Charles W. Drew

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Charles W. Drew, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Flirey, France, August 15, 1918. Lieutenant Drew operated one of a patrol of four machines which attacked four enemy battle planes. In the fight which followed he attacked in succession three of the enemy airships, driving one of them out of the battle. He then engaged another machine at close range and received ten bullets in his own plane, one of which penetrated his radiator, while another pierced his helmet. In spite of this he followed the German plane to a low altitude within the enemy’s lines and shot it down in flames. During the latter part of the combat he courageously refused to abandon the fight, although he had become separated from his companions and his engine had become so hot because of the leak in his radiator that there was imminent danger of its failing him at any moment. He has since been killed in action.