Summary
Flight Lieutenant Stanley Harry Wallage MC (24 July 1895 – 17 April 1926) was a British flying ace credited with ten aerial victories in World War I.[1] He would continue to serve in the RAF post-war until his death in a flying accident.
Stanley Harry Wallage | |
|---|---|
| Born | 24 July 1895 Ipswich, Suffolk, England |
| Died | 17 April 1926 (aged 30) Amman, Jordan |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | British Army Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | c.1917–1919 1921–1926 |
| Rank | Flight lieutenant |
| Unit | Suffolk Regiment No. 22 Squadron RFC/RAF No. 14 Squadron RAF |
| Battles/wars | World War I • Western Front |
| Awards | Military Cross |
Early life edit
Wallage was born in Ipswich, Suffolk, the son of Christopher and Mary Wallage.[1]
World War I edit
Wallage first served with the Suffolk Regiment, but on 3 May 1917 he was commissioned from cadet to temporary second lieutenant on the General List to serve in the Royal Flying Corps.[2] On 26 July 1917 he was appointed a flying officer and confirmed in his rank.[3]
After his training as a pilot, he was posted to No. 22 Squadron RFC to fly a Bristol F.2 Fighter. His first aerial victory came on 18 February 1918. His second and third came on 11 March, and he gained six more in May, bringing his total to nine. His exploits earned him the Military Cross, which was gazetted on 16 September 1918. His citation read:
- Temporary Second Lieutenant Stanley Harry Wallage, General List and RAF.
- "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during recent operations. He personally destroyed seven enemy machines. He showed a fine spirit of dash and tenacity, and his skill and success as a fighting pilot was a fine example to others in his squadron."[4]
On 26 September 1918, he was promoted to temporary captain while so employed[5] and gained his tenth and final victory on 4 November, just a week before the Armistice brought an end to the fighting.
He was again graded for purposes of pay and allowances as a captain on 1 May 1919,[6] but he was then transferred to the unemployed list on 18 May.[7][8]
List of aerial victories edit
| No. | Date/Time | Aircraft/ Serial No. |
Opponent | Result | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 February 1918 @ 1400 hours |
Bristol F.2 Fighter (C4808) |
German reconnaissance aircraft | Driven down out of control | Seclin, France | Observer/gunner: John Jones |
| 2 | 11 March 1918 @ 1420 hours |
Bristol F.2 Fighter (A7286) |
Albatros D.V fighter | Driven down out of control | Lomme, France | Observer/gunner: John Jones |
| 3 | Driven down out of control | Ligny, France | ||||
| 4 | 8 May 1918 @ 1900 hours |
Bristol F.2 Fighter (C795) |
Pfalz D.III fighter | Destroyed | North of La Bassée, France | Observer/gunner: George Thomson |
| 5 | 13 May 1918 @ 1040–1045 hours |
Bristol F.2 Fighter (C795) |
DFW reconnaissance aircraft | Driven down out of control | La Bassée, France | Observer/gunner: George Thomson |
| 6 | DFW reconnaissance aircraft | Driven down out of control | ||||
| 7 | 22 May 1918 @ 1030 hours |
Bristol F.2 Fighter (C795) |
Albatros D.V fighter | Destroyed | Hancourt, France | Observer/gunner: A. P. Stoyle |
| 8 | Albatros D.V fighter | Driven down out of control | ||||
| 9 | 26 May 1918 @ 1945 hours |
Bristol F.2 Fighter | Albatros D.V fighter | Destroyed | Southeast of Armentières, France | Observer/gunner: A. P. Stoyle |
| 10 | 4 November 1918 @ 1415 hours |
Bristol F.2 Fighter (E2454) |
Pfalz D.XII fighter | Driven down out of control | Northwest of Bavay, France | Observer/gunner: Dennis Waight |
Post-war career edit
Wallage returned to the RAF on 21 January 1921 when granted a Short Service Commission with the rank of flying officer,[10] and he was promoted to flight lieutenant on 1 January 1924.[11] On 4 February 1925 he was granted a permanent commission.[12]
On 17 April 1926 Wallage was serving in No. 14 Squadron when he and Squadron Leader Harley Alec Tweedie were killed when their Airco DH.9A crashed at Amman, Transjordan.[13]
References edit
- Notes
- ^ a b c "Stanley Harry Wallage". The Aerodrome. 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
- ^ "No. 30073". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 May 1917. p. 4764.
- ^ "No. 30203". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 July 1917. p. 7594. Note: Such appointment usually nearly coincided with completion of pilot's training.
- ^ "No. 30901". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 September 1918. p. 11030.
- ^ "No. 30947". The London Gazette. 11 October 1918. p. 11974. Note: such promotion usually accompanied an appointment as a flight commander.
- ^ "No. 31510". The London Gazette. 19 August 1919. p. 10478.
- ^ "No. 31440". The London Gazette. 8 July 1919. p. 8602.
- ^ "No. 31517". The London Gazette. 22 August 1919. p. 10656.
- ^ Guttman & Dempsey (2007), p. 28.
- ^ "No. 32209". The London Gazette. 28 January 1921. p. 781.
- ^ "No. 32893". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December 1923. p. 9.
- ^ "No. 33017". The London Gazette. 3 February 1925. p. 782.
- ^ "Royal Air Force Flying Accidents". Flight. XVIII (906): 280. 6 May 1926. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
- Bibliography
- Guttman, Jon & Dempsey, Harry (2007). Bristol F2 Fighter Aces of World War I. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-201-1.