Captain James Douglas Latta (born 13 May 1897, date of death unknown) was a World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

 flying ace

Flying ace

A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...

 credited with five aerial victories.

Latta flew originally for 5 Squadron, but only began his winning ways after his February 1916 transfer to 1 Squadron to serve as a fighter pilot operating a Nieuport

Nieuport

Nieuport, later Nieuport-Delage, was a French aeroplane company that primarily built racing aircraft before World War I and fighter aircraft during World War I and between the wars.-Beginnings:...

. He destroyed an enemy aircraft at Wezmacquart on 1 June 1916. His next two victories, on 25 and 26 June, made him a balloon buster

Balloon buster

Balloon busters were military pilots known for destroying enemy observation balloons. These pilots were noted for their fearlessness. Seventy-six fighter pilots in World War I were each credited with destroying five or more balloons, and thus were balloon aces....

, as he shot down an enemy observation balloon on each day. It also won him a Military
Cross, gazetted a month later on 27 July. Latta then transferred to 60 Squadron as a flight commander. He drove down enemy airplanes out of control on 31 August and 19 September for his last two wins. He was withdrawn from battle on 23 November 1916 for a rest.

Latter joined 66 Squadron as a flight commander in May 1917, to fly a Sopwith Pup

Sopwith Pup

The Sopwith Pup was a British single seater biplane fighter aircraft built by the Sopwith Aviation Company. It entered service with the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service in the autumn of 1916. With pleasant flying characteristics and good maneuverability, the aircraft proved very...

. He was shot down and wounded in action on 8 June 1917. He did not serve on active duty after that.