author
Dinsmore Ely
1894–1918
An architecture student turned wartime pilot, he left behind vivid letters from France that capture the courage, curiosity, and uncertainty of a young American serving in World War I.
1 Audiobook
Dinsmore Ely, One Who Served
by Dinsmore Ely
About the author
Dinsmore Ely (1894–1918) was an American architecture student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, class of 1918. He volunteered with the American Field Service and sailed for France in June 1917, but soon joined French aviation after deciding that ambulance service was not the right fit for him.
Ely trained as a pilot, earned his brevet, and became a member of the Lafayette Flying Corps. His letters describe life in France, from flying near the Front and observing the countryside to reading, drawing, and forming friendships with French families.
He died in France on April 21, 1918, following an airplane accident. His father, Dr. James O. Ely, edited his letters into Dinsmore Ely, One Who Served, published in 1919.