Lansing Colton Holden [SEP] conflict
Lansing Colton Holden
Lieutenant Lansing Colton Holden, Jr. was a World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.
World War I service.
Holden dropped out of Princeton and went to France to join the fight. He was originally attached to French aviation's Escadrille 461 in April 1918 to defend Paris against German air attack. He then transferred to the 95th Aero Squadron in July as a Spad XIII pilot. He survived being shot down on 10 August before he scored his first victory on 29 September 1918.
of his machine gun.
Text of citation for the "Oak Leaf Cluster" for the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) as promulgated in General Orders No. 46, War Department, 1919:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Lansing Colton Holden, Jr., First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near St. Jean de Buzy, France, November 4, 1918. Flying at a low altitude to evade hostile pursuit patrols, Lieutenant Holden attacked a German observation balloon in the