Walter M. Carlaw
Encyclopedia
Captain Walter Macfarlane Carlaw DFC was a Scottish-born flying ace
who served during World War I. He was credited with 12 confirmed aerial victories.
in Glasgow, Scotland.
over Menen
, Belgium. He shared the win with Frank Granger Quigley
, Alfred Michael Koch
, and Kenneth Seth-Smith. The following day, 12 March 1918, he singlehandedly drove down an Albatros D.V
out of control.
By the time he next scored, on 29 July 1918, he had been appointed Flight Commander. His destruction that day of an Albatros D.VII
began a string of ten triumphs over the new advanced German fighter plane. By the time he ended his tally on 14 October 1918, he had destroyed seven Fokker D.VIIs and driven down three others out of control.
Carlaw was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, which was gazetted after the war's end, on 3 December 1918.
on 28 November 1941.
July.
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...
who served during World War I. He was credited with 12 confirmed aerial victories.
Early life
Walter Macfarlane Carlaw was the son of Walter and Jeannie Carlaw of BlythwoodBlythswood Hill
Blythswood Hill is an area of Glasgow, Scotland.It lies to the immediate west of the city centre and as the name suggests rises to a plateau before dipping again towards the west end area of Woodlands....
in Glasgow, Scotland.
World War I
Carlaw was posted to 70 Squadron in early 1918. His first success came three days after his nineteenth birthday, on 11 March 1918; he was one of four pilots credited with destroying a German observation balloonObservation balloon
Observation balloons are balloons that are employed as aerial platforms for intelligence gathering and artillery spotting. Their use began during the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith during World War I, and they continue in limited use today....
over Menen
Menen
Menen is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Menen proper and the towns of Lauwe and Rekkem. The city is situated on the French/Belgian border. On January 1, 2006, Menen had a total population of 32,413...
, Belgium. He shared the win with Frank Granger Quigley
Frank Granger Quigley
Frank Granger Quigley DSO, MC & Bar was a Canadian World War I flying ace who was credited with 33 victories. He was notable for scoring the majority of his victories against German fighter planes.-Early life and service:...
, Alfred Michael Koch
Alfred Michael Koch
Lieutenant Alfred Michael Koch was a Swiss-born Canadian flying ace credited with ten aerial victories.- Early life :Alfred Michael Koch was born on 25 February 1894 in Arosa, Graubünden, Switzerland. He moved to Canada at the age of four years. His father was John Koch...
, and Kenneth Seth-Smith. The following day, 12 March 1918, he singlehandedly 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....
out of control.
By the time he next scored, on 29 July 1918, he had been appointed Flight Commander. His destruction that day of an Albatros D.VII
Albatros D.VII
The Albatros D.VII was a German prototype single-seat fighter biplane flown in August 1917. It was powered by a water-cooled Benz Bz.IIIb V8 engine developing 145 kW and armed with two 7.92 mm machine guns...
began a string of ten triumphs over the new advanced German fighter plane. By the time he ended his tally on 14 October 1918, he had destroyed seven Fokker D.VIIs and driven down three others out of control.
Carlaw was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, which was gazetted after the war's end, on 3 December 1918.
World War II
Carlaw returned to the colors during World War II, being commissioned into the Royal Air Force Volunteer ReserveRoyal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
The Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve consists of a number of groupings of individual military reservists for the management and operation of the Royal Air Force's Air Training Corps and CCF Air Cadet formations, Volunteer Gliding Squadrons , Air Experience Flights, and also to form the...
on 28 November 1941.
Citation of award for Distinguished Flying Cross
A bold and skilful fighter who has accounted for five enemy machines—two in one engagement, which occurred on 31stJuly.
External links
- http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/scotland/carlaw.php lists his aerial victories.
Reference
- Shores, Christopher F. etal. Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. Grub Street, 1990. ISBN 0-948817-19-4, 9780948817199.