Henry Robinson Clay

Who was Henry Robinson Clay?

Captain Henry Robinson Clay, Jr. was a World War I flying ace credited with eight confirmed aerial victories.

Though born in Plattsburg, Missouri on 27 November 1895, Clay later lived in Fort Worth, Texas.

He was one of the first contingent of American fliers shipped to England to gain seasoning with the Royal Flying Corps. While assigned to 43 Squadron, he claimed a win, but it went unverified. He then transferred to the 148th Aero Squadron. He scored eight times between 16 August and 27 September 1918; on the latter date, he shared in the destruction of a Halberstadt reconnaissance plane with Elliott White Springs. In total, Clay destroyed five Fokker D.VIIs, considered the best fighters in the war, and drove another down out of control; he shared in the destruction of two German reconnaissance planes. Clay was promoted to command of 41st Aero Squadron, but the war ended before it could see action.

He died during the great influenza epidemic, on 17 February 1919.