Louis G. Bernheimer

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Louis G. Bernheimer, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Fismes, France, August 11, 1918. Together with John W. Jordan, second Lieutenant, 7th Field Artillery; observer; Roger W. Hitchcock, Second Lieutenant, Pilot; James S. D. Burns, deceased, Second Lieutenant, 101st Field Artillery, observer; Philip R. Babcock, First Lieutenant, pilot; Joseph A. Palmer, Second Lieutenant, 15th Field Artillery, observer, Joel H. McClendon, deceased, First Lieutenant, Pilot; and Charles W. Plummer, deceased, Second Lieutenant, 101st Field Artillery, all attached to the same squadron. Under the protection of three pursuit planes, all carrying a pilot and observer, Lieutenants Bernheimer and Jordan, in charge of a photo plane, carried out successfully a hazardous photographic mission over the enemy’s lines to the River Aisne. The four American ships were attacked by 12 enemy battle planes. Lieutenant Bernheimer, by coolly and skillfully maneuvering his ship, and Lieutenant Jordan, by accurate operation of his machine gun, in spite of wounds in the shoulder and leg, aided materially in the victory which came to the American ships, and returned safely with 36 valuable photographs. The pursuit plane operated by Lieutenants Hitchcock and Burns was disabled while these two officers were fighting effectively. Lieutenant Burns was mortally wounded and his body jammed the controls. After a headlong fall of 2, 500 meters, Lieutenant Hitchcock succeeded in regaining control of this plane and piloted it back to the airdrome. Lieutenants McClendon and Plummer were shot down and killed after a vigorous combat with five of the enemy planes. Lieutenants Babcock and Palmer, by gallant and skillful fighting, aided in driving off the German planes and were materially responsible for the successful execution of the photographic mission.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Louis G. Bernheimer, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Tailly, France, November 2, 1918. Lieutenant Bernheimer and First Lieutenant Ralph P. Bagby, observer, on their own imitative, went on a reconnaissance mission, flying 15 kilometers behind the German lines, securing valuable information, the condition of the bridges across the Meuse River and enemy activity in the back areas, and harassing enemy troops.