Stanley Wallage

Flight Lieutenant Stanley Harry Wallage MC (24 July 1895 – 17 April 1926) was a British flying ace credited with ten aerial victories in World War I.[1] He would continue to serve in the RAF post-war until his death in a flying accident.

Stanley Harry Wallage
Born(1895-07-24)24 July 1895
Ipswich, Suffolk, England
Died17 April 1926(1926-04-17) (aged 30)
Amman, Jordan
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Royal Air Force
Years of servicec.1917–1919
1921–1926
RankFlight lieutenant
UnitSuffolk Regiment
No. 22 Squadron RFC/RAF
No. 14 Squadron RAF
Battles/warsWorld War I
 • Western Front
AwardsMilitary Cross

Early life

Wallage was born in Ipswich, Suffolk, the son of Christopher and Mary Wallage.[1]

World War I

Wallage first served with the Suffolk Regiment, but on 3 May 1917 he was commissioned from cadet to temporary second lieutenant on the General List to serve in the Royal Flying Corps.[2] On 26 July 1917 he was appointed a flying officer and confirmed in his rank.[3]

After his training as a pilot, he was posted to No. 22 Squadron RFC to fly a Bristol F.2 Fighter. His first aerial victory came on 18 February 1918. His second and third came on 11 March, and he gained six more in May, bringing his total to nine. His exploits earned him the Military Cross, which was gazetted on 16 September 1918. His citation read:

Temporary Second Lieutenant Stanley Harry Wallage, General List and RAF.
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during recent operations. He personally destroyed seven enemy machines. He showed a fine spirit of dash and tenacity, and his skill and success as a fighting pilot was a fine example to others in his squadron."[4]

On 26 September 1918, he was promoted to temporary captain while so employed[5] and gained his tenth and final victory on 4 November, just a week before the Armistice brought an end to the fighting.

He was again graded for purposes of pay and allowances as a captain on 1 May 1919,[6] but he was then transferred to the unemployed list on 18 May.[7][8]

List of aerial victories
See also: Aerial victory standards of World War I
Combat record[1][9]
No. Date/Time Aircraft/
Serial No.		 Opponent Result Location Notes
1 18 February 1918
@ 1400 hours		 Bristol F.2 Fighter
(C4808)		 German reconnaissance aircraft Driven down out of control Seclin, France Observer/gunner: John Jones
2 11 March 1918
@ 1420 hours		 Bristol F.2 Fighter
(A7286)		 Albatros D.V fighter Driven down out of control Lomme, France Observer/gunner: John Jones
3 Driven down out of control Ligny, France
4 8 May 1918
@ 1900 hours		 Bristol F.2 Fighter
(C795)		 Pfalz D.III fighter Destroyed North of La Bassée, France Observer/gunner: George Thomson
5 13 May 1918
@ 1040–1045 hours		 Bristol F.2 Fighter
(C795)		 DFW reconnaissance aircraft Driven down out of control La Bassée, France Observer/gunner: George Thomson
6 DFW reconnaissance aircraft Driven down out of control
7 22 May 1918
@ 1030 hours		 Bristol F.2 Fighter
(C795)		 Albatros D.V fighter Destroyed Hancourt, France Observer/gunner: A. P. Stoyle
8 Albatros D.V fighter Driven down out of control
9 26 May 1918
@ 1945 hours		 Bristol F.2 Fighter Albatros D.V fighter Destroyed Southeast of Armentières, France Observer/gunner: A. P. Stoyle
10 4 November 1918
@ 1415 hours		 Bristol F.2 Fighter
(E2454)		 Pfalz D.XII fighter Driven down out of control Northwest of Bavay, France Observer/gunner: Dennis Waight

Post-war career

Wallage returned to the RAF on 21 January 1921 when granted a Short Service Commission with the rank of flying officer,[10] and he was promoted to flight lieutenant on 1 January 1924.[11] On 4 February 1925 he was granted a permanent commission.[12]

On 17 April 1926 Wallage was serving in No. 14 Squadron when he and Squadron Leader Harley Alec Tweedie were killed when their Airco DH.9A crashed at Amman, Transjordan.[13]

References
Notes
  1. "Stanley Harry Wallage". The Aerodrome. 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  2. "No. 30073". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 May 1917. p. 4764.
  3. "No. 30203". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 July 1917. p. 7594. Note: Such appointment usually nearly coincided with completion of pilot's training.
  4. "No. 30901". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 September 1918. p. 11030.
  5. "No. 30947". The London Gazette. 11 October 1918. p. 11974. Note: such promotion usually accompanied an appointment as a flight commander.
  6. "No. 31510". The London Gazette. 19 August 1919. p. 10478.
  7. "No. 31440". The London Gazette. 8 July 1919. p. 8602.
  8. "No. 31517". The London Gazette. 22 August 1919. p. 10656.
  9. Guttman & Dempsey (2007), p. 28.
  10. "No. 32209". The London Gazette. 28 January 1921. p. 781.
  11. "No. 32893". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December 1923. p. 9.
  12. "No. 33017". The London Gazette. 3 February 1925. p. 782.
  13. "Royal Air Force Flying Accidents". Flight. XVIII (906): 280. 6 May 1926. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
Bibliography
  • Guttman, Jon & Dempsey, Harry (2007). Bristol F2 Fighter Aces of World War I. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-201-1.
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