 September 1918, sharing a couple of them with future general James Knowles and Edward Peck Curtis. Sewall then became a balloon buster, shooting down an observation balloon each on 4 and 5 November. The only victory he did not receive credit for came when German pilot Leutnant Heinz Freiherr von Beaulieu-Marconnay mistakenly landed on the 95th Aero Squadron's airfield, and Sewall and a couple of other American pilots captured him at gunpoint.[1]
His political career began when he became an alderman in Bath in 1933. He was elected to the Maine state legislature as a representative in 1934, then as a senator in 1936 and 1938. After the latter election, he was named President of the State Senate. In 1940, he was elected governor, and served two terms. Sewall's administration was notable for cleaning up scandals in state government and passing a minimum wage law for state teachers.
Sewall became president of the Bath National Bank in the 1960s. He died on 25 January 1965.
Family
Sewall's parents were William Dunning Sewall and Mary Locke Sumner of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. Mary was the daughter of George Sumner and Sarah E. Richardson, and she was great-granddaughter of the Reverend Joseph Sumner of the First Congregational Church in Shrewsbury. William D. Sewall and Mary Locke Sumner lived at the Sewall Family Home in Bath, ME known as York Hall.
sumner, sewall, june, 1897, january, 1965, american, republican, politician, airline, executive, served, 58th, governor, maine, from, 1941, 1945, began, aviation, career, during, world, fighter, 58th, governor, mainein, office, january, 1941, january, 1945prec. Sumner Sewall June 17 1897 January 25 1965 was an American Republican politician and airline executive who served as the 58th Governor of Maine from 1941 to 1945 He began his aviation career during World War I as a fighter ace Sumner Sewall58th Governor of MaineIn office January 1 1941 January 3 1945Preceded byLewis O BarrowsSucceeded byHorace HildrethMember of the Maine SenateIn office 1936 1940Member of the Maine House of RepresentativesIn office 1934 1936Personal detailsBorn 1897 06 17 June 17 1897Bath Maine U S DiedJanuary 25 1965 1965 01 25 aged 67 Bath Maine U S Resting placeOak Grove Cemetery Bath MainePolitical partyRepublicanAlma materHarvard CollegeProfessionBusinessman politician airmanAwardsDistinguished Service Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster Croix de Guerre France Legion of Honour France Order of the Crown Belgium Military serviceAllegiance United StatesBranch serviceAir Service United States ArmyYears of service1917 1919RankCaptainUnit95th Aero SquadronBattles warsWorld War I Contents 1 Life and career 2 Family 3 See also 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksLife and career EditA native of Bath Maine Sewall dropped out of Harvard College in 1917 to go to Europe to aid the Allies during World War I Sewall served first in the American Ambulance Field Service from February through August 1917 then in the U S Army Signal Corps then finally as a fighter pilot in the U S Army Air Service becoming an ace by scoring seven victories He enlisted in the USAAS in Paris underwent training and reported to the 95th Aero Squadron in February 1918 He was promoted to Flight Commander and went on to score five victories over enemy planes between 3 June and 18 September 1918 sharing a couple of them with future general James Knowles and Edward Peck Curtis Sewall then became a balloon buster shooting down an observation balloon each on 4 and 5 November The only victory he did not receive credit for came when German pilot Leutnant Heinz Freiherr von Beaulieu Marconnay mistakenly landed on the 95th Aero Squadron s airfield and Sewall and a couple of other American pilots captured him at gunpoint 1 Sewall returned home with the Distinguished Service Cross with oak leaf cluster the French Legion of Honor the Croix de Guerre and the Order of the Crown of Belgium 1 After the war he worked in a variety of jobs including being an executive with Colonial Air Transport and a director of United Air Lines His political career began when he became an alderman in Bath in 1933 He was elected to the Maine state legislature as a representative in 1934 then as a senator in 1936 and 1938 After the latter election he was named President of the State Senate In 1940 he was elected governor and served two terms Sewall s administration was notable for cleaning up scandals in state government and passing a minimum wage law for state teachers After stepping down as governor Sewall became president of American Overseas Airlines for a year then served as the military governor of Wurttemberg Baden from 1946 to 1947 In 1948 Sewall finished a distant third in the Republican primary for Maine s open United States Senate seat which ended his political career Sewall became president of the Bath National Bank in the 1960s He died on 25 January 1965 Family EditSewall s parents were William Dunning Sewall and Mary Locke Sumner of Shrewsbury Massachusetts Mary was the daughter of George Sumner and Sarah E Richardson and she was great granddaughter of the Reverend Joseph Sumner of the First Congregational Church in Shrewsbury William D Sewall and Mary Locke Sumner lived at the Sewall Family Home in Bath ME known as York Hall Sewall s grandfather Arthur Sewall was the Democratic candidate for vice president in 1896 Sewall married Helen Ellena Evans in 1929 They had two sons David and Nick and a daughter AlexandriaSee also Edit World War I portal Biography portalList of World War I flying aces from the United StatesReferences Edit a b American Aces of World War I p 68 69 Bibliography EditAmerican Aces of World War I Norman Franks Harry Dempsey Osprey Publishing 2001 ISBN 1 84176 375 6 ISBN 978 1 84176 375 0 Gunther John Inside U S A New York Curtis 1947 487 489 Leviero Anthony Low Salary Bars La Follette Job New York Times 8 October 1947 17 Mrs Smith wins in Maine race for Senate Gov Hildreth concedes New York Times 22 June 1948 1 Past President Sumner Sewall Republican 1939 1940 External links Edit Sumner Sewall Find a Grave Retrieved 2009 05 18 Party political officesPreceded byLewis O Barrows Republican nominee for Governor of Maine1940 1942 Succeeded byHorace HildrethPolitical officesPreceded byLewis O Barrows Governor of Maine1941 1945 Succeeded byHorace A Hildreth Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sumner Sewall amp oldid 1124234341, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
