John McNeaney
Encyclopedia
John Harry McNeaney was a Canadian First World War flying ace
, flying with both the Royal Flying Corps
and the Royal Air Force. He was credited with five aerial victories. John McNeaney was the only Canadian Sopwith Dolphin Ace.
, flying the Sopwith Dolphin and successfully claimed four German Fokker D.VII
s and a Halberstadt
C destroyed. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
after he and two others engaged about ten Fokker D.VIIs near Paschendale in Belgium on 28 September 1918. Four Fokkers were claimed destroyed, two accounted for by McNeaney. McNeaney was wounded in June 1918 while on a trench strafing sortie
.
After cessation of hostilities, John was posted to Germany as part of the forces of occupation. He contracted influenza and was brought back to England. He died on 1 March 1919 and was buried at Fulham Old Cemetery in West London, just south of Hammersmith Bridge. His grave has been marked by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which has erected a headstone.
Lieut. (A./Capt.) John Harry McNeaney. (FRANCE)
A gallant and courageous airman who has accounted for five enemy aeroplanes, displaying at all times marked skill and devotion to duty. On 28 September, in company with two other machines, he engaged about ten Fokkers; four of these were destroyed, two by Lieut. McNeaney.
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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...
, flying with both 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...
and the Royal Air Force. He was credited with five aerial victories. John McNeaney was the only Canadian Sopwith Dolphin Ace.
Personal life
John McNeaney was born on 30 May 1897, the son of John and Mary Elizabeth McNeaney. He married Bertha Emma McNeaney (née Jones), when he was 17. His christened middle name was Henry, but he signed his marriage certificate Harry, and always used that name. They may have lived at 178, West Second St., Upper Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He also gave an address of 237 Charlton Avenue West. McNeaney had a successful career as a competent commercial artist before he joined the Royal Flying Corps on 5 May 1917.History
Commissioned in August 1917, he flew with No. 79 Squadron RAFNo. 79 Squadron RAF
-World War I:It was first formed at Gosport on 1 August 1917 as a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. It was equipped with Sopwith Dolphin fighter aircraft in December that year, moving to France in February 1918. It specialised in low-level ground-attack operations, mainly in support of the...
, flying the Sopwith Dolphin and successfully claimed four German 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...
s and a Halberstadt
Halberstadt
Halberstadt is a town in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt and the capital of the district of Harz. It is located on the German Half-Timbered House Road and the Magdeburg–Thale railway....
C destroyed. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
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...
after he and two others engaged about ten Fokker D.VIIs near Paschendale in Belgium on 28 September 1918. Four Fokkers were claimed destroyed, two accounted for by McNeaney. McNeaney was wounded in June 1918 while on a trench strafing sortie
Sortie
Sortie is a term for deployment or dispatch of one military unit, be it an aircraft, ship, or troops from a strongpoint. The sortie, whether by one or more aircraft or vessels, usually has a specific mission....
.
After cessation of hostilities, John was posted to Germany as part of the forces of occupation. He contracted influenza and was brought back to England. He died on 1 March 1919 and was buried at Fulham Old Cemetery in West London, just south of Hammersmith Bridge. His grave has been marked by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which has erected a headstone.
Honors and awards
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)Lieut. (A./Capt.) John Harry McNeaney. (FRANCE)
A gallant and courageous airman who has accounted for five enemy aeroplanes, displaying at all times marked skill and devotion to duty. On 28 September, in company with two other machines, he engaged about ten Fokkers; four of these were destroyed, two by Lieut. McNeaney.
Reference
Dolphin and Snipe Aces of World War 1. Norman Franks. Osprey Publishing, 2002. ISBN 1-84176-317-9, 9781841763170----
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