Harold Anthony Oaks
Encyclopedia
Captain Harold Anthony Oaks was a Canadian-born World War I flying ace
credited with 11 confirmed aerial victories. Upon his return to Canada, his extensive pioneering activities as an aviator/geologist earned him enshrinement in the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame.
. At 18 years of age, he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force
for service in World War I. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps
in 1917.
pilot. He scored his first two aerial victories on 21 May 1918, in two separate combats. At 1815 hours, he drove a German Fokker Triplane
down out of control over Carnoy
, France. At 1853, he destroyed a second Triplane a mile north of Mericourt
. On 10 June, he joined Frank Ransley
, Charles Steele
, and John Drummond in burning an Albatros D.V
fighter in midair over Roye
. On 25 June, he drove down a Fokker D.VII
out of control. He won twice in separate combats on 2 July 1918; he destroyed one Pfalz D.III
over Foucaucourt, and another over Soyecourt
.
The new ace scored a double victory on 24 July, sending down two Fokker D.VIIs down out of control. On 3 August, he was credited with the capture of an Albatros reconnaissance machine at Aveluy
, France. He completed his victory list with a double win on 5 September 1918, when he burned a Fokker D.VII and drove another down out of battle. Oaks' final tally included two shared wins in the destruction of enemy planes, three others destroyed singlehanded, an opposing plane captured, and five others driven down out of control.
He returned home to Canada and returned to school. He graduated in 1922 from the University of Toronto
with a Bachelor of Science
degree as a mining engineer. He began using airplanes as an aid to prospecting in Quebec
and northern Ontario
.
He invented the portable nose hangar for bush pilot use in 1926. He also founded Patricia Airways (along with G. A. Thompson) in 1926 while becoming manager and sole pilot of a newly-formed Western Canada Airways
in December.
In 1927, he was the initial winner of the McKee Trophy for service to aviation. In 1929, he (and Pat Reid) made the first midwinter flight to Hudson Bay
.
He was also involved in formation of several airlines, including Oaks Airways Ltd. He participated in several lifesaving mercy flights, including a search and rescue flight of 13 prospectors stranded in the subarctic. In later years, he settled into being a mining analyst in Toronto.
Harold Anthony Oaks died on 21 July 1968 in Toronto. He was inducted into the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame in 1973.
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 11 confirmed aerial victories. Upon his return to Canada, his extensive pioneering activities as an aviator/geologist earned him enshrinement in the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame.
Early life and infantry service
Harold Anthony Oaks was born in Hespeler, Canada, and reared in Preston, OntarioPreston, Ontario
Preston is a community in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. Prior to its amalgamation with the city of Galt, the town of Hespeler and the village of Blair to form the new city in 1973, it was an independent town. It is located near the confluence of the Grand River and Speed River...
. At 18 years of age, he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force
Canadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War. Units of the C.E.F. were divided into field formation in France, where they were organized first into separate divisions and later joined together into a single...
for service in World War I. He transferred to 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...
in 1917.
World War I aerial service
By May 1918, Oaks had been trained and was posted to 48 Squadron as a Bristol F.2 FighterBristol 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...
pilot. He scored his first two aerial victories on 21 May 1918, in two separate combats. At 1815 hours, he drove a German Fokker Triplane
Fokker Dr.I
The Fokker Dr.I Dreidecker was a World War I fighter aircraft built by Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. The Dr.I saw widespread service in the spring of 1918...
down out of control over Carnoy
Carnoy
Carnoy is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Carnoy is situated on the D254 road, some northeast of Amiens.-Population:-External links:*...
, France. At 1853, he destroyed a second Triplane a mile north of Mericourt
Méricourt, Pas-de-Calais
Méricourt is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Méricourt is a former coal mining town, nowadays a farming and light industrial town, southeast of Lens, at the junction of the D33, D40 and the D262 roads...
. On 10 June, he joined Frank Ransley
Frank Ransley
Captain Frank Cecil Ransley was a World War I flying ace credited with nine aerial victories. He would survive the war to become one of its eldest aces before dying at 95 years of age.-Early life:...
, Charles Steele
Charles Steele
Air Marshal Sir Charles Ronald Steele KCB DFC was a Royal Air Force officer who became Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at RAF Coastal Command.-RAF career:...
, and John Drummond in burning 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....
fighter in midair over Roye
Roye, Somme
Roye is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Roye is situated at the junction of the A1 autoroute and the N17 road, on the banks of the Avre, some southeast of Amiens.-Population:-History:...
. On 25 June, he drove down a 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...
out of control. He won twice in separate combats on 2 July 1918; he destroyed one 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 ...
over Foucaucourt, and another over Soyecourt
Soyécourt
Soyécourt is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:The commune is situated east of Amiens, on the D79 road, less than a mile from the A29 autoroute.-Population:-Places of interest:...
.
The new ace scored a double victory on 24 July, sending down two Fokker D.VIIs down out of control. On 3 August, he was credited with the capture of an Albatros reconnaissance machine at Aveluy
Aveluy
Aveluy is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France....
, France. He completed his victory list with a double win on 5 September 1918, when he burned a Fokker D.VII and drove another down out of battle. Oaks' final tally included two shared wins in the destruction of enemy planes, three others destroyed singlehanded, an opposing plane captured, and five others driven down out of control.
Post World War I
When the war was over, Oaks gave up his commission on completion of service on 7 February, retaining the rank of captain. He transferred to the unemployed list of the Royal Air Force on 15 April 1919. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 3 June 1919 by King George V.He returned home to Canada and returned to school. He graduated in 1922 from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree as a mining engineer. He began using airplanes as an aid to prospecting in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
and northern Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
He invented the portable nose hangar for bush pilot use in 1926. He also founded Patricia Airways (along with G. A. Thompson) in 1926 while becoming manager and sole pilot of a newly-formed Western Canada Airways
Canadian Airways
Canadian Airways was an airline formed when Western Canadian Airways bought out Commercial. It operated through the 1930s until it was purchased by Canadian Pacific Air Lines in 1941, carrying passengers on mail planes into smaller communities.-History:James Armstrong Richardson established WCA in...
in December.
In 1927, he was the initial winner of the McKee Trophy for service to aviation. In 1929, he (and Pat Reid) made the first midwinter flight to Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay , sometimes called Hudson's Bay, is a large body of saltwater in northeastern Canada. It drains a very large area, about , that includes parts of Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alberta, most of Manitoba, southeastern Nunavut, as well as parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota,...
.
He was also involved in formation of several airlines, including Oaks Airways Ltd. He participated in several lifesaving mercy flights, including a search and rescue flight of 13 prospectors stranded in the subarctic. In later years, he settled into being a mining analyst in Toronto.
Harold Anthony Oaks died on 21 July 1968 in Toronto. He was inducted into the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame in 1973.