Lambert, Bill

William Carpenter Lambert was born (but no record of his birth was recorded) on August 18, 1894 to William G. and Mary Lambert. He also had a younger brother Carl who was born in circa. 1895. He spent his early childhood in Ironton, Ohio. When Mr. Lambert was ten or eleven years old, an aviator brought a Wright Flyer to Ironton for a July 4th celebration. Lambert was given a ride and allowed to handle the controls. This early experience with aviation led to his career as an aerial fighter.

In 1915, Lambert quit his job as a chemist in Buffalo, New York and went to Canada to enlist in the British Artillery. Not immediately receiving an enlistment, he found other work. In 1917 he was able to join a Canadian training unit of the Royal Flying Corps, fore runner to Britain's Royal Air Force.

In four months, from April 7 until August 10, 1918, Lambert shot down 21 ½ German Aircraft. Two of them were balloons and half the credit for one plane went to another pilot. The British Air Ministry credits him with assisting in the destruction of three other enemy balloons. British records also show that during these four months, Lambert engaged in aerial activity thirty-two times. He was a leading World War I ace, have the second most kills of any American, (Eddie Rickenbacker had 26 kills).

Authorities agree there may have been more victories for Lambert, but record keeping of take-downs was sometimes lost during the heat of battle. In August of 1918, Lambert was hospitalized with combat fatigue and given home leave. He rested at his home for the remainder of the war. England awarded Lambert the Distinguished Flying Cross. Lambert would receive the award in 1919 in a private ceremony from the Prince of Wales at the British Embassy in Washington, DC.

After the war, Lambert spent a year barnstorming with air shows in the eastern United States. He also went into an airplane building business with a friend in Dayton, Ohio and flew the U.S. air mail route from Washington to Cleveland.

In the 1920s, Lambert enlisted in the U.S. Air Corps reserve. He was called to active duty in the early days of World War II, serving as an engineer. After the war, Lambert remained in the reserves until in 1954 when, at age 60, he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.

In 1973, William Lambert published a book concerning his war activities in western France entitled, Combat Report. In 1980 Lambert would publish a second book concerning his barnstorming days entitled, Barnstorming and Girls. Lambert also drew many sketches of his flying days, and later in life would sell various prints of them.

William Lambert married Chloe Forson (nee Hale) circa. 1921. Chloe had a daughter, Clyda M., from a previous marriage. Chloe died in Ironton in 1971. William Lambert died on March 19, 1982 at the age of 87. There are no descendants known to be living at this time.

From the guide to the William C. Lambert Papers, 1917-1982, (Wright State University, Special Collections and Archives)