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Hopkins Stephen Tullock

Name:
Stephen Tullock  Hopkins
Rank:
Second Lieutenant
Serial Number:
Unit:
96th Aero Squadron
Date of Death:
1918-09-13
State:
Massachusetts
Cemetery:
Saint Mihiel American Cemetery and Memorial Thiaucourt-Regnieville, Departement de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Lorraine, France
Plot:
C
Row:
27
Grave:
2
Decoration:
Distinguished Flying Cross
Comments:

Born on March 19, 1892 in Newtown Mass. Harvard Graduate of 1914.
2nd Lieutenant Stephen Tullock Hopkins was a pilot in the 96th Aero Squadron during WWI. This Squadron was the first in the United States Air Service to have bombardment as its sole mission. The Squadron was based at the Amanty Airdrome in France. Lieutenant Tullock was assigned to the Squadron on September 7, 1918. On September 16, 1918, on only his second bombing raid, Lieutenant Hopkins and his observer Bertram Williams, were killed when their formation of three Breguet 14 bombers was attacked by fifteen enemy scouts and after a wild aerial battle their aircraft went down in flames near Dommartin inside enemy lines. 2nd Lieutenant Hopkins was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously.
DFC Citation: War Department, General Orders No. 15 (1923) The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant (Air Service) Stephen Tullock Hopkins, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 96th Aero Squadron, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., between Chambley and Xammes, France, 13 September 1918. While acting as pilot of a flight of 3 airplanes which were attacked by 15 enemy planes, Lieutenant Hopkins continued on his mission and bombed his objective despite the fact that he was surrounded by greatly superior numbers of the enemy. In the flight which followed the bombing operations, Lieutenant Hopkins and his observer continued the flight until shot down and killed, thus enabling one airplane of the flight to return to its airdrome with valuable information. The heroic conduct and superb devotion to duty of Lieutenant Hopkins proved an inspiration to the members of his squadron.
Source: Find a Grave