David C. Beebe

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to David C. Beebe, Second Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near St. Mihiel, France, September 13, 1918. With Second Lieutenant Franklin D. Bellows, observer, Second Lieutenant Beebe executed a reconnaissance mission early in the morning of the second day of the St. Mihiel offensive in spite of the clouds, high wind, mist, flying at an altitude of only 300 meters and without protection of accompanying battle planes. Although subjected to severe fire from ground batteries, they penetrated 8 kilometers behind the German lines. His motor was badly damaged and his observer, Lieutenant Bellows, was mortally wounded. Despite these conditions he succeeded in bringing the disabled machine to his lines.