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William Thomas Ponder

Lieutenant William Thomas Ponder was an American World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.[2]

William Thomas Ponder
Lieutenant William T. Ponder, 103d Aero Squadron, Foucaucourt Aerodrome, France, standing with his SPAD S.XIII, 1918
Nickname(s)"Bill"
Born15 March 1891
Llano, Texas, US
Died27 February 1947
Amarillo, Texas
Buried
Riverside Cemetery, Mangum, Oklahoma
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchService Aéronautique,
United States Army Air Service
RankLieutenant
UnitFrench: Escadrille 67,
Escadrille 163;
American 103rd Aero Squadron
Battles/wars World War I
AwardsDistinguished Service Cross,
French Croix de Guerre[1]

World War I

William Thomas Ponder joined the French air service in the fall of 1917. He was originally assigned to Escadrille SPA 67, then Escadrille SPA 163.[3] While with this unit, he used a Spad to down three German planes between 28 May and 11 August 1918; one of these victories was shared with Thomas Cassady. While serving with the French, Ponder was a Corporal. When he transferred to an American unit, the 103rd Aero Squadron, he was commissioned as an officer. He scored three more times in the month of October to become a flying ace; four of these victories were shared, including one with Frank O'Driscoll Hunter.[2][1]

In May 1918, while in Paris, Ponder took a French war bride. A year later, on 14 May 1919, he was promoted to Captain before returning to America.[1]

Between the World Wars

Upon his return to Mangum, he became city manager for a couple of years.[4] Mangum's first municipal airfield was named Ponder Field in his honor. After departing this job, Ponder would work at a variety of jobs over the ensuing years. He delivered aircraft for Lockheed, worked in a news agency, and dealt in petroleum contracts.

During the Prohibition era, Ponder was caught smuggling alcohol into the United States from Mexico. On 25 May 1932, he was chased about 200 miles as he flew into the U.S. He landed at San Angelo, Texas; his pursuer promptly landed in front of him, blocking him on the runway. Caught with either 627 or 1,500 bottles of illicit Mexican beer—accounts differ—he was held on $1,500 bond. The newspapers were also at odds over Ponder's wartime victories—one crediting him with 17 victories, the other with only 11.[4][5]

On 18 November 1932, he was caught near Poteet for smuggling 80 gallons of alcohol via airplane. On 8 April 1933, he was convicted and sentenced to six months in federal detention.[6]

World War II and beyond

During the war, Ponder worked for Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation in Fort Worth. He also delivered Globe Swift aircraft from San Angelo. He also founded the Ponder Aircraft Sales Company. He was on a sales trip for his company when he died of a heart attack in a hotel room in Amarillo on 27 February 1947.[2][3]

Decorations and awards

  • Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William Thomas Ponder, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Fontaines, France, October 23, 1918. Having been separated from, his patrol, Lieutenant Ponder observed and went to the assistance of an allied plane which was being attacked by 30 of the enemy. Lieutenant Ponder destroyed one enemy plane and so demoralized the remaining that both he and his comrade were able to return to their lines. General Orders No. 46, W.D., 1919.[2][1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Franks & Bailey (1992), p. 64.
  2. ^ a b c d The Aerodrome website page on Ponder [1] Retrieved 8 April 2010.
  3. ^ a b Franks & Dempsey (2001), p. 26.
  4. ^ a b The (Zanesville, Ohio) Times-Recorder, 27 May 1932 via The Aerodrome website [2] Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  5. ^ The San Antonio Light, 27 May 1932 via The Aerodrome website [3] Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  6. ^ The (Baton Rouge) Morning Advocate, 9 April 1933 via The Aerodrome website [4] Retrieved 29 January 2018.

Bibliography

  • Franks, Norman; Dempsey, Harry (2001). American Aces of World War 1. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-375-0.
  • —; Bailey, Frank (1992). Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918. Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-54-0.

External links

william, thomas, ponder, this, article, about, american, pilot, australian, politician, william, david, ponder, lieutenant, american, world, flying, credited, with, aerial, victories, lieutenant, william, ponder, 103d, aero, squadron, foucaucourt, aerodrome, f. This article is about the American pilot For the Australian politician see William David Ponder Lieutenant William Thomas Ponder was an American World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories 2 William Thomas PonderLieutenant William T Ponder 103d Aero Squadron Foucaucourt Aerodrome France standing with his SPAD S XIII 1918Nickname s Bill Born15 March 1891Llano Texas USDied27 February 1947Amarillo TexasBuriedRiverside Cemetery Mangum OklahomaAllegianceUnited StatesService wbr branchService Aeronautique United States Army Air ServiceRankLieutenantUnitFrench Escadrille 67 Escadrille 163 American 103rd Aero SquadronBattles wars World War IAwardsDistinguished Service Cross French Croix de Guerre 1 Contents 1 World War I 2 Between the World Wars 3 World War II and beyond 4 Decorations and awards 5 See also 6 References 7 Bibliography 8 External linksWorld War I EditSee also Aerial victory standards of World War I William Thomas Ponder joined the French air service in the fall of 1917 He was originally assigned to Escadrille SPA 67 then Escadrille SPA 163 3 While with this unit he used a Spad to down three German planes between 28 May and 11 August 1918 one of these victories was shared with Thomas Cassady While serving with the French Ponder was a Corporal When he transferred to an American unit the 103rd Aero Squadron he was commissioned as an officer He scored three more times in the month of October to become a flying ace four of these victories were shared including one with Frank O Driscoll Hunter 2 1 In May 1918 while in Paris Ponder took a French war bride A year later on 14 May 1919 he was promoted to Captain before returning to America 1 Between the World Wars EditUpon his return to Mangum he became city manager for a couple of years 4 Mangum s first municipal airfield was named Ponder Field in his honor After departing this job Ponder would work at a variety of jobs over the ensuing years He delivered aircraft for Lockheed worked in a news agency and dealt in petroleum contracts During the Prohibition era Ponder was caught smuggling alcohol into the United States from Mexico On 25 May 1932 he was chased about 200 miles as he flew into the U S He landed at San Angelo Texas his pursuer promptly landed in front of him blocking him on the runway Caught with either 627 or 1 500 bottles of illicit Mexican beer accounts differ he was held on 1 500 bond The newspapers were also at odds over Ponder s wartime victories one crediting him with 17 victories the other with only 11 4 5 On 18 November 1932 he was caught near Poteet for smuggling 80 gallons of alcohol via airplane On 8 April 1933 he was convicted and sentenced to six months in federal detention 6 World War II and beyond EditDuring the war Ponder worked for Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation in Fort Worth He also delivered Globe Swift aircraft from San Angelo He also founded the Ponder Aircraft Sales Company He was on a sales trip for his company when he died of a heart attack in a hotel room in Amarillo on 27 February 1947 2 3 Decorations and awards EditDistinguished Service Cross DSC The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William Thomas Ponder First Lieutenant Air Service U S Army for extraordinary heroism in action near Fontaines France October 23 1918 Having been separated from his patrol Lieutenant Ponder observed and went to the assistance of an allied plane which was being attacked by 30 of the enemy Lieutenant Ponder destroyed one enemy plane and so demoralized the remaining that both he and his comrade were able to return to their lines General Orders No 46 W D 1919 2 1 He was also bequeathed the French Croix de Guerre with four palms 1 See also Edit World War I portal Biography portalLafayette Flying Corps List of World War I flying aces from the United StatesReferences Edit a b c d e Franks amp Bailey 1992 p 64 a b c d The Aerodrome website page on Ponder 1 Retrieved 8 April 2010 a b Franks amp Dempsey 2001 p 26 a b The Zanesville Ohio Times Recorder 27 May 1932 via The Aerodrome website 2 Retrieved 29 January 2018 The San Antonio Light 27 May 1932 via The Aerodrome website 3 Retrieved 29 January 2018 The Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 9 April 1933 via The Aerodrome website 4 Retrieved 29 January 2018 Bibliography EditFranks Norman Dempsey Harry 2001 American Aces of World War 1 Osprey Publishing ISBN 978 1 84176 375 0 Bailey Frank 1992 Over the Front A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services 1914 1918 Grub Street ISBN 978 0 948817 54 0 External links EditWilliam Thomas Ponder at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Thomas Ponder amp oldid 1129122902, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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