Undated Aero Club of America Aviation Medal of Merit. Bronze. Awarded to Elmer Fowler Stone. Extremely Fine. 34 mm x 100 mm (with ribbon). AVIATION MEDAL OF MERIT on pin clasp with red ribbon. Hanging badge Obv: AERO CLUB OF AMERICA with a bird flying over globe with the sun in the background. Rev: LIEUTENANT E.F. STONE / PILOT N-C4 / COMMEMORATING / TRANS-ATLANTIC FLIGHT / MAY 8-31 /1919. Light even wear across all devices and pin. Included is the original leather wrapped presentation box in functional condition but with obvious signs of wear.Elmer Fowler Stone is best remembered today as the pilot of NC-4, the first aircraft to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, with stops. Stone, along with a crew of five, flew a Curtiss NC flying boat across the Atlantic to test the design in the need the type would be needed in wartime. After the successful flight, Elmer Stone was hailed a hero, and received the Air Force Cross from the British Government, along with the Navy Cross and Congressional Medal of Achievement from the United States. Afterwards, Stone would assist in the developments of catapults and arresting gears on the carriers <em>U.S.S. Lexington</em> and <em>Saratoga</em>, which saw extensive and valiant service in the Pacific during World War II. Stone promoted aviation throughout his life, and Eddie Rickenbacker would cite Stone as his most admired aviation figure.
