What is ralph talbot?

Ralph Talbot (1897-1918) was a United States Marine Corps aviator who served during World War I. He joined the Marines in 1917 and was assigned to the newly formed Marine Aviation Company. Talbot was sent to France in 1918 and flew combat missions over the Western Front.

On July 20, 1918, Talbot was part of a two-man reconnaissance team that spotted a German convoy near the town of Vaux-en-Amienois. Despite being heavily outnumbered, Talbot engaged the enemy with his machine gun, allowing his observer to radio the location of the convoy back to base. This action is considered one of the first aerial victories of the Marine Corps.

Talbot was awarded the Navy Cross for his bravery and skill in action, but he was killed in another engagement just two months later. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and is remembered as one of the most courageous and skilled pilots in Marine Corps history. Talbot Airfield in Hawaii is named in his honor.