Howard Clayton Knotts was a prominent American aviation lawyer who served in World War I as a flying ace credited with six aerial victories.

19, W.D., 1921[2] Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) On August 25, 1918, he shot down from two thousand feet, over the Bapaume-Cambrai Road, on Fokker biplane.

"On September 17, 1918, with Lieutenant William T. Clements, he shot down from four thousand feet, near Arleux, a Fokker biplane.

"On September 22, 1918, he shot down from six thousand feet, near Marquion (east by south of Arras), a Fokker biplane.

"On September 24, 1918, he shot down from six thousand feet, just north of Bourlon Wood, two Fokker biplanes; while flying alone on the afternoon of the same date, trying to confirm and locate an enemy aeroplane shot down by Lieutenant Campbell in the forenoon, he saw a detachment of enemy troops on the Bapaume-Cambrai Road and at once attacked them; as he dived upon them he noticed at the side of the road past which the troops were marching a large ammunition dump, into which he fired incendiary tracer bullets which started several fires and in a few moments the dump blew up.

"On October 8, 1918, having completed a low bombing attack on enemy troops in Awoingt on which his flight had been sent out, Lieutenant Knotts saw a closed German staff car passing along the road through the villages of Naves.

Whilst so flying on October 4, 1918, his engine was put out of action by ground fire, east of Saulzoir, and he was made a prisoner.

Whilst a prisoner in Germany he was subjected to great exposure and his physical condition has been such that he has been in hospital ever since his return.