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Major Carl A. Spaatz, circa 1918.
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Head and shoulders portrait, facing front; in flying gear.

Credit: Courtesy of the Library of Congress

A Pennsylvania German from Boyertown, PA, Carl Andrew Spatz was assigned to the new field of military aviation soon after graduating from West Point in 1914. During World War I, Spatz shot down three enemy planes, for which he received a Distinguished Service Cross. In 1937, Spatz added the second "a" to his last name, to clarify its pronunciation as "Spahtz" rather than "Spats" or "Spots."

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