Lieutenant Colonel William Thaw II ((1893-08-12)12 August 1893 – (1934-04-22)22 April 1934) was a World War I flying ace credited with five confirmed and two unconfirmed aerial victories.
He is believed to be the first American to engage in aerial combat in the war.
He was the first to fly up the East River under all four bridges.
Author: Air Service, United States Army Source: Air Service, United States Army photograph via Franks (1992) Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914-1918 , Grub Street the Basement; First edition (May 1992), ISBN 0948817542 License: PD US Air Force