Air Service, United States Army Major David McKelvey Peterson was a 1915 Lehigh University graduate who became a World War I flying ace.

He achieved six aerial victories, one of which was earned in the Lafayette Escadrille; five were officially credited during his tenure with the United States Army Air Service.

Leading a patrol of three, Captain Peterson encountered five enemy planes at an altitude of 3,500 meters and immediately gave battle.

Notwithstanding the fact that he was attacked from all sides, this officer, by skilful maneuvering, succeeded in shooting down one of the enemy planes and dispersing the remaining four."

His recognized aerial victories included: Date Time Unit Opponent Location Post-war, Peterson was killed in an aviation accident in Daytona Beach, Florida, on March 16, 1919.