Edwin A. Clear
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Edwin Arnold Clear MC was an English World War I flying ace
credited with twelve aerial victories. Most unusually for a Royal Air Force ace of the era, all of his victories involved destruction of the enemy aircraft.
. He spent 20 months in Egypt as a vehicle mechanic. He was then accepted for pilot training. He began his training before departing Egypt, at both Heliopolis
and Aboukir. He was then returned to England for further training at the Central Flying School
. He was commissioned in September 1917, and assigned to 84 Squadron in France the following month as a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a pilot.
His first aerial success came on 29 January 1918, when he set a German observation plane afire in midair. After a lull, he destroyed another two-seater on 10 March 1918. Five days later, he shot down his first enemy fighter, an Albatros D.V
. Then, on 17 March 1918, he was engaged in a dogfight when two of his opponents collided with one another; Clear was credited with both and became an ace. He finished out March with a victory on the 30th.
On 12 April 1918, Clear shot down an enemy plane on both morning and evening patrols. On the 25th, he downed two more German planes within ten minutes. After a month's lapse, he destroyed another Albatros D.V for his final victory on 28 May 1918. In June 1918, he was removed from combat duty. He was rewarded with a Military Cross for his efforts.
, and took off. He got lost, and landed on the Isle of Man
. After discovering his location, he took off again to impress bystanders with his aerobatics. When his engine cut out, he crashed on the present site of Ronaldsway Airport. He suffered minor injuries, was re-arrested, and returned to his duty station at Chester
on 8 May 1919.
Despite these infractions, Clear was granted a probationary commission as a Flying Officer
on 31 July 1923; he was confirmed in this rank on 31 January 1924.
In 1927, Clear was named as a tax commissioner for the borough of Saint Albans; his address was given as Kingsbury Knoll, Verulam Road.
On 31 July 1932, Clear was transferred from Class A to Class C within the RAF Reserves. Health problems forced his resignation as of 16 January 1935; he was allowed to retain his rank.
Clear's history after that is unclear.
T./2nd Lt. Edward Arnold Clear, Gen. List,
R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty. During an encounter between one of
our patrols and nine enemy machines, he
observed an enemy triplane which was about
to attack his patrol leader from the rear.
He at once dived to the attack, firing on the
enemy machine, which turned to avoid him
and collided with an enemy scout. The two
enemy machines crashed to earth locked
together. On the following day, during an
engagement between 12 of our machines and
about 30 enemy scouts, he attacked an enemy
triplane which he observed beneath him.
He dived after it, and, following it down,
eventually destroyed it. He has destroyed
seven enemy machines, and has proved himself
a most enterprising and courageous pilot.
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 twelve aerial victories. Most unusually for a Royal Air Force ace of the era, all of his victories involved destruction of the enemy aircraft.
World War I
Clear originally joined the predecessor to the RAF, the Royal Flying CorpsRoyal 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...
. He spent 20 months in Egypt as a vehicle mechanic. He was then accepted for pilot training. He began his training before departing Egypt, at both Heliopolis
Heliopolis (Cairo Suburb)
Modern Heliopolis is a district in Cairo, Egypt. The city was established in 1905 by the Heliopolis Oasis Company, headed by the Belgian industrialist Édouard Louis Joseph, Baron Empain, as well as Boghos Nubar, son of the Egyptian Prime Minister Nubar Pasha.-History:The Baron Empain, a well known...
and Aboukir. He was then returned to England for further training at the Central Flying School
Central Flying School
The Central Flying School is the Royal Air Force's primary institution for the training of military flying instructors. Established in 1912 it is the longest existing flying training school.-History:...
. He was commissioned in September 1917, and assigned to 84 Squadron in France the following month as a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a pilot.
His first aerial success came on 29 January 1918, when he set a German observation plane afire in midair. After a lull, he destroyed another two-seater on 10 March 1918. Five days later, he shot down his first enemy fighter, 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....
. Then, on 17 March 1918, he was engaged in a dogfight when two of his opponents collided with one another; Clear was credited with both and became an ace. He finished out March with a victory on the 30th.
On 12 April 1918, Clear shot down an enemy plane on both morning and evening patrols. On the 25th, he downed two more German planes within ten minutes. After a month's lapse, he destroyed another Albatros D.V for his final victory on 28 May 1918. In June 1918, he was removed from combat duty. He was rewarded with a Military Cross for his efforts.
Post World War I
Clear remained in the Royal Air Force. He remained on flight duty, and was charged for courtmartial for flying under a bridge. On 3 May 1919, he escaped from confinement, "borrowed" a SE.5a from ShotwickShotwick
Shotwick is a village and civil parish on the Wirral Peninsula in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England...
, and took off. He got lost, and landed on the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
. After discovering his location, he took off again to impress bystanders with his aerobatics. When his engine cut out, he crashed on the present site of Ronaldsway Airport. He suffered minor injuries, was re-arrested, and returned to his duty station at Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
on 8 May 1919.
Despite these infractions, Clear was granted a probationary commission as 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 31 July 1923; he was confirmed in this rank on 31 January 1924.
In 1927, Clear was named as a tax commissioner for the borough of Saint Albans; his address was given as Kingsbury Knoll, Verulam Road.
On 31 July 1932, Clear was transferred from Class A to Class C within the RAF Reserves. Health problems forced his resignation as of 16 January 1935; he was allowed to retain his rank.
Clear's history after that is unclear.
Honours and awards
Text of citation for award of the Military CrossT./2nd Lt. Edward Arnold Clear, Gen. List,
R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty. During an encounter between one of
our patrols and nine enemy machines, he
observed an enemy triplane which was about
to attack his patrol leader from the rear.
He at once dived to the attack, firing on the
enemy machine, which turned to avoid him
and collided with an enemy scout. The two
enemy machines crashed to earth locked
together. On the following day, during an
engagement between 12 of our machines and
about 30 enemy scouts, he attacked an enemy
triplane which he observed beneath him.
He dived after it, and, following it down,
eventually destroyed it. He has destroyed
seven enemy machines, and has proved himself
a most enterprising and courageous pilot.
External links
- http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/clear.php has a photo of Clear and lists his victories
Reference
- Shores, Christopher F. et al. Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. Grub Street, 1990. ISBN 0-948817-19-4, 9780948817199.