On May 18th, 1916, five days after the squadron’s first official patrol, Kiffin shot down a German LVG two-seat airplane. Jim McConnell sent a telegram to Paul Rockwell announcing the victory. Translated it reads “Kiffin has brought down a Boche. (WW1 slang term for a German) He fired at thirty meters. Killed the gunner and the pilot, who fell with the machine in flames into the German trenches. Has been proposed for the military medal.” (Author’s photo of a document at Washington & Lee University.)