Frederick Libby

Frederick Libby was born on 15 July 1891 in Sterling, Colorado.Military enlistment papers, as reproduced at [http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/usa/attestation/libby.php theaerodrome.com]. Retrieved 4 November 2011. His mother died of tuberculosis when he was four years old, leaving him to be raised by his widower father, an older brother, and a live-in housekeeper. He attended local schools for his formal education, and began learning to ride at the age of six. One of his youthful feats was roping a pronghorn at the age of ten.Libby 2000. pp. 1-10Guttman 2009. p. 37

In the autumn of 1903, he moved to Sabetha, Kansas to temporarily live with his older sister Minnie.Libby 2000. p. 13 By 1904, Libby's father and elder brother had re-established themselves as horse brokers in Minco, Indian Territory; one of their clients was Buffalo Bill. Frederick Libby rejoined them in 1904.Libby 2000. pp. 16, 21, 32 He then lived with his aunt in Marshfield, Massachusetts during the school year to attend high school during his fifteenth and sixteenth years.Libby 2000. p. 26 In 1910, Frederick Libby moved to Phoenix, Arizona because of his father's concern (which fortunately proved to be unfounded) that his son might have tuberculosis. The younger Libby first worked for wages as a cowboy while there.Libby 2000. pp. 49-64 He then became an itinerant cowboy and mustanger.Libby 2000. pp. 74-100

Libby was in Calgary, Canada when the war began. He claimed to have joined the Canadian Army on 2 September 1914,Libby 2000. pp. 107-108 although his enlistment papers are dated 5 January 1915 and signed in Toronto. He gave his occupation as chauffeur upon enlistment. His enlistment papers describe him as being {{convert|5|ft|8+1/2|in|cm|sigfig=3|abbr=on}} tall, with a medium complexion, brown hair, and gray eyes. He was assigned to motor transport duty in the Canadian Expeditionary Force's supply column.{{cite web |url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/usa/attestation/libby.php |title=Frederick Libby |publisher=theaerodrome.com |accessdate=4 November 2011}} Note: Libby's explanation for the discrepancy in dates is that the physical examination to join the army was somehow neglected until arrival in Toronto. When the Americans in Canadian service were notified that they could be discharged to avoid loss of their citizenship, Libby stayed on.Libby 2000. p. 117

Libby shipped out of Halifax, Nova Scotia for England on the troopship SS Metagama in April 1915. Upon arrival, his unit staged a short-lived mutiny because they had not been paid. After being paid, they were equipped with brand new trucks–a melange of Locomobiles, Packards, Pierce Arrows, Peerlesses, Leylands, and British Daimlers. They took their new trucks to Rouen, France to begin their assignment supporting the Canadian 2nd Division.Libby 2000. pp. 123-125

After serving in this motor transport unit through the winter of 1915–1916, he volunteered to join the Royal Flying Corps, becoming an observer in an F.E.2b in 23 Squadron.Shores 1990. p. 239Libby 2000. pp. 129-135

Frederick Libby volunteered for service with the Royal Flying Corps on a thirty-day probationary period; he said it was to get out of the constant rain. If he proved satisfactory as an aerial observer, he would be commissioned a second lieutenant; if unsatisfactory, he would return to his old unit without prejudice. According to Libby, when he reported to 23 Squadron, he received his machine gun training in the morning, and went on flight status that afternoon.Libby 2000. pp. 129-144 A crack shot since his childhood, he scored his first victory on his very first combat mission, coincidentally his birthday, 15 July 1916, flying with Lieutenant E. D. Hicks.{{cite web |url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/usa/libby.php |title=Frederick Libby |publisher=theaerodrome.com |accessdate=8 April 2010}}

In August 1916, Libby was commissioned and transferred to 11 Squadron. Upon arrival there, the first pilots he met were Albert Ball, John Quested, and Ernest Foot.Libby 2000. p. 161 In his memoirs, written many years after the event, Libby claims to have conceived a buttstock for the Lewis machine guns used by observers, that was then fabricated overnight by the gunnery sergeant of his unit and widely adopted as a standard fitting.Libby 2000. pp. 152-153, 162-163, 201, 266 Actually, the "ground" Lewis gun came already fitted with such a stock as standard, this being replaced in the standard "air" form of the gun with a spade grip, for "handiness" and to save weight.Cheesman 1960, p. 178 (see also illustration on p.176)Woodman 1989, p. 34 Libby was one of a number of observers, especially those serving in the precarious perch that was the front cockpit of an F.E.2b, who preferred their Lewis guns with the original "rifle style" stock, braced against the shoulder. This suited his "marksman-type" shooting style; it also freed up a hand that could be used to hang onto the aircraft, adding stability for more accurate fire, as well as greater safety for the observer.Woodman 1989 p. 51

Libby claimed five victories while teamed with Captain (later Major) Stephen Price; one of the victories was shared with Lionel Rees. He became an ace on 25 August 1916, and by 20 October 1916 he was a double ace as an observer on Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2s.Guttman 2009. p.38

His description of an observer's duties included the following passage about manning the rear gun on an F.E.2):

{{blockquote|The observer position was in the open front of the plane with the pilot behind him, and a reversed in-line piston-engine/propeller drivetrain was situated behind both of them, shoving all and sundry through the airGuttman 2009. p. 38}}

{{blockquote|The mounting consists of a hollow steel rod, into which a solid steel rod is fitted to work up and down with the machine gun on top. To operate this you simply pull the gun up as high as possible, where it locks into the fitting, then you step out of the nacelle and stand with a foot on each side. From this position, you have nothing to worry about except being blown out of the ship or being tossed out if the pilot makes a wrong move. This gun, I know, I am not going to like very much.Libby 2000. pp. 136-137}}

On 15 September 1916, Libby was an eyewitness to the first use of tanks in battle while he was on observation duty over the battlefield. Two days later Oswald Boelcke and Jasta 2 shot down 11 Squadron's entire C Flight, along with two escorting Airco DH.2 fighters. Libby's B Flight was thrown into the resulting breach, but suffered no losses.Libby 2000. pp. 180-182

On 28 October 1916, Libby was posted to Home Establishment for pilot training. He was granted leave until 1 January 1917.Libby 2000. pp. 193 His leave was interrupted on 13 December 1916 when he and Captain Price were awarded the Military Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace.Libby 2000. pp. 196-198, 266

After completing pilot training on 5 March 1917,Libby 2000. p. 205 Libby was posted to No. 43 Squadron on 7 March, piloting the Sopwith 1½ Strutter two-seater fighter/reconnaissance aircraft. After scoring two victories, he was reassigned to No. 25 Squadron as an Airco DH.4 bomber pilot in August 1917, where he scored twice more.Shores 1990. pp. 239–240 During this assignment, on 28 May 1917 he began flying the American flag as command streamers during his sorties.Libby 2000. p. 216. (Note: With no interplane radios or other means of communication available, streamers flown from the struts indicated the leader(s) of a flight or squadron).

Upon promotion to Flight Commander, Libby transferred to 25 Squadron, which shared its airfield with 43 Squadron. He was assigned B Flight. Libby was nearly killed by accident around this time. The DH.4 had controls accessible to the observer, and while engaged in a dogfight, a Lewis gun ammunition drum jammed the rudder, slewing it into a constant right hand turn. Once the problem was remedied, Libby returned to base. His experience led to the rear seat rudder bar being covered by plywood.Libby 2000. pp. 228-231

Libby would serve with 25 Squadron until he left the RFC. By the time he transferred to U.S. service, his combat tally–as both observer and pilots–consisted of two enemy aircraft destroyed (including one shared), and 12 driven down out of control (including four shared).

On 15 September 1917, Libby transferred to the United States Army Air Service, at the request of General Billy Mitchell. He returned to the United States and reclaimed his citizenship. He participated in the Liberty Loan drive by auctioning off his flight streamers. He was sent to join the 22nd Aero Squadron at Hicks Field in Texas, but was dismayed by its disorganization, especially the hospital.Libby 2000. pp. 249-251 Libby was suffering from chronic back pain by this time and was found to be permanently disabled by Ankylosing spondylitisLibby 2000. p.259 and medically unfit for further military service. Libby never flew a combat mission for the United States Air Service.Libby 2000. pp. 233-262

Frederick Libby married Caroline Von Stein. She had previously adopted a niece and nephew whose mother had died of the Spanish flu.Libby 2000. p. 272 Libby lived a partial cripple for the rest of his life.Dempsey 2001. pp. 27–29 Despite his disabilities and a doctor's prediction he would die before age 40, Libby went into the oil prospecting business, founding Eastern Oil Company and consulting for Union Oil and Richfield. He was also the founder of Western Air Express. In the process, he made millions of dollars; he also went broke.Libby 2000. pp. 273-274 In 1961, he wrote his memoir, and this was published posthumously as Horses Don't Fly.Libby 2000. Inside front jacket notes. He died in Los Angeles on 9 January 1970.Libby 2000. p. 274

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• List of World War I flying aces from the United States

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• Cheesman, E.F. (ed) Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Letchworth, Harleyford Publications, 1960
• Dempsey, Harry. American Aces of World War 1. Oxford, Osprey Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|1-84176-375-6}}, {{ISBN|978-1-84176-375-0}}.
• Guttman, Jon & Harry Dempsey. Pusher Aces of World War I. Oxford, Osprey Pub Co, 2009. {{ISBN|1-84603-417-5}}, {{ISBN|978-1-84603-417-6}}.
• Libby, Frederick. Horses Don't Fly. New York, Arcade Publishing, 2000. {{ISBN|1-55970-526-4}}, {{ISBN|978-1-55970-526-4}}.
• Shores, Christopher F. & Norman L. R. Franks, Russell Guest. Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. London, Grub Street, 1990. {{ISBN|0-948817-19-4}}, {{ISBN|978-0-948817-19-9}}.
• Woodman, Harry Early Aircraft Armament: The Aeroplane and the Gun up to 1918. London, Arms and Armour Press, 1989. {{ISBN|0-85368-990-3}}.

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Category:1891 births

Category:1970 deaths

Category:American World War I flying aces

Category:Aviators from Colorado

Category:Recipients of the Military Cross

Category:Royal Flying Corps officers

Category:People from Sterling, Colorado

Category:British Army personnel of World War I

Category:Military personnel from Colorado