J. Dickinson Este

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to J. Dickinson Este, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Chambley, France, September 13, 1918. First Lieutenant Este was leading an offensive patrol of five machines when a formation of seven enemy single-seaters approached the patrol from above. Although outnumbered and in a very disadvantageous position, he did not hesitate to lead his patrol to the attack. Through the combat which followed he fought with the greatest bravery, in spite of the fact that he was himself attacked by two enemy planes, which fired at his at point-blank range from the rear and above. By his skill and courage he was able to keep his formation together, and they succeeded in shooting down three of the enemy planes, of which h himself destroyed one and drove down another out of control.