Roby Lewis Manuel
Encyclopedia
Captain Roby Lewis Manuel was an Australian flying ace
credited with 12 official aerial victories.
He transferred to the Australian Flying Corps on 30 April 1917. He was posted to 2 Squadron AFC in France as a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a pilot on 6 February 1918. He scored his first aerial victory on 2 April 1918, in company with Captain Henry Garnet Forrest
; they destroyed a German two-seater reconnaissance machine over Demuin
. Two months later, on 2 June, he destroyed two Pfalz D.III
fighter planes, then drove down a third one out of control within the half hour. Ten days later, on 12 June 1918, he became an ace by setting another Pfalz D.III afire north of Bussy
. His exploits earned him the award of a Distinguished Flying Cross on 2 July 1918.
Manuel was then promoted to captain as he was appointed a Flight Commander. He switched airplanes. He had scored his first five wins in serial number B184; he would use number C1948 for his final seven victories. He began on 22 July 1918, driving down a Pfalz D.III and a Fokker D.VII
, both out of control. On the 31st, he drove down an Albatros D.V
. The destruction of a Fokker D.VII on an evening patrol on 14 August 1918 brought Manuel's total to nine wins.
On 16 September, Manuel claimed two more Fokker D.VIIs in two separate dogfights. When the second Fokker went down near Droglandt, France, Manuel landed nearby. Unable to aid the German pilot he had wounded, Manuel could only watch him die, then help bury the dead German. This action won the doughty Australian a Bar for his DFC in lieu of a second award of the medal. British military intelligence later exhumed this German pilot's body to examine the parachute
he was wearing.
in London in 1919.
Manuel returned to service in the Royal Australian Air Force
during World War II. He volunteered the use of his private airplane to his nation, and his services as a pilot. He was not accepted for flying duty because of his age; instead, he was assigned to administrative duties.
Manuel returned once again to farming, and would continue to foster aviation in northern Australia; he flew until shortly before his death.
He died on 18 October 1975.
Lt. Roby Lewis Manuel (Australian Flying Corps)
During the past month, whilst on an offensive
patrol, his machine was badly damaged
in an encounter with an enemy aeroplane
which he brought down out of control. On
his return home he saw another enemy
machine below him. At great personal risk,
owing to the state of his machine, he nevertheless
attacked and brought it down. He
is a most skilful pilot of great determination.
Lieut. (A./Capt.) Roby Lewis Manuel
On many occasions this officer has led his
patrol with exceptional ability and courage,
notably on 16 September, when, with a
patrol of eleven machines, he engaged fifteen
hostile aircraft. By skilful manoeuvre
he completely defeated the enemy in a combat
that only lasted twenty minutes, at the
expiration of which period only four hostile
machines remained in the air, and these retired.
Six of the enemy machines were seen
to fall in a manner that would justify the
supposition that they would crash.
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 12 official aerial victories.
World War I
Manuel enlisted in the 43rd Battalion, AIF on 5 April 1916. He swore that he was a natural born British citizen, that he worked as a farmer, and that his uncle, Frederick George Jones, was his next of kin. Manuel claimed a year's prior militia experience.He transferred to the Australian Flying Corps on 30 April 1917. He was posted to 2 Squadron AFC in France as a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a pilot on 6 February 1918. He scored his first aerial victory on 2 April 1918, in company with Captain Henry Garnet Forrest
Henry Garnet Forrest
Captain Henry Garnet Forrest was an Australian-born aviator who served in both the Royal Flying Corps and the Australian Flying Corps. While serving with the latter air service, he was credited with 11 aerial victories....
; they destroyed a German two-seater reconnaissance machine over Demuin
Démuin
Démuin is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:The commune is situated on the D23 road, some southeast of Amiens.-Population:-External links:* *...
. Two months later, on 2 June, he destroyed two 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 ...
fighter planes, then drove down a third one out of control within the half hour. Ten days later, on 12 June 1918, he became an ace by setting another Pfalz D.III afire north of Bussy
Bussy
-Ohio:*Bussy, Cher, in the Cher département*Bussy, Oise, in the Oise département*Bussy-Albieux, in the Loire département*Bussy-en-Othe, in the Yonne département*Bussy-la-Pesle, Côte-d'Or, in the Côte-d'Or département...
. His exploits earned him the award of a Distinguished Flying Cross on 2 July 1918.
Manuel was then promoted to captain as he was appointed a Flight Commander. He switched airplanes. He had scored his first five wins in serial number B184; he would use number C1948 for his final seven victories. He began on 22 July 1918, driving down a Pfalz D.III and 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...
, both out of control. On the 31st, he drove 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....
. The destruction of a Fokker D.VII on an evening patrol on 14 August 1918 brought Manuel's total to nine wins.
On 16 September, Manuel claimed two more Fokker D.VIIs in two separate dogfights. When the second Fokker went down near Droglandt, France, Manuel landed nearby. Unable to aid the German pilot he had wounded, Manuel could only watch him die, then help bury the dead German. This action won the doughty Australian a Bar for his DFC in lieu of a second award of the medal. British military intelligence later exhumed this German pilot's body to examine the parachute
Parachute
A parachute is a device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag, or in the case of ram-air parachutes, aerodynamic lift. Parachutes are usually made out of light, strong cloth, originally silk, now most commonly nylon...
he was wearing.
Post World War I
Manuel led the flypast on ANZAC DayANZAC Day
Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, commemorated by both countries on 25 April every year to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who fought at Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. It now more broadly commemorates all...
in London in 1919.
Manuel returned to service in the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
during World War II. He volunteered the use of his private airplane to his nation, and his services as a pilot. He was not accepted for flying duty because of his age; instead, he was assigned to administrative duties.
Manuel returned once again to farming, and would continue to foster aviation in northern Australia; he flew until shortly before his death.
He died on 18 October 1975.
Honors and awards
- Text of citation for award of the Distinguished Flying Cross
Lt. Roby Lewis Manuel (Australian Flying Corps)
During the past month, whilst on an offensive
patrol, his machine was badly damaged
in an encounter with an enemy aeroplane
which he brought down out of control. On
his return home he saw another enemy
machine below him. At great personal risk,
owing to the state of his machine, he nevertheless
attacked and brought it down. He
is a most skilful pilot of great determination.
- Citation of text for award of Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross
Lieut. (A./Capt.) Roby Lewis Manuel
On many occasions this officer has led his
patrol with exceptional ability and courage,
notably on 16 September, when, with a
patrol of eleven machines, he engaged fifteen
hostile aircraft. By skilful manoeuvre
he completely defeated the enemy in a combat
that only lasted twenty minutes, at the
expiration of which period only four hostile
machines remained in the air, and these retired.
Six of the enemy machines were seen
to fall in a manner that would justify the
supposition that they would crash.
- Roby Lewis Manuel is also memorialized at Atkinson Park in his home town of Kerang.