Carrick Paul
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Carrick Stewart Paul 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...

 was a World War I
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...

 from New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

. He was credited with five aerial victories in Palestine between May and August 1918 when flying a Bristol F.2 Fighter
Bristol F.2 Fighter
The Bristol F.2 Fighter was a British two-seat biplane fighter and reconnaissance aircraft of the First World War flown by the Royal Flying Corps. It is often simply called the Bristol Fighter or popularly the "Brisfit" or "Biff". Despite being a two-seater, the F.2B proved to be an agile aircraft...

.

Paul claimed two victories on 23 May 1918, near Nablus
Nablus
Nablus is a Palestinian city in the northern West Bank, approximately north of Jerusalem, with a population of 126,132. Located in a strategic position between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, it is the capital of the Nablus Governorate and a Palestinian commercial and cultural center.Founded by the...

. One of the two 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....

s was piloted by German ace Gustav Schneidewind
Gustav Schneidewind
Vizefeldwebel Gustav Schneidewind was a World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.-Reference:...

, who was wounded in both arms. Paul then destroyed Rumpler
Rumpler
The Rumpler Tropfenwagen was a car developed by Austrian engineer Edmund Rumpler.Rumpler, born in Vienna, was a designer of aircraft when on the 1921's Berlin car show he introduced the Tropfenwagen. It was to be the first streamlined car . The Rumpler had a Cw-value of only 0.28...

 reconnaissance planes on 13 June, 28 July, and 16 August 1918. The July win was shared with Alan Brown and Garfield Finlay.

Paul and his observer William Weir
William Weir (aviator)
Lieutenant William James Alexander Weir was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.-Reference:...

 were jointly awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 8 February 1919. Paul never knew of the honor; while on the voyage home to New Zealand, he drowned on 22 January 1919.

Honors and awards

Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Lieut. Carrick Stewart Paul (Australian F.C.). (EGYPT)

Lieutenant Paul is a gallant and skilful Pilot, who has been very ably assisted by his Observer, Lieutenant Weir. These officers have shown great initiative in attacking ground objectives on numerous occasions, notably on 14 August, when, in face of intense hostile fire, they, at a very low altitude, attacked bodies of enemy cavalry, causing heavy casualties. They have also displayed great courage and skill in air combats, having destroyed four enemy aircraft. Supplement to the London Gazette, 8 February 1919 (31170/2044)

Sources of information

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