James Anderson Slater
Encyclopedia
James Anderson Slater, MC
and Bar, DFC
(27 November 1896 – 26 November 1925) was a British
Flying Ace
in World War I
credited with 24 victories.
as a private in 1914 and was later commissioned in the Royal Ulster Rifles
. In 1915 he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps
as an observer and flew in France
with No 18 Squadron
from November 1915 to March 1916.
After pilot training, Slater joined No. 1 Squadron
RFC
in August 1916 and served in this unit until May 1917. After a period as an instructor, he was promoted to captain and became a flight commander with the newly-formed No. 64 Squadron
, equipped with DH5 aircraft
. Slater was posted to France in October 1917 and shot down the squadron's first enemy aircraft. The squadron re-equipped with SE5a
aircraft, on which type Slater achieved the majority of his victories. Over an eighteen day period in May 1918, Slater was involved in twenty-five engagements and claimed eight enemy aircraft shot down.
Slater returned to Home Establishment in July 1918 and finished the war again as an instructor.
His war time tally consisted of 11 and 1 shared destroyed, and 9 and 3 shared 'out of control'.
, 216
and 1
Squadrons. Slater was killed in a flying accident, whilst instructing at Central Flying School
, Upavon
.
(MC)
"T./2nd Lt. (T./Capt.) James Anderson Slater, Gen. List and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When returning from a patrol he attacked enemy infantry, silenced a field gun and fired on transport. On another occasion he silenced a battery in very difficult weather conditions, fired on ammunition wagons and enemy infantry, and brought back his patrol safely. He also led a patrol of twelve machines in very bad weather to attack a wood held by the enemy. His patrol dropped over thirty bombs, fired 3,000 rounds and drove the enemy from the wood with heavy casualties. In the course of this flight six enemy scouts were engaged and driven off. Later, he led a similar patrol with great success. He showed splendid courage and determination."
Supplement to the London Gazette, 5 July 1918 (30780/7924)
Military Cross
(MC) Bar
"T./Capt. James Anderson Slater, M.C., Gen. List, and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On one occasion during the recent, operations he attacked a large formation of hostile scouts, one of which he drove down in flames. Later, during the same flight, he took part in a general engagement, in which he drove down another enemy machine completely out of control. Two days later he attacked two enemy scouts, causing one of them to crash to earth. In eighteen days he has engaged in twenty-five combats at close quarters, shooting down eight hostile machines. His great gallantry and fine offensive spirit have inspired all ranks to a very high degree.
(M.C. gazetted 4 February 1918.)"
Supplement to the London Gazette, 22 June 1918 (30761/7400)
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
(DFC)
"Lt. (T./Capt.) James Anderson Slater, M.C.
This officer has led numerous offensive patrols with the utmost skill and determination, and it is entirely due to his fine leadership that many enemy aircraft have been destroyed with the minimum of casualties to his formation."
Supplement to the London Gazette, 3 August 1918 (30827/9204)
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....
and Bar, 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...
(27 November 1896 – 26 November 1925) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
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...
in 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...
credited with 24 victories.
Involvement in World War 1
Slater joined the Royal Sussex RegimentRoyal Sussex Regiment
The Royal Sussex Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1966. The regiment was formed as part of the Childers reforms by the amalgamation of the 35th Regiment of Foot and the 107th Regiment of Foot...
as a private in 1914 and was later commissioned in the Royal Ulster Rifles
Royal Ulster Rifles
The Royal Ulster Rifles was a British Army infantry regiment. It saw service in the Second Boer War, Great War, the Second World War and the Korean War, before being amalgamated into the Royal Irish Rangers in 1968.-History:...
. In 1915 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...
as an observer and flew in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
with No 18 Squadron
No. 18 Squadron RAF
No. 18 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the CH-47 Chinook HC.2 from RAF Odiham. No. 18 Squadron was the first and is currently the largest RAF operator of the Chinook.-First World War:...
from November 1915 to March 1916.
After pilot training, Slater joined No. 1 Squadron
No. 1 Squadron RAF
No. 1 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It operated the Harrier GR9 from RAF Cottesmore until 28 January 2011.The squadron motto is In omnibus princeps , appropriate for the RAF's oldest squadron and one that has been involved in almost every major British military operation since...
RFC
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 August 1916 and served in this unit until May 1917. After a period as an instructor, he was promoted to captain and became a flight commander with the newly-formed No. 64 Squadron
No. 64 Squadron RAF
No. 64 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was first formed on 1 August 1916 as a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. It was last disbanded on 31 January 1991 at RAF Leuchars.- 1916 to 1919 :...
, equipped with DH5 aircraft
Airco DH.5
-Bibliography:* Bruce, J.M. Warplanes of the First World War, Vol. 1. London: MacDonald, 1965, pp. 128–132.* Jackson, A.J. De Havilland Aircraft since 1915. London: Putnam, 1962....
. Slater was posted to France in October 1917 and shot down the squadron's first enemy aircraft. The squadron re-equipped with SE5a
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5
The Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 was a British biplane fighter aircraft of the First World War. Although the first examples reached the Western Front before the Sopwith Camel and it had a much better overall performance, problems with its Hispano-Suiza engine, particularly the geared-output H-S...
aircraft, on which type Slater achieved the majority of his victories. Over an eighteen day period in May 1918, Slater was involved in twenty-five engagements and claimed eight enemy aircraft shot down.
Slater returned to Home Establishment in July 1918 and finished the war again as an instructor.
His war time tally consisted of 11 and 1 shared destroyed, and 9 and 3 shared 'out of control'.
Later Military Service
Slater continued in the instructing role both in the UK and in the Middle East and also flew with Nos. 20No. 20 Squadron RAF
No. 20 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was until March 2010, the OCU for the BAE Harrier GR9, and T12, operating from RAF Wittering...
, 216
No. 216 Squadron RAF
No. 216 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Lockheed Tristar K1, KC1 and C2 from RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire.- History :216 Squadron was formed at RAF Manston by re-numbering No. 16 Squadron RNAS when the RAF was established in 1918, hence it is always spoken of as 'two-sixteen Squadron'...
and 1
No. 1 Squadron RAF
No. 1 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It operated the Harrier GR9 from RAF Cottesmore until 28 January 2011.The squadron motto is In omnibus princeps , appropriate for the RAF's oldest squadron and one that has been involved in almost every major British military operation since...
Squadrons. Slater was killed in a flying accident, whilst instructing at 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:...
, Upavon
RAF Upavon
The former Royal Air Force Station Upavon, more commonly known as RAF Upavon, was a grass airfield, military flight training school, and administrative headquarters of the Royal Air Force....
.
Citations for military honors
Military CrossMilitary 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....
(MC)
"T./2nd Lt. (T./Capt.) James Anderson Slater, Gen. List and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When returning from a patrol he attacked enemy infantry, silenced a field gun and fired on transport. On another occasion he silenced a battery in very difficult weather conditions, fired on ammunition wagons and enemy infantry, and brought back his patrol safely. He also led a patrol of twelve machines in very bad weather to attack a wood held by the enemy. His patrol dropped over thirty bombs, fired 3,000 rounds and drove the enemy from the wood with heavy casualties. In the course of this flight six enemy scouts were engaged and driven off. Later, he led a similar patrol with great success. He showed splendid courage and determination."
Supplement to the London Gazette, 5 July 1918 (30780/7924)
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....
(MC) Bar
"T./Capt. James Anderson Slater, M.C., Gen. List, and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On one occasion during the recent, operations he attacked a large formation of hostile scouts, one of which he drove down in flames. Later, during the same flight, he took part in a general engagement, in which he drove down another enemy machine completely out of control. Two days later he attacked two enemy scouts, causing one of them to crash to earth. In eighteen days he has engaged in twenty-five combats at close quarters, shooting down eight hostile machines. His great gallantry and fine offensive spirit have inspired all ranks to a very high degree.
(M.C. gazetted 4 February 1918.)"
Supplement to the London Gazette, 22 June 1918 (30761/7400)
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
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...
(DFC)
"Lt. (T./Capt.) James Anderson Slater, M.C.
This officer has led numerous offensive patrols with the utmost skill and determination, and it is entirely due to his fine leadership that many enemy aircraft have been destroyed with the minimum of casualties to his formation."
Supplement to the London Gazette, 3 August 1918 (30827/9204)