James Knowles, Jr.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to James Knowles, Jr., First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Montfaucon, France, October 9, 1918. While on a voluntary patrol over the enemy’s lines First Lieutenant Knowles observed three enemy Fokkers attacking one of our balloons. He unhesitatingly attacked, and in a bitter combat that lasted for five minutes he succeeded in bringing one of the enemy planes down in flames and driving off the others.