Medal of Honor: Ralph Talbot, World War I, October 14, 1918

Name: Ralph Talbot
Rank: Second Lieutenant
War: World War I
Date of Action: October 14, 1918
Unit: Squadron C, 1st Marine Aviation Force
Born: January 6, 1897 – South Weymouth, Massachusetts
Appointed From: Connecticut

Summary of Action
Ralph Talbot was one of the first U.S. Marine aviators to take the war to the skies over Europe. Flying with Squadron C of the 1st Marine Aviation Force, he led countless raids deep behind German lines, dueling enemy aircraft in fierce dogfights over France and Belgium.

On October 14, 1918, Talbot and his observer, Gunnery Sergeant Robert G. Robinson, joined a bombing raid over Pittham, Belgium. When their aircraft became separated from the main formation due to engine trouble, twelve German fighters swooped down on them. In the desperate fight that followed, Talbot and Robinson shot down several enemy planes before Robinson was grievously wounded—his left arm shattered and his gun jammed.

Talbot coolly maneuvered his crippled plane to buy his observer time to clear the jam with one hand. When Robinson finally collapsed, shot twice more, Talbot attacked the nearest German fighter with his forward guns, blasting it from the sky. With his engine failing and the enemy still swarming, he dove low through the gunfire, crossing the German lines at only fifty feet, and landed at a hospital to save Robinson’s life. Then, refusing rest, Talbot lifted off again and flew back to his aerodrome alone.

Talbot’s fearless flying and devotion to his comrade made him the first Marine aviator to earn the Medal of Honor. He was killed in a crash just weeks later, before he could return home.

Medal of Honor Citation
TALBOT, RALPH
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps.
Born: 6 January 1897, South Weymouth, Mass.
Appointed from: Connecticut.
Citation: For exceptionally meritorious service and extraordinary heroism while attached to Squadron C, 1st Marine Aviation Force, in France. 2d Lt. Talbot participated in numerous air raids into enemy territory. On 8 October 1918, while on such a raid, he was attacked by 9 enemy scouts, and in the fight that followed shot down an enemy plane. Also, on 14 October 1918, while on a raid over Pittham, Belgium, 2d Lt. Talbot and another plane became detached from the formation on account of motor trouble and were attacked by 12 enemy scouts. During the severe fight that followed, his plane shot down 1 of the enemy scouts. His observer was shot through the elbow and his gun jammed. 2d Lt. Talbot maneuvered to gain time for his observer to clear the jam with one hand, and then returned to the fight. The observer fought until shot twice, once in the stomach and once in the hip and then collapsed. 2d Lt. Talbot attacked the nearest enemy scout with his front guns and shot him down. With his observer unconscious and his motor failing, he dived to escape the balance of the enemy and crossed the German trenches at an altitude of 50 feet, landing at the nearest hospital to leave his observer, and then returning to his aerodrome.