Capt. Larner enlisted in the Franco-American Flying Corps July 10th, 1917 and was brevetted a military pilot September 28, 1917, being assigned to the Escadrille SPAD 86, Dec 1917. He served with Escadrille SPAD 86 until he was transferred to the American 103rd (LaFayette) Aero Squadron as Flight Commander on June 16, 1918. Here he served with distinction to the end of the war.
The citation for his Distinguished Service Cross with Oak Leaf reads as follows:
"GHQ, AEF, 4th Dec. 1918: For extraordinary heroism in action in the region of Champeny, France, 13 Sept., 1918. Lt. Larner attacked an enemy patrol of sic Fokkers and fought against the great odds until he destroyed one and forced the others to retire."
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