This is a list of fighter aces in the First World War from South Africa. Pilots were considered to be "aces" after they had shot down five or more enemy aircraft; 45 South Africans are believed to have achieved this feat, with the highest scorer being Andrew Beauchamp-Proctor, who is credited with 54 air victories.

During the war South African pilots served with the Royal Flying Corps (RFC), the South African Aviation Corps (SAAC) where they were engaged in German South West Africa and 26 Sqdn RFC in East Africa.

Name Kills Squadrons Awards Notes
Amm, Edgar 10 No. 29 Squadron RAF Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar
Anderson, Gerald 8 No. 88 Squadron RAF OBE, DFC
Armstrong, D'Urban 5 No. 60 Squadron RFC, No. 44 Squadron RFC, No. 78 Squadron RFC, No. 151 Squadron RAF Distinguished Flying Cross [1]
Barton, Horace 19 No. 84 Squadron RFC, No. 24 Squadron RAF Distinguished Flying Cross with Bar [2]
Beauchamp-Proctor, Andrew 54 No. 84 Squadron RFC Victoria Cross, Distinguished Service Order, Distinguished Flying Cross, Military Cross & Bar, Mentioned in Despatches [3]
Blake, Arthur Winston 5 [4]: 79 
Burger, Malcolm 5 [4]: 2 
Charles Eddy 5 [5]: 85 
Graham, Gavin 13 [4]: 174 
Hall, Robert 5 [4]: 180 
Harrison, Thomas 22 [4]: 185 
Hayne, Edwin 15 DSC, DFC [4]: 189 
Hemming, Alfred 8 [4]: 191 
Howe, Percy 5 [4]: 200 
Bell, Douglas 20 Military Cross and bar [4]: 71 
Jordan, William 39 [6]
Kiddie, Andrew
Kinkead, Samuel 33 [7]
Lindup, Ernest
Lloyd, George 8 20, 48 Military Cross, Air Force Cross [4]: 242 
Meintjes, Henry 8 60, 56 Military Cross, Air Force Cross [4]: 279 
Pilditch, Gerald 5 Military Cross
Pithey, Croye
Reed, Arthur
Rolfes, Hans
Smuts, Neil 5 No. 3 Squadron RAF Distinguished Flying Cross [8]
Stead, Ian Oliver 5 [9][4]: 350 
Thompson, Cecil 6 [4]: 36 
Tudhope, John 10 40 Military Cross [4]: 369 
Tudhope, Philip 6 46 Distinguished Flying Cross [4]: 369 
Wilton, Frederick
Chalmers, Robert 6 [5]
Lawson, George 6 [4]: 234 
MacGregor, Andrew 6 [5]
Smith-Grant, John 6
MacDonald, Hector Omdurman 7 84 Squadron [4]: 247 [10]
Nel, William Joseph Baynes 7 84 Squadron [4]: 290 
Benjamin, Maurice 8 No. 48 Squadron RFC Military Cross
Hind, Ivan Frank 8 [4]: 195 [11]
Sloley, Robert Hugh 8 [12][4]: 340 
Daniel, Hector 9 43 Squadron Military Cross [4]: 133 
Moody, Basil Henry 9 1 Squadron [4]: 284 
Quintin Brand 12
Venter, Christoffel 16
Bell, Douglas John 20 27, 78, 3 Military Cross [4]: 71 
Ross, Charles Gordon 20 29 [4]: 326 

References

  1. ^ "D'Urban Victor Armstrong". www.theaerodrome.com. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  2. ^ Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  3. ^ "8 CELEBRITY AIR ACES OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR".
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Shores, Christopher F. (1990). Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. Grub Street. ISBN 0-948817-19-4.
  5. ^ a b c Franks, Norman L R (1997). Above the War Fronts: The British Two-seater Bomber Pilot and Observer Aces, the British Two-seater Fighter Observer Aces, and the Belgian, Italian, Austro-Hungarian and Russian Fighter Aces, 1914–1918. Grub Street. ISBN 9781898697565.
  6. ^ "Jordan, William Lancelot". The Aerodrome. 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  7. ^ "Kinkead, Samuel Marcus". The Aerodrome. 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  8. ^ Retrieved 9 February 2010.
  9. ^ "Ian Oliver Stead". www.theaerodrome.com. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  10. ^ "Hector Omdurman MacDonald". www.theaerodrome.com. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  11. ^ "Ivan Frank Hind". www.theaerodrome.com. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  12. ^ "Robert Hugh Sloley". www.theaerodrome.com. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
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