Biography:

Captain Stephen Henley Noyes (1881-1932) was a Rhode Island native, Harvard graduate, and grandson of Rear Admiral Stephen B. Luce.  From Harvard, he received a degree in civil engineering and, by 1910, had found a job with the Pennsylvania Steel Company in Steelton, Pennsylvania.  A few years later, he moved to Philadelphia to work as a bridge designer for the Pennsylvania Railroad.  In 1916, Noyes attended the Philadelphia School of Aviation in Essington, Pennsylvania, and applied to be an aviator in the Pfficer Reserve Corps, Aviation Section.  He was transferred to Curtis Aviation School in Newport News, Virginia, before being commissioned as a first lieutenant in 1917.  Noyes went on to serve with both the 1st and 3rd Aero Squadrons and then joined the 12th Aero Squadron in July 1918.  He was the commanding officer of his unit until October, when he was promoted to captain and reassigned to the 5th Cops Observation Group.

During World War I, as a member of the American Expeditionary Forces in France, Noyes served as a pilot and flew reconnaissance missons over enemy lines.  On these missions he photographed landmarks, railroads, highways, and rivers in surrounding areas.  Noyes received the Croix de Guerre for his mission on July 6, 1918, when he attacked enemy forces, which allowed his observer to take the necessary photographs.  He then attacked a second time and was forced to land behind enemy lines.  On October 16 of the same year Noyes completed a dangerous mission to stake out advanced lines.  In spite of approaching darkness and bad weather that forced him to fly at a low altitude, he obtained the necessary information while exposed to heavy enemy fire.  After landing on a shell-torn field, Noyes walked to headquarters.  For this action he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.  He was discharged from the Army in 1919.