Reginald Brading
Encyclopedia
Captain Reginald Carey Brenton Brading (14 May 1899–26 July 1926) was a World War I flying ace
credited with thirteen confirmed aerial victories.
Brading joined the Royal Naval Air Service
on 12 June 1917, just a month past his eighteenth birthday. He trained in an operational squadron, 12 Naval, before being posted to 1 Naval in April 1918 as a Sopwith Camel
pilot. On 2 May, he scored his first aerial victory when a squadron patrol caught a luckless German reconnaissance plane north of Albert
and Brading, Samuel Kinkead
, Hazel Wallace
, and four other pilots sent it down out of control for a win apiece. On the 15th, Brading gained a second victory in similar fashion, teaming with Kinkead, Wallace, Charles Dawson Booker
, Robert McLaughlin
, Maxwell Findlay
, James Henry Forman
, and two other pilots to destroy an Albatros D.V
to add to all their scores. Brading also received a second victory that day, for his solo win in driving a second Albatros D.V down out of control. His fourth triumph came on 9 June, when he drove a DFW
reconnaissance plane down out of control. On 28 June, he became an ace by driving down another Albatros D.V. From there on, Brading's wins were always over the best German fighter planes, Fokker D.VII
s and a Pfalz D.XII
. The only curiosity among them was the last pilot downed plummeted to his death in one of the pioneering uses of a parachute; that was on 16 September 1918.
A summary of his victories shows Brading was credited with five enemy airplanes destroyed, including that first shared one; eight driven down out of control, including the shared second win.
Lieut (T./Capt.)"Reginald Carey Brenton Brading.
This officer has accounted for seven enemy machines—two shot down in flames and five out of control. In addition he has displayed marked skill and bravery in attacking troops and transport. Four times in one day he engaged troops, etc., on the roads with machine-gun fire, inflicting casualties and causing great confusion.
Text of the citation for the Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross (in lieu of second award)
Lieut (A./Capt.) Reginald Carey Brenton Brading, D.F.C. (FRANCE)
An exceptionally keen and daring patrol leader who has accounted for five enemy machines during the last month. On 2 September, while leading his flight, he observed twelve Fokker biplanes, which he at once engaged, driving one down out of control. Later, on the same day, he engaged a formation of Fokkers that were harassing our corps machines, causing one to crash. This officer's skill and bravery have proved a great incentive to the other pilots of his squadron.
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 thirteen confirmed aerial victories.
Brading joined the Royal Naval Air Service
Royal Naval Air Service
The Royal Naval Air Service or RNAS was the air arm of the Royal Navy until near the end of the First World War, when it merged with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps to form a new service , the Royal Air Force...
on 12 June 1917, just a month past his eighteenth birthday. He trained in an operational squadron, 12 Naval, before being posted to 1 Naval in April 1918 as a Sopwith Camel
Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...
pilot. On 2 May, he scored his first aerial victory when a squadron patrol caught a luckless German reconnaissance plane north of Albert
Albert, Somme
Albert is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.It is located about halfway between Amiens and Bapaume.-History:Albert was founded as a Roman outpost called Encre, in about 54 BC...
and Brading, Samuel Kinkead
Samuel Kinkead
Samuel Marcus Kinkead DSO, DSC & Bar, DFC & Bar was a South African fighter ace Captain with 33 victories during World War I. He went on to serve in southern Russia and the Middle East postwar.-Early life:...
, Hazel Wallace
Hazel Wallace
Captain Hazel LeRoy Wallace DFC was a Canadian First World War flying ace, officially credited with 14 victories. His record shows him to have been a notable team player in squadron tactics....
, and four other pilots sent it down out of control for a win apiece. On the 15th, Brading gained a second victory in similar fashion, teaming with Kinkead, Wallace, Charles Dawson Booker
Charles Dawson Booker
Major Charles Dawson Booker DSC was a World War I fighter ace credited with 29 victories. He was promoted to high rank while relatively young as a result of his gallantry and unswerving dedication to his country.-Early life:Charles Dawson Booker was born to Joseph Dawson and Rachel C...
, Robert McLaughlin
Robert McLaughlin (aviator)
Lieutenant Robert McLaughlin was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.McLaughlin destroyed two Albatros D.Vs and chased another down out of control during May 1918; he cooperated in one of the destructions with fellow aces Hazel LeRoy Wallace, Reginald Brading, James Henry...
, Maxwell Findlay
Maxwell Findlay
Captain Maxwell Hutcheon Findlay DSC, DFC was a World War I flying ace credited with 14 aerial victories. He remained in the RAF postwar for a couple of years before going on to a civilian aviation career that ended with his death in the Johannesburg Air Race of 1936.-World War I:Findlay was a...
, James Henry Forman
James Henry Forman
James Henry Forman was born in Kirkfield, Ontario, Canada on 1 February 1896. When he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 29 June 1916, he gave his profession as minister and listed his mother Mary as his next of kin. He had three months prior military experience. He was six feet tall,...
, and two other pilots to destroy 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....
to add to all their scores. Brading also received a second victory that day, for his solo win in driving a second Albatros D.V down out of control. His fourth triumph came on 9 June, when he drove a DFW
Deutsche Flugzeug-Werke
Deutsche Flugzeug-Werke, usually known as DFW was a German aircraft manufacturer of the early twentieth century. It was established by Bernhard Meyer and Erich Thiele at Lindenthal in 1910, and initially produced Farman designs under licence, later moving on to the Etrich Taube and eventually to...
reconnaissance plane down out of control. On 28 June, he became an ace by driving down another Albatros D.V. From there on, Brading's wins were always over the best German fighter planes, 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 Pfalz D.XII
Pfalz D.XII
The Pfalz D.XII was a German fighter aircraft built by Pfalz Flugzeugwerke. Designed by Rudolph Gehringer as a successor to the Pfalz D.III, the D.XII entered service in significant numbers near the end of the First World War. It was the last Pfalz aircraft to see widespread service...
. The only curiosity among them was the last pilot downed plummeted to his death in one of the pioneering uses of a parachute; that was on 16 September 1918.
A summary of his victories shows Brading was credited with five enemy airplanes destroyed, including that first shared one; eight driven down out of control, including the shared second win.
Honors and awards
Text of the citation for the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)Lieut (T./Capt.)"Reginald Carey Brenton Brading.
This officer has accounted for seven enemy machines—two shot down in flames and five out of control. In addition he has displayed marked skill and bravery in attacking troops and transport. Four times in one day he engaged troops, etc., on the roads with machine-gun fire, inflicting casualties and causing great confusion.
Text of the citation for the Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross (in lieu of second award)
Lieut (A./Capt.) Reginald Carey Brenton Brading, D.F.C. (FRANCE)
An exceptionally keen and daring patrol leader who has accounted for five enemy machines during the last month. On 2 September, while leading his flight, he observed twelve Fokker biplanes, which he at once engaged, driving one down out of control. Later, on the same day, he engaged a formation of Fokkers that were harassing our corps machines, causing one to crash. This officer's skill and bravery have proved a great incentive to the other pilots of his squadron.
Reference
- Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920 Christopher F. Shores, Norman L. R. Franks, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1990. ISBN 0-948817-19-4, 9780948817199.