Alfred William Saunders
Encyclopedia
Captain Alfred William Saunders was an Irish-born World War flying ace
. While flying for the Royal Air Force, he was credited with 12 official aerial victories and won the DFC
. He remained in the RAF postwar, serving until 1927.
. On 25 August 1916, second lieutenant
A. W. Saunders was appointed a Flying Officer
. In October 1917, he was assigned to 60 Squadron as a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a. He rose to command A Flight. He scored his first aerial victory on 10 May 1918, destroying a German Pfalz D.III
fighter plane. Six days later, an Albatros D.V
fell to his guns over Beaulencourt
, France. On 23 May, he teamed with James Belgrave
to destroy another Albatros D.V over Fricourt
. On 9 June, they teamed again, accounting for two Hannover reconnaissance planes over Arras
, setting one afire and driving the other down out of control, and Saunders was an ace.
On 2 July 1918, Saunders fought his memorable action–one which would be cited as a reason for awarding him the DFC. He dove 8,000 feet, leading an attack by his flight of six upon six German fighters. Williams shot one Pfalz D.III down, and two others collided while evading his assault. Williams was credited for all three.
On 1 August, Saunders vanquished one of the new Fokker D.VII
s, sending it out of control over Bapaume
. A week later, it was the turn of a German reconnaissance two-seater to fall out of control over Chaulnes
. The next day, 9 August 1918, Saunders shot down two Fokker D.VIIs.
of 11 November 1918 caused massive changes in its structure. On 31 October 1919, he was appointed lieutenant
. Then, on 10 December 1919, he was appointed temporary lieutenant. Two days later, on 12 December 1919, he was appointed a Flying Officer
.
On 5 February 1923, Saunders transferred to the Class A Reserve of the RAF. On 16 December 1924, he then transferred to the Class C Reserve of the RAF.
On 8 October 1926, he won a post as an attendant in the British Museum
. On 5 February 1927, he gave up his commission upon completion of service.
Alfred William Saunders died in a flying accident; he crashed a de Havilland Gipsy Moth in Auckland, New Zealand on 22 May 1930.
Lt. Alfred William Saunders.
A gallant and determined officer whose
fighting spirit and enthusiasm has been a
splendid example to his squadron. On one
occasion whilst leading his formation of six
machines, he attacked six enemy aeroplanes.
Diving from 11,000 to 3,000 feet, he singled
out a group of three, and shot down one.
He then engaged the other two, which in
their endeavour to get away collided and
crashed.
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
. While flying for the Royal Air Force, he was credited with 12 official aerial victories and won the DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
. He remained in the RAF postwar, serving until 1927.
World War I
Alfred William Saunders originally served in the Royal Field ArtilleryRoyal Field Artillery
The Royal Field Artillery of the British Army provided artillery support for the British Army. It came into being when the Royal Artillery was divided on 1 July 1899, it was reamalgamated back into the Royal Artillery in 1924....
. On 25 August 1916, second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
A. W. Saunders was appointed a Flying Officer
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
. In October 1917, he was assigned to 60 Squadron as a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a. He rose to command A Flight. He scored his first aerial victory on 10 May 1918, destroying a German Pfalz D.III
Pfalz D.III
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962. ISBN 0-93385-271-1.* Grosz, Peter M. Pfalz D.IIIa . Berkhamsted, Herts, UK: Albatros Publications, 1995. ISBN 0-94841-425-1.* Guttman, Jon. Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1 ...
fighter plane. Six days later, an Albatros D.V
Albatros D.V
|-See also:-Bibliography:*Bennett, Leon. Gunning for the Red Baron. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2006. ISBN 1-58544-507-X....
fell to his guns over Beaulencourt
Beaulencourt
Beaulencourt is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A small farming village located 20 miles south of Arras on the N17 road, at the junction with the D11...
, France. On 23 May, he teamed with James Belgrave
James Belgrave
Captain James Dacres Belgrave was a World War I flying ace credited with 18 aerial victories.-Reference:...
to destroy another Albatros D.V over Fricourt
Fricourt
Fricourt is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Fricourt is situated on the D147 and D64 junction, some northeast of Amiens.-History:...
. On 9 June, they teamed again, accounting for two Hannover reconnaissance planes over Arras
Arras
Arras is the capital of the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. The historic centre of the Artois region, its local speech is characterized as a Picard dialect...
, setting one afire and driving the other down out of control, and Saunders was an ace.
On 2 July 1918, Saunders fought his memorable action–one which would be cited as a reason for awarding him the DFC. He dove 8,000 feet, leading an attack by his flight of six upon six German fighters. Williams shot one Pfalz D.III down, and two others collided while evading his assault. Williams was credited for all three.
On 1 August, Saunders vanquished one of the new Fokker D.VII
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...
s, sending it out of control over Bapaume
Bapaume
Bapaume is a commune and the seat of a canton in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A farming and light industrial town located 10 miles south of Arras at the junction of the A1 autoroute and the N17 and N30 national roads its location is...
. A week later, it was the turn of a German reconnaissance two-seater to fall out of control over Chaulnes
Chaulnes
Chaulnes is a commune in the Somme department in Picardy in northern France.-Demography:-Culture:Chaulnes is noted for its cultural events, especially the heavy metal music festival "Killer Fest"...
. The next day, 9 August 1918, Saunders shot down two Fokker D.VIIs.
Post World War I
Saunders remained in the Royal Air Force after the armisticeArmistice
An armistice is a situation in a war where the warring parties agree to stop fighting. It is not necessarily the end of a war, but may be just a cessation of hostilities while an attempt is made to negotiate a lasting peace...
of 11 November 1918 caused massive changes in its structure. On 31 October 1919, he was appointed lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
. Then, on 10 December 1919, he was appointed temporary lieutenant. Two days later, on 12 December 1919, he was appointed a Flying Officer
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
.
On 5 February 1923, Saunders transferred to the Class A Reserve of the RAF. On 16 December 1924, he then transferred to the Class C Reserve of the RAF.
On 8 October 1926, he won a post as an attendant in the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
. On 5 February 1927, he gave up his commission upon completion of service.
Alfred William Saunders died in a flying accident; he crashed a de Havilland Gipsy Moth in Auckland, New Zealand on 22 May 1930.
Honors and awards
Distinguished Flying CrossLt. Alfred William Saunders.
A gallant and determined officer whose
fighting spirit and enthusiasm has been a
splendid example to his squadron. On one
occasion whilst leading his formation of six
machines, he attacked six enemy aeroplanes.
Diving from 11,000 to 3,000 feet, he singled
out a group of three, and shot down one.
He then engaged the other two, which in
their endeavour to get away collided and
crashed.