After some training with the RAF, and an interim post ferrying aircraft to France, Vaughn was posted in May 1918 to
No. 84 Squadron RAF, based in
Bertangles and commanded by
Sholto Douglas. He was attached to "B" flight, led by
Hugh "Dingbat" Saunders, the sometimes-wingman to RAF ace
Andrew Beauchamp-Proctor (along with Philadelphia-born Joseph "Child Yank" Boudwin), all three pilots flying the
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a. Vaughn claimed seven air victories in his time with 84 Squadron. In August 1918, Vaughn was transferred to the
17th Aero Squadron,
United States Air Service, where he flew the
Sopwith Camel, claiming another six victories. Vaughn was America's second-ranking Air Service ace to survive the war. He is credited with downing four German planes destroyed, seven shared destroyed, one kite balloon destroyed and one aircraft "out of control". One of the German pilots he shot down was
Friedrich T. Noltenius, a 21-victory ace, on September 22, 1918.
Verified aerial victories Notes on Vaughn's victories • #1: Vaughn was about to score his first victory after a bright yellow Pfalz D III took a shot at him. He was shocked and outraged. Breaking formation, Vaughn made a climbing turn to the right pursuing the Pfalz, and closed the range as the enemy pilot headed east into Germany. His adversary dove as the range continued to close. Vaughn opened fire at 100 yards and expended 200 rounds of ammunition from his Vickers gun. The Pfalz began smoking, fell some 500 feet, and burst into flames. Vaughn would later comment: "I remember my first combat victory. The Pfalz I was engaged with got a long burst into my tail before I knew he was even in the sky. That was a great lesson never to be forgotten, always see the other fellow first and never let him see you first. Fortunately his aim was quite poor and after that it was only the routine we had learned in combat school. Eventually he turned for home. I chased him, which wasn't the right thing to do as it turned out. When I finally caught up with him I was quite far into German territory and my flight commander really told me off later, because he didn't relish being pulled that far into Germany just to watch over me. The Pfalz was confirmed by people in the squadron and on the ground. He fell in flames." • #3: Shared with Lt
Roy Manzer • #4: Shared with Lt Roy Manzer • #5: Shared with Lt
Sidney Highwood • #7: Shared with Lt
Carl Frederick Falkenberg • #8 & #9: Referenced in Vaughn's Distinguished Service Cross citation (see below). One of planes shot down was flown by
Friedrich T. Noltenius, who survived. • #11: Shared with Lt Howard Burdick "While on O.P., immediately after dropping bombs on Awoingt, saw 2 two-seaters, at 3,500 feet, at 9:10a, just E of Awoingt. Fired at them and they dived east. Lieut Burdick and I followed on D.F.W., with orange fuselage and camoouflaged wings, and shot him down attacking him first from the front. I got in 150 rounds from 75 yards. He went down in a half-dive, half-spin, and crashed into the ground at 57b.B.23." • #12: Shared with Lt
Howard Burdick and Lt L Myers • #13: Shared with Lt Howard Burdick ==New York Air National Guard==