Franklin B. Bellows

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Franklin B. Bellows, Second Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near St. Mihiel, France, September 13, 1918. Second Lieutenant Bellows, with Second Lieutenant David C. Beebe, pilot, executed a reconnaissance mission early in the morning of the second day of the St. Mihiel offensive in spite of low clouds, high winds, and 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 beyond the German lines. Lieutenant Beebe’s motor was badly damaged, and Lieutenant Bellows was mortally wounded and died just after the disabled machine landed safely in friendly territory.