My Greatest Adventure: The Balloon Buster

Created by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Russ Heath in December 1965, America's WWI Ace made his first appearance in All-American Men of War #112. Steven Henry Savage Jr. was not your average lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Born and raised in the wilds of Mustang River, Wyoming, Savage was trained by his father to be the consummate marksman, which came in handy when he joined the U.S. Air Corps in WWI. Not one to follow orders, Savage repeatedly broke formation with his biplane to attack German combat balloons, earning him the name "Balloon Buster" by his squadron. Though his superior officer, Major Michaels, constantly sought to have the rebel court-martialed for not following orders, General Talbot applauded his action and saw Steven remained in the conflict. One of the only pilots to have challenged Germany's "Enemy Ace", Hans von Hammer, Savage's twin Vickers machine guns spoke death for many warriors from his canary-yellow Spad. Though the high-flying character only lasted around twenty issues in various war titles, he is well remembered and occasionally make appearances in the DC Universe.