Aces

SECTION UNDER CONSTRUCTION

DH4 of No. 57 Squadron
(illustration thanks to Malcolm Barrass)

No. 57 Squadron produced an unusual number of “Aces” for a Photographic Reconnaissance and Low Level Bombing squadron.

Pilot “Aces”

Pilot57 Sqn VictoriesNote
Capt   WE Green DFC9 
Maj   EG Joy DFC7plus 1 with 205 Sqn
Capt   AT Drinkwater DFC6plus 3 with 40 Sqn
Sergt  DE Edgley6 
Capt   DS Hall MC6 
Capt   A MacGregor DFC6 
Capt   L Minot MC6 
Capt   HR Harker MC5 
Capt   CH Stokes DFC5 
Capt   F McD C Turner DFC5plus 2 with 55 Sqn
Capt   A Roulstone MC2plus 6 with 25 Sqn

A number of the squadrons Observer/Gunners also became “Aces”.

Observer/Gunner57 Sqn VictoriesNote
Sergt  J Grant DFM8 all with 57 Sqn
Lieut  F Leathley MC8 all with 57 Sqn
Lieut  AF Britton MC CdeG6  all with 57 Sqn
Lieut  FTS Menendez MC6  all with 57 Sqn
2nd Lt  FG Craig5  all with 57 Sqn
2nd Lt  EP Hartigan 5  all with 57 Sqn
2nd Lt  LLT Sloot5  all with 57 Sqn

“ACE” PILOTS

Captain William Edward “Bill” Green DFC, born 20 October 1898 in Ipswich. He joined the Royal Flying Corps in June 1917, confirmed as Second Lieut in August 1917 and flew with No. 57 Squadron from September 1917. His 8th victory was gained after his aircraft was badly shot up by a Fokker biplane. Promoted Temp/Captain on 2 July 1918. Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross [London Gazette 3 December 1918]. Posted to RAF Biggin Hill in March 1918 and left the RAF 22 Feb 1919.

Victoryin DH4Enemy AircraftLocation
06/01/1918A7904Albatros DVLichtervelde
24/01/1918A2161Fokker DrINW Roulers
24/01/1918A2161Albatros DVNW Roulers
03/02/1918A7674Albatros DVMenin
31/03/1918A7904Pfalz DIIIBapaume
10/08/1918D9262Fokker DVIIBray-Personne
10/08/1918D9262Fokker DVIIBray-Personne
29/08/1918D9262Fokker DVIIYtres
19/09/1918D8419Fokker DVIIHavrincourt
Distinguished Flying Cross with 1914-18 service medals.

Major Ernest Graham (Graham) Joy DFC, born 2 November 1891 in Alabama, USA. A lawyer in Toronto/Canada he enlisted in the Canadian Army on 24 July 1915 and by March 1916 was a Major with 74th Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force. Joy transferred to the RFC on 23 April 1917 and served briefly with 49 and 23 Squadrons in April and May 1917 before joining 57 Squadron in July 1917. On 17 August 1917 his aircraft was shot up bombing Courtrai but he was unhurt. He always flew with Lieut F Leathley. On 21 August 1917 he was posted back to England but in September 1918 returned to France with 205 Squadron gaining 1 further victory (4 Nov 1918) and flying 12 bombing raids before the war ended. His DFC was finally awarded in 1919. Post-war he practiced law in Canada, served in the Canadian Army in WW2 and died in Toronto on 21 June 1993.

Victoryin DH4Enemy AircraftLocation
28/07/1917A7537Albatros DVIngelmunster
28/07/1917A7537Albatros DVIngelmunster
16/08/1917A7563Albatros DVHouthulst
17/08/1917A7563Albatros DVMenin
17/08/1917A7563Albatros DVMenin
17/08/1917A7563Albatros DVW Menin
20/08/1917A7564Albatros DVE Ypres
04/11/1918DH9aFokker DVIIMauberge

Captain Arthur Thomas Drinkwater DFC, born 3 February 1894 in Queenscliff, Victoria, Australia. He joined the Royal Flying Corps in Nov 1916 as a Cadet, being commissioned on 17 March 1917 as a Probationary Second Lieut. He joined 57 Squadron on 19 July 1917 and served with the squadron until returning to England to convert to fighter pilot. He was posted to 40 Squadron as a Flight Commander 18 Aug 1918 and gained 3 further victories. From 10 Jan 1919 he was a Captain on No. 2 Brigade Staff. His Distinguished Flying Cross was awarded later [London Gazette 3 June 1919]. Lived in Bendigo/Victoria. Died 2 July 1970 on holiday in Queensland. All of his victories with No. 57 Squadron were gained with Observer/Gunner Lieut FTS Menendez.

Victoriesin DH4Enemy AircraftLocation
18/08/1917A2138Albatros DVCourtrai
20/08/1917A2132Albatros DVHouthulst Forest
21/09/1917A7581Albatros DVDadizeele
21/09/1917A7581Albatros DVDadizeele
21/11/1917A7424Albatros DVSE Houthulst
12/11/1917A7424Albatros DVSE Houthulst
17/08/191840 SqdnFokker DviiSE Cambrai
01/10/191840 SqdnHalberstadt CN Cambrai
09/10/191840 SqdnFokker DviiNE Cambrai

99978 Sergeant Denis Edwin Edgley of Northampton, born 5 Aug 1899 enlisted in the RFC direct from full time education on 3 October 1917 as Air Mechanic 3rd class only weeks after his 18th birthday. He was appointed Acting Sergeant (unpaid) while undergoing flying training in January 1918 and on 20 March 1918 was graded 1st Class Pilot, promoted to Sergeant (paid). On 25 June 1918 joined 57 Squadron in France. He was brought down twice by German fighters, on 8 August 1918 and on 1 September 1918, his Observer Sergt Norman Sandison being wounded on the second occasion (awarded Distinguished Flying Medal [London Gazette 3 June 1919]).. Edgley served with the squadron until 3 November 1918 when he returned to England. He was released from the RAF after his wartime service and married in 1927, by 1939 he was sub-editor of a local newspaper living in West Bridgford/ Nottingham. Died October 1987 in Northampton. It is surprising that he did not receive the Distinguished Flying Medal when his Observer did.

Victoriesin DH4Enemy AircraftLocation
08/08/1918D8382Fokker DVIIMoislains
29/08/1918D8382Fokker DVIIMarquion
01/09/1918D8382Fokker DVIICambrai
01/09/1918D8382Fokker DVIICambrai
05/09/1918F5828Fokker DVIIMarcoing
16/09/1918F5828Fokker DVIIHavrincourt Wood
Great War medals as awarded to Sergt DE Edgley.