Henry Eric Dolan
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Henry Eric Dolan was a World War I
flying ace
credited with seven aerial victories.
Henry Eric Dolan was born in England, his father was A. A. Dolan who later lived at Banbury
, Oxfordshire
and was educated at Downside School
. Dolan later moved to Canada and on the outbreak of war enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force
. He originally served in artillery as an officer. He was awarded the Military Cross
on 29 December 1916. After transfer to the Royal Flying Corps
, in early 1918 he was posted to No. 74 Squadron
, which operated Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5as on the Western Front
. He was assigned to A Flight, under the leadership of "Mick" Mannock
. Dolan scored his first victory when he shot down an Albatros D.V
near Merville
on 12 April 1918. He scored steadily throughout the following month, notching his seventh triumph on 11 May. The following day, Dolan fell under the guns of Raven Freiherr von Barnekow
. He is buried at La Laiterie Military Cemetery, Heuvelland
, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
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.
Henry Eric Dolan was born in England, his father was A. A. Dolan who later lived at Banbury
Banbury
Banbury is a market town and civil parish on the River Cherwell in the Cherwell District of Oxfordshire. It is northwest of London, southeast of Birmingham, south of Coventry and north northwest of the county town of Oxford...
, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
and was educated at Downside School
Downside School
Downside School is a co-educational Catholic independent school for children aged 11 to 18, located in Stratton-on-the-Fosse, between Norton Radstock and Shepton Mallet in Somerset, south west England. It is attached to Downside Abbey...
. Dolan later moved to Canada and on the outbreak of war 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...
. He originally served in artillery as an officer. He was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
on 29 December 1916. After transfer 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 early 1918 he was posted to No. 74 Squadron
No. 74 Squadron RAF
No. 74 Squadron RAF, also known as a "Tiger Squadron" from its tiger head motif, is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It operated fighter aircraft from 1917 to the 1990s.-First World War:...
, which operated Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5as on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
. He was assigned to A Flight, under the leadership of "Mick" Mannock
Edward Mannock
Major Edward Corringham "Mick" Mannock VC, DSO and Two Bars, MC & Bar was a British First World War flying ace. Mannock was probably born in Ireland, though of English and Scottish parentage....
. Dolan scored his first victory when he shot down 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....
near Merville
Merville
Merville is the name or part of the name of several communes in France:* Merville, in the Haute-Garonne département* Merville, in the Nord département* Merville-Franceville-Plage, in the Calvados département...
on 12 April 1918. He scored steadily throughout the following month, notching his seventh triumph on 11 May. The following day, Dolan fell under the guns of Raven Freiherr von Barnekow
Raven Freiherr von Barnekow
Leutnant Raven Freiherr von Barnekow was a World War I flying ace credited with eleven aerial victories. He went on to serve during World War II.-World War I service:...
. He is buried at La Laiterie Military Cemetery, Heuvelland
Heuvelland
Heuvelland is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Dranouter, Kemmel, De Klijte, Loker, Nieuwkerke, Westouter, Wijtschate and Wulvergem. Heuvelland is a thinly populated rural municipality, located between the small urban centres...
, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.