William Smith Ely was born in Rochester, NY, November 18, 1895, born into a medical family; his father and grandfather were both well known physicians, he was expected to enter Harvard Medical School on his graduation from college. On the outbreak of war he abandoned his plans for the study of medicine and joined the Aviation Section of the USA Signal Corps in Boston in May 1917 being assigned to the Ground School of Military Aeronautics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology to receive his preliminary training. He was permitted to continue his studies at Harvard and graduated in the class of 1917.
On July 19th he set sail for England arriving at Liverpool July 30th 1917, he was eventually sent to France to attend the Aviation H.Q. in Paris where he received his commission as 1st Lieutenant. He was then detailed to return to England to train as a Squadron Leader, station at Northolt and at Port Meadow, Oxford.
On the 2nd January at Port Meadow, Oxford he was invited to be a passenger in an aircraft flown by an instructor who was considered to be an expert flier. What happened is not known, however, the inquest report states by an error of judgment the pilot stalled the engine when turning, the machine crashed to the ground from a height of approximate 300 feet. Both pilot and passenger were killed instantly.
Wm, Smith Ely is buried in Wolvercote Cemetery Oxford, England. A cenotaph headstone was also erected for him in the family plot in Mt Hope Cemetery, Rochester, N.Y.

Source:Worldwa1 Doughboy Center