Son of C. W. Chapman, he enlisted April of 1917 while at Amherst college in Massachusetts. Together with a half dozen college men he entered the ambulance corps and was sent to France. He decided he could be of more service as an aviator and accordingly began training and became attached to the Lafayette Escadrille. He fell in flames behind the German lines on May 3, 1918, after a desperate air encounter in which he shot down his adversary.
From Find a Grave:
From "The Lafayette Flying Corps: The American Volunteers in the French Air Service in World War One," by Dennis Gordon. Schiffer Military History, Atglen, PA: 2000. Page 95:
"Charles Wesley "Carl" Chapman, Jr. was born in Dubuque, Iowa on 28 December 1895, the son of Charles Wesley Chapman, a lumber sales merchant, and Neva (Powers) Chapman. Carl attended West Waterloo, Iowa High School before enrolling in Amherst College, Amherst, Massachusetts, Class of 1918. On 19 May 1917, Carl Chapman sailed for France aboard the SS Mongolia to join the American Field Service. He arrived in Bordeaux on 30 May and reported to the Ambulance Service headquarters. But when he learned he was to drive a cameon instead of an ambulance, Chapman decided to join the French aviation. On 10 June 1917, Chapman enlisted in France's Service Aeronautique. From 16 June 1917 to February of 1918 he attended the aviation schools at Avord, Pau, Cazeaux, and the G.D.E. He received his brevet on the Caudron on 30 October 1917. On 21 February 1918, Caporal "Pick" Chapman was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Aviation Section Signal Corps. He flew at the Front with the 94th Aero Squadron, USAS, from 3 March to 3 May 1918, the day he was killed in combat while on patrol in the Toul sector. His plane crashed within enemy territory. German troops buried Chapman's remains near the village of Remoncourt. He was 22 years of age at death. Lieutenant Chapman was posthumously awarded France's Croix de Guerre, with Palm, and the U.S. Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism. His D.S.C. citation is as follows: 'When on patrol duty, he courageously attacked a group of four monoplanes and one biplane and succeeded in bringing one down before he himself was shot down in flames.' In 1928, Chapman's remains were transferred to the Lafayette Flying Corps Memorial near Paris." Thanks to fag contributor Mark for the above information. From findagrave contributor Grand Army of the Republic and Carl H.: 2nd Lt. Charles Wesley Chapman Jr. is buried in the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial, 5 Boulevard Raymond Poincaré Marnes-la-Coquette, Departement des Hauts-de-Seine, Île-de-France, 92430 France. http://www.abmc.gov/Lafayette-Escadrille