Archibald Buchanan (aviator)
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Archibald Buchanan (born October 5, 1892, date of death unknown) was a World War I
flying ace
credited with seven aerial victories.
Buchanan voyaged to England to join the Royal Naval Air Service
. The RNAS and the Royal Flying Corps
were amalgamated into the Royal Air Force before Buchanan earned his pilot's wings, but he was assigned to a former RNAS squadron, No. 210.
Buchanan began his victory string as a balloon buster
on 30 June 1918, when he destroyed an enemy observation balloon northeast of Estaires
. His second win, on 20 July, was shared with Captain Harold Mellings
. Between 31 July and 29 September, he scored five more wins over enemy fighter planes; his final summary was victory over five Fokker D.VII
s, a Pfalz D.III
, and a balloon.
On 17 October, he landed his Sopwith Camel
at Ostend
, Belgium, in the wake of the German retreat, only to be informed by locals that he was the first Allied soldier to come to the city after the Germans left.
On 30 October, Buchanan was shot down by Michael Hutterer
of Jasta 23, and spent the rest of the war as a prisoner.
Lieut. Archibald Buchanan, 210 Sqn. (Sea Patrol, FLANDERS)
On 29 September this officer displayed great gallantry. In an engagement with fifteen Fokker biplanes, owing to engine trouble he was compelled to remain under his flight; he nevertheless accounted for two enemy machines, attacking one under its tail causing it to crash, and driving another down out of control. In addition to the foregoing this officer has destroyed three machines and driven down two out of control.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
flying ace
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...
credited with seven aerial victories.
Buchanan voyaged to England to join the Royal Naval Air Service
Royal Naval Air Service
The Royal Naval Air Service or RNAS was the air arm of the Royal Navy until near the end of the First World War, when it merged with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps to form a new service , the Royal Air Force...
. The RNAS and the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
were amalgamated into the Royal Air Force before Buchanan earned his pilot's wings, but he was assigned to a former RNAS squadron, No. 210.
Buchanan began his victory string as a balloon buster
Buster
-Works:* Buster , a film starring Phil Collins** Buster , the soundtrack to the film* "Buster", theme song by Nanna Lüders Jensen for the Danish television show Busters verden-Characters and mascots:...
on 30 June 1918, when he destroyed an enemy observation balloon northeast of Estaires
Estaires
-References:*...
. His second win, on 20 July, was shared with Captain Harold Mellings
Harold Mellings
Captain Harold Thomas Mellings was a World War I flying ace credited with 15 aerial victories.-Early life and career:Mellings earned Aviator's Certificate No...
. Between 31 July and 29 September, he scored five more wins over enemy fighter planes; his final summary was victory over five 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, a 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 ...
, and a balloon.
On 17 October, he landed his Sopwith Camel
Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...
at Ostend
Ostend
Ostend is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke , Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast....
, Belgium, in the wake of the German retreat, only to be informed by locals that he was the first Allied soldier to come to the city after the Germans left.
On 30 October, Buchanan was shot down by Michael Hutterer
Michael Hutterer
Unteroffizier Michael Hutterer was a World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.-References:...
of Jasta 23, and spent the rest of the war as a prisoner.
Honors and awards
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)Lieut. Archibald Buchanan, 210 Sqn. (Sea Patrol, FLANDERS)
On 29 September this officer displayed great gallantry. In an engagement with fifteen Fokker biplanes, owing to engine trouble he was compelled to remain under his flight; he nevertheless accounted for two enemy machines, attacking one under its tail causing it to crash, and driving another down out of control. In addition to the foregoing this officer has destroyed three machines and driven down two out of control.
Reference
- American Aces of World War I. Norman Franks, Harry Dempsey. Osprey Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84176-375-6, 9781841763750.