On July 20, 1918, First Lieutenant Hermann St. John Boldt, Jr., a Princeton graduate and New York native serving as an aerial observer with the 1st Aero Squadron, was killed in action near Château‑Thierry, France. While mapping enemy positions during the Second Battle of the Marne, Boldt was struck and killed instantly by a sniper’s bullet as he flew in a fragile, open‑cockpit biplane — one of the most perilous roles in early military aviation.
This dangerous work, which Boldt embraced, was essential to Allied advances during the war’s transition into modern mechanized combat. Known for his dedication, he left behind a final letter expressing his unwavering belief in the Allied cause, writing, “We are going to win, no matter what happens to me.” For his valor, he was posthumously awarded the French Croix de Guerre and laid to rest at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, standing as a testament to the courage and sacrifice of America’s earliest combat aviators.
