William Clarkson Potter

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William Clarkson Potter, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Dun-sur-Meuse, France, September 26, 1918. A formation of eight Liberty bombing planes, while on a daylight bombing mission on Dun-sur-Meuse, was attacked by a force of enemy planes three times its number. Lieutenant Potter saw that the observer’s guns of the leading machine were inactive, while its pilot exerted great effort to control his machine. Under conditions demanding greatest courage and determination Lieutenant Potter flew in close to the leader so as to protect him from the rear. This position he held under ever-increasing enemy attack, and in face of the fact that his leader continued on into Germany. The conditions became more desperate, still Lieutenant Potter hung on, until his leader was finally able to make a turn about to the allied lines. On landing it was found that the observer of the leading machine had been killed and had fallen and jammed the controls, making a turn impossible. Lieutenant Potter, by his courage and disregard of danger, saved the life of his leader and brought his machine safely back to our lines.