Last World War I Ace Retires From Air Force
SAN ANTONIO, May 3 —UP— A master sergeant reputed to be the last World War I ace remaining in the Air Force has been retired at Randolph Air Force Base, which he once commanded while ranked as a colonel.
The Airman, Col.
Edward M. Haight, shot down five planes during the first world war to become one of the few American aces. He later served as an airlines pilot in Central America, keeping his reserve commission in force by active duty training with the Army Air Corps.
He was recalled to duty in World War II and subsequently commanded the 30th Air Service Group in England and France. Haight's only son, Lt. Edward Haight, was shot down during a mission over Europe.
He commanded Randolph Air Force Base briefly in 1942, never dreaming he would end his military career there as a master sergeant. But an economy wave found the colonel on duty in the Pentagon in 1949-1950. Rather than get out of the service then, Col. Haight elected to enlist as a master sergeant to complete 30 years of service for retirement. He has served the past four years as a master sergeant in the School of Aviation Medicine.
The Brownsville Herald - Monday, May 03, 1954
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