American nationals who enlisted in British and French air services, including the Lafayette Escadrille, before our nation's declaration of war in 1917. Balloons were considered legitimate "kills," oftentimes more dangerous quarry than an enemy aircraft because of their protective anti-aircraft batteries and the low-level flying involved.

Medal of Honor recipients are shown in bold face. An asterisk after a name indicates killed in action.

26   Edward V Rickenbacker, Capt 94 Sqn AEF (incl 5 balloons)

24   Frederick Libby, Capt (14 as pilot, 10 as observer with RFC)

20   Frederick W Gillette, Capt RFC
20   John P Malone*, Sub-Lt RNAS

18   Frank L Hale, Capt 85 Sqn RFC
18   Paul T Iacacci, Capt 20 Sqn RFC
18   Frank Luke Jr*, 2Lt 27 Sqn AEF (incl 14 balloons)

17   Raoul G Lufbery, Maj N-124 Lafayette Esc

16   Harold A Kullberg, Lt 1 Sqn RFC

14   Kenneth R Unger, Lt 27 Sqn RAF

15   Clive T Warman, Lt 22 Sqn RFC

13   George A Vaughn Jr, Lt 17 Sqn AEF, also RAF (incl 1 balloon)

12   Frank L Baylies*, Lt French Air Svc, Lafayette Esc
12   Louis B Bennett, Lt 40 Sqn RFC
12   Field E Kindley, Capt 148 Sqn AEF
12   James W Pearson, Capt 23 Sqn RAF
12   David E Putnam, Lt 139 Sqn AEF
12   Elliot W Springs, Capt 148 Sqn AEF, also RAF

11   Thayer A Iacacci, Lt 12 Sqn RFC

10   Oliver C LeBoutillier, Lt 209 Sqn RAF
10   Reed G Landis, Maj 25 Sqn AEF, also RAF (incl 1 balloon)
10   Jacques M Swaab, Capt 22 Sqn AEF

 9   Paul F Baer, Lt 103 Sqn AEF, also Lafayette Esc
 9   Thomas G Cassady, Capt 28 AEF, also Lafayette Esc
 9   John S Griffith, Capt 60 Sqn RFC
 9   Chester E Wright, Lt 93 Sqn AEF (incl 1 balloon)

 8   James D Beane*, Lt 22 Sqn AEF (incl 2 balloons)
 8   Charles J Biddle, Maj 13 Sqn AEF, also Lafayette Esc
 8   James J Connelly, Lt French Air Svc, Lafayette Esc
 8   Hamilton Coolidge*, Capt 94 Sqn AEF (incl 3 balloons)
 8   Henry R Clay Jr*, Lt 148 Sqn AEF
 8   Jesse O Creech, Lt 148 Sqn AEF
 8   John O Donaldson, Capt (attached to 85 Sqn RAF)
 8   William P Erwin, Lt 1 Sqn AEF (observer)
 8   Lloyd A Hamilton*, Lt 17 Sqn AEF (incl 3 balloons)
 8   Frank O Hunter, Capt 103 Sqn AEF (incl 1 balloon)
 8   Clinton Jones, 2Lt 22 Sqn AEF
 8   Gorman Larner, Capt 103 Sqn AEF, also Lafayette Esc
 8   James A Meissner, Maj 94 Sqn AEF
 8   Edwin C Parsons, Lt N-124 French Air Svc, Lafayette Esc
 8   Joseph F Wehner*, Lt (incl 6 balloons)
 8   Wilbur W White*, Lt 147 Sqn AEF (incl 1 balloon)

 7   Charles J Biddle, Lt 13 Sqn AEF, Lafayette Esc
 7   Howard Lt Burdick, 17 Sqn AEF
 7   Reed M Chambers, Maj 94 Sqn AEF (incl 1 balloon)
 7   Harvey W Cook, Capt 91 Sqn AEF (incl 5 balloons)
 7   Lansing C Holden, Lt 95 Sqn AEF (incl 3 balloons)
 7   John W Huffer, Maj French Air Svc
 7   John K McArthur*, Lt 27 Sqn AEF
 7   Wendel A Robertson, Lt 139 Sqn AEF
 7   Leslie J Rummell, Lt 93 Sqn AEF
 7   Karl J Schoen*, Lt 139 Sqn AEF
 7   Sumner Sewall, Capt 95 Sqn AEF (incl 2 balloons)
 7   William H Stovall, Lt 13 Sqn AEF

 6   Byrne V Baucom, Lt -- (observer)
 6   Arthur R Brooks, Capt 139 Sqn AEF
 6   Douglas Campbell, Capt 94 Sqn AEF
 6   Edward P Curtis, Capt 95 Sqn AEF
 6   Charles R D'Olive, Lt 93 Sqn AEF
 6   Arthur R Esterbrook, Lt 1 Sqn AEF (observer)
 6   Murray K Guthrie, Lt 13 Sqn AEF
 6   James N Hall, Capt French Air Svc
 6   Leonard C Hammond, Capt 91 Sqn AEF (observer)
 6   Harold E Hartney, LtCol 1 Sqn AEF, also RAF
 6   Frank K Hayes, Lt 13 Sqn AEF
 6   Donald Hudson, Capt 17 Sqn AEF
 6   James A Keating, Maj 49 Sqn RFC
 6   Howard C Knotts, 2Lt 17 Sqn AEF
 6   Robert A Lindsay, Lt 139 Sqn AEF
 6   Ralph A O'Neill, Lt 147 Sqn AEF
 6   William T Ponder, Lt103 Sqn AEF
 6   Kenneth L Porter, 2Lt 147 Sqn AEF
 6   E M Roberts, Lt 60 Sqn RFC
 6   Frank A Robertson, Lt 29 Sqn RFC
 6   Martinus Stenseth, Capt 28 Sqn AEF
 6   William Thaw, LtCol N-124 French Air Svc, Lafayette Esc
 6   Edgar G Tobin, Capt 103 Sqn AEF
 6   Jerry Vasoncelles, Capt 27 Sqn AEF (incl 1 balloon)
 6   Remington D Vernam*, Lt 22 Sqn AEF (incl 3 balloons)

 5   William T Badham, Lt 91 Sqn AEF
 5   Hilbert L Baer, Lt 103 Sqn AEF, Lafayette Esc
 5   Clayton L Bissell, Capt 148 Sqn AEF
 5   Harold R Buckley, Capt (incl 1 balloon)
 5   Lawrence K Calahan, Lt 85 Sqn RFC
 5   Everett R Cook, Capt 94 Sqn AEF
 5   H C Ferguson, Lt --
 5   George W Furlow, Lt 103 Sqn AEF
 5   Harold H George, Lt 139 Sqn AEF
 5   Charles G Gray, Capt 213 Sqn AEF (incl 1 balloon)
 5   Edward M Haight, Lt 139 Sqn AEF
 5   James A Healy, Capt 147 Sqn AEF
 5   David S Ingalls, Lt (USN) 213 Sqn AEF (attached to RAF)
 5   James Knowles Jr, Lt 95 Sqn AEF
 5   Dean I Lamb, Lt 4 Sqn RFC
 5   Frederick E Luff, Lt 25 Sqn AEF (incl 2 balloons)
 5   Francis P Magoun, Lt 1 Sqn RFC
 5   Alexander Matthews, Lt 84 Sqn RFC
 5   Ewart S Miller, Lt 139 Sqn AEF
 5   Zenos R Miller, Lt 27 Aero Sqn (>148 Sqn) AEF (incl 2 balloons)
 5   J Sidney, Owens, 1Lt 139 Sqn AEF
 5   W J Pace, Capt -- RFC
 5   David M, Peterson, Maj French Air Svc, Lafayette Esc
 5   Norman Prince*, Lt N-124 French Air Svc, Lafayette Esc
 5   Orville A, Ralston, Lt 148
 5   John J Seerley, Lt 13 Sqn AEF
 5   Victor H Strahm, Maj 91 Sqn AEF
 5   Francis M Symonds, Lt -- (incl 1 balloon)
 5   William D Tipton, Capt 33 Sqn RFC
 5   Robert M Todd, 2Lt 117 Sqn AEF
 5   Rodney D Williams, 1Lt 17 Sqn AEF
 5   Charles H Veil, Lt N-150 French Air Svc, Lafayette Esc