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Photo # NH 105337:  Second Lieutenant Ralph Talbot, USMCR

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- PEOPLE -- UNITED STATES --

Second Lieutenant Ralph Talbot, USMCR, (1897-1918)

Ralph Talbot was born on 6 January 1897 in South Weymouth, Massaschusetts. He attended Yale University and the Dupont Aviation School (located at Wilmington, Delaware) before joining the U.S. Navy in November 1917. After ground school training at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts and flight training at Key West, Florida, he was commissioned as a Navy Ensign in April 1918. A month later, he was transferred to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Flying Corps as a Second Lieutenant. Talbot served with Squadron C, First Marine Corps Aviation Force in France during the summer and early autumn of 1918. On 8 October, while on an air raid with his observer, Gunnery Sergeant Robert G. Robinson, USMC, they shot down one of the nine enemy scouts that attacked their bombing group. On 14 October 1918 over Pittham, Belgium, their plane, along with another, became separated from their formation and were attacked by 12 enemy scouts. During the ensuing fight, Robinson was severely injured by enemy fire and collapsed. With his observer unconscious and his motor failing, Talbot shot down another enemy plane. He then flew to the nearest hospital to leave Robinson for treatment. Second Lieutenant Ralph Talbot was killed in a test flight on 25 October. For his "exceptionally meritorious service and extraordinary heroism" in the aerial battles of 8 and 14 October 1918, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Robert Talbot was initially interred in France, but his remains were later brought home and are now buried in Mount Wollaston Cemetery, Quincy, Massachusetts.

USS Ralph Talbot (DD-390), 1937-1948, was named in honor of Second Lieutenant Talbot.

This page features the only images we have concerning Ralph Talbot.


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Photo #: NH 105337

Second Lieutenant Ralph Talbot, USMC Reserve Flying Corps


Halftone reproduction of a photograph, copied from the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 126.
Ralph Talbot was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his "exceptionally meritorious service and extraodinary heroism" during air raids over France and Pittham, Belgium, October 1918.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 42KB; 590 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: 19-N-17912

USS Ralph Talbot
(DD-390)

Plaque mounted aboard the ship in honor of Second Lieutenant Ralph Talbot, USMC Reserve Flying Corps.
Presented by the People of Weymouth, Massachusetts on 31 October 1936, it was photographed at about that time by the Boston Navy Yard, Charlestown, Massachusetts.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

Online Image: 71KB; 455 x 765 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 



Medal of Honor citation of Second Lieutenant Ralph Talbot, USMCRFC (as printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 126):

"For exceptionally meritorious service and extraordinary heroism while attached to Squadron C, First Marine Aviation Force, in France. Second Lieutenant Talbot participated in numerous air raids into enemy terrority. On 8 October 1918, while on such a raid, he was attacked by nine enemy scouts, and in the fight that followed shot down an enemy plane. Also, on 14 October 1918, while on a raid over Pittham, Belgium, Lieutenant Talbot and another plane became detached from the formation on account of motor trouble, and were attacked by 12 enemy scouts. During the severe fight that followed, his plane shot down one of the enemy scouts. His observer was shot through the elbow and his gun jammed. Second Lieutenant Talbot maneuvered to gain time for his observer to clear the jam with one hand, and then returned to the fight. The observer fought until shot twice, once in the stomach and once in the hip. When he collapsed, Lieutenant Talbot attacked the nearest enemy scout with his front guns and shot him down. With his observer unconscious and his motor failing, he dived to escape the balance of the enemy and crossed the German trenches at an altitude of 50 feet, landing at the nearest hospital to leave his observer, and then returning to his aerodrome."


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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Page made 3 December 2007
Minor text correction 29 January 2008