Born:
01/29/1896
Died: 11/??/1972
Inducted:
10/26/2002
Born
in Delafield, Wisconsin in 1896, Rodney Williams was a student at
Carroll College in Waukesha in April 1917 when the United States
entered World War I. The United States was unprepared for the war,
so Williams became one of 300 Americans who took flight instruction
with the Royal Canadian Air Force in Toronto. He was then assigned
to the 17th "American" Aero Squadron attached to the Royal
Air Force. In July and August 1918, Williams piloted a speedy
Sopwith Camel fighter in combat over France.
He
downed four enemy airplanes and one balloon to qualify as
Wisconsin's first combat "ace". Wounded on his last
mission, Williams landed safely, but was hospitalized for the rest
of the war. He came home to Waukesha, where he helped found the
Waukesha Aviation Club and became the first manager of the Waukesha
County Airport, but gradually gave up flying. When he passed away in
1972, Wisconsin's first combat ace was known as one of the finest
dairy farmers in Jefferson County.
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