LT. RULIFF NEVINS 27th AERO

[cameldriver]

I posted this thread last week but it seems to have disappeared. I recently obtained a letter from Lt. Nevins written shortly before he was shot down and killed. In it he describes a dogfight with "Richthofen's" squadron in which he shot down a Hun. He describes the planes as having checkerboard tails. Mike Oneal was good enough to provide me with a photo of Nevins. I was wondering if anyone out there could provide further info on the dogfight described by Nevins or the facts surrounding his own death. All information about him would be appreciated.

Bob

[ONEALM]

Bob -

I took a quick look in the 27th Aero history and found Lt.Ruliff Vanderveer NEVIUS alternately reported as KIA or Killed in Accident. He was on a patrol with 9 other SPADs from 17h05 to 18h45 and did not return from that flight.

Oddly, I have found no narrative mention of his loss at all.

Henshaw's The Sky Their Battelfield does not mention him lending some weight to the Killed by Accident reference, but clearly he is mentioned as out on patrol and not returned. Might imply a forced landing in which he was killed, but I have no evidence of that. I'm really surprised the unit history has nothing on this save the date which he died.

I did find a reference in the First Pursuit Group War Diary (which I have found to be mostly, but not completely accurate), that he was killed in a take off accident 16 Aug at 17h15. The same source lists him as killed at Issoudun. I have the weekly casualty reports for Issoudun - he's not on them for that week, so I am not certain whwt to make of the "takeoff accident" citation.

Interestingly - at least to me in New Jersey - is that his family was in NJ in the 1800's at least and later relocated to California. In case this escaped us - born Feb 24, 1898 in Kansas City, MO to Cornelius V. Nevius and Carolina Olsen (suspect Olsen in maden family name). By WW I, Mrs. Nevius was deceased. His father resided at 801 S. Chapel Street in Alhambra, CA. where, byt 1923, he ran an upholstering business. He is listed in the city of Los Angeles directory of 1906 employed as a Carpenter.

His family was in NY and NJ for quite a while it seemd before relocating to California. I find record of Corneiuls Nevius (originally Neffius form the Netherlands) back to the 1600's. One of the many Cornelius' served in COmpany A of the 15th NJ Infantry Regt during the Civil War. I suspect there's a straight line on this family in NJ, but not sure it's relevant to your project.

There appears to be some interesting family history to mine here if you are interested in that background.

Not much traction on the exact (or maybe even accurate !) circumstances surrounding his death, but the lack of evidence that he was KIA probably points to an accident.

Mike

[cameldriver]

Mike

Thanks again. From his handwriting, I can't tell if it's Nevins or Nevius, and Sloane has him listed as Nevins and KIA.
I appreciate the family history. Do you know where he went to school, or any information on his claim that he had shot down a German plane one either 8/1 or 8/2?
I am again in your debt.

Bob

[cameldriver]

I found the following in a First Pursuit Group History for August 1:

27th - A protection patrol of eighteen planes for two Salmson photographic ships was attacked by eight Fokkers of the Richtofen Circus. In the engagement Lt. Huson destroyed two Fokkers near Saponay (confirmed) and Lts. Hudson and Roberts destroyed on Fokker near Fere-en-Tardenois (confirmed). Lt. Vasoncelles destroyed a Fokker near Fere-en-Tardenois (confirmed). Lt. Ruliff Nevius destroyed a Fokker near Fere-en-Tardenois First Lt. Oliver T Beauchamp, Charles B. Sands and Jason S. Hunt were killed in combat during this engagement and First Lts. Richard C. Martin, Clifford A. McElvain and Arthur L. Whiton were shot down and taken prisoners. 1st Lt. Frederick I. Ordway was attached to the squadron for flying duty during the temporary shortage of qualified flight commanders.

Sounds like it was some fight! The same history indicates that Nevius was killed in an accident on take-off on August 18. I findno other mentions of him.

[ONEALM]

Bob -

No clue on the schooling - I have not found him yet in compiling the various college/university rosters.

The 1 August claim was confirmed - a Fokker D.VII at 08h10 shared with Vasconcelles and Hudson East of Fere-en-Tardenois. Confirmed by French Resume 1.562 1 August.

Jasta 6 pilots Hemer and Wenzl claimed Nieuports at Fere-en-Tardenois at 09h10 and 09h15 German time which were probably Lts. Whiton and Beauchamp. Not sure who the "crashed" Fokker would have been, but Wenzl was wounded in this fight. Not sure if other JG I Jastas were involved. Nevius reported 8 Fokkers of the "Checkerboard Squadron" attacked them so it's probably only Jasta 6 that was involved, but like any of this, leave the door open in case we find further information.

This was a big mellee as the 27th had been prpviding escort for Salmsons of the 1st Aero. 1st Aero lost 3 airplanes IIRC, the 27th 5 or 6 total.....

The 1 August victory was his first - and only - confirmation.

-Mike

[Cliff]

Found a pic of his grave marker. Died Aug. 16 -1918.

collections.mohistory.org

[ONEALM]

Originally Posted by Cliff

Found a pic of his grave marker. Died Aug. 16 -1918.

collections.mohistory.org

This *might* be a clue to how he died. Coulommiers is quite close to Saints and obviously on our side of the lines. Suggests he was killed at least close to Saints. Just thinking aloud - wasn't there a large US hospital at Coulommiers ? I seem to recall that there was....

Nevius is not in the American Battle Monuments Commission d/b so suspect he was later re-patriated.

-Mike

[fetubi]

This is what I have now about this airman's death (by accident)

16th August
Ni28C.1 27th Pursuit Sqn - Protection Patrol, left 5-05pm, crashed on take off on a’dr (1Lt R Nevius KIFA)

Still no serial though (but I also see it might be a SPAD! - can anyone confirm when their last Nieuport left? They were still being actively flown by them a couple of weeks earlier)

I recall this info came out of somewhere deep in Gorrell (on Fold3 on the Net)

Regards,

Trevor

[fetubi]

Originally Posted by fetubi

This is what I have now about this airman's death (by accident)

16th August
Ni28C.1 27th Pursuit Sqn - Protection Patrol, left 5-05pm, crashed on take off on a’dr (1Lt R Nevius KIFA)

Still no serial though (but I also see it might be a SPAD! - can anyone confirm when their last Nieuport left? They were still being actively flown by them a couple of weeks earlier)

I recall this info came out of somewhere deep in Gorrell (on Fold3 on the Net)

Regards,

Trevor

Just consulted Gorrell –

Sqn records show "16 a'c" being dropped off strength on 2Aug 18 – I'd say this was the end of the Nieuports, so SPAD it must be.

Fold3 Viewer

Trevor

[ONEALM]

August was definately the transition period to SPAD's. I seem to recall that the CR's for the 16 August date mentioned both SPADs and Nieuports though. Not sure they would have flown mixed flights, but it's certainly possible.

As a pilot, the difference between the light, rotary powered Nieuport and the heavy V-8 SPADs probably created some challenges for the pilots. I doubt up until the time the SPADs arrived, most of these guys had any time in SPADs. The program at Issoudun was almost exclusively on Nieuports of one stripe or another.

I've seen photos of 27 Aero N.28's lined up with a full line of SPADS on the field at Saints. Unfortunately, you cannot see the unit insignia on the SPADs so no clue if they are 27, 95, 94 or 147th Aero airplanes. Suspect we might be able to figure that out if we knew when all four units were re-equipped. The point is there were definately N.28's and SPADs at Saints at the same time so mixed flights were a possibility.

Has anyone found any doc on the transition/familiarization with the SPADs ? I get the impression the whole program was at the squadron level and consisted of "There's your new SPAD... go fly it....". Peripheral question really, but it does make me wonder....

-Mike