Alexander MacDonald Shook
Encyclopedia
Major Alexander MacDonald Shook was a Canadian World War I flying ace
. During his stint with the Royal Naval Air Service
, he was credited with 12 official aerial victories.
biplane earned at their school in Toronto. He first flew Sopwith two-seater airplanes for No. 5 Naval Wing after his training. "A" Squadron of 5 Wing became No. 4 Squadron RNAS
in December 1916, being equipped with Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutters and Sopwith Pup
s. Shook was transferred to 4 Naval as a founding member and Flight Commander. Flying one of their Pups, serial numbered N6200 but dubbed "Bobs", he scored his first aerial victory during Bloody April
, 1917, driving an Albatros D.II
down out of control on the 24th. On 9 May, he would use the same Pup to share a victory over a German reconnaissance plane; Langley Frank Willard Smith
was the other victorious pilot. Three days later, Shook scored his third and last win in "Bobs", downing a seaplane
offshore of Zeebrugge
. He then upgraded to a Sopwith Camel
.
On 5 June 1917, Shook became the first pilot from Naval 4 to score a victory in one of the new Camels; he destroyed a German Albatros D.III
and drove down a two-seater reconnaissance plane above Ostend
to become an ace. A month later, on 4 July, he was credited with destroying a Gotha G
bomber although the German records do not acknowledge the loss. His efforts earned him a Croix de guerre from a grateful French government on 20 July 1917.
He was also awarded the Distinguished Service Cross on 11 August 1917; the accompanying citation read:
"For exceptional gallantry and remarkable skill and courage whilst serving with the R.N.A.S. at Dunkirk during May and June, 1917, in repeatedly attacking and destroying hostile aircraft."
On 18 August 1917, he was credited with a win over an Albatros D.V
. He would score once more in 1917, being credited with victory over an Albatros D.III on 21 October, he was wounded in action
during this dogfight. He would not return to action until January 1918.
On 1 January 1918, King George
appointed Shook as a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order "in recognition of...services in the prosecution of the war."
In March 1918, Shook resumed his winning ways. On the 11th, he was credited with an Albatros D.V; on the 22nd, he downed three more over Slype
, including German ace Bertram Heinrich. This ended his victory tally; it included seven enemy airplanes destroyed and five driven down out of control.
Shook added an Air Force Cross to his awards after the RNAS was subsumed into the new Royal Air Force on 1 April 1918. Shook emerged from the war as a major
.
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...
. During his stint with 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...
, he was credited with 12 official aerial victories.
Early life
Shook was born in Ontario, Canada on 2 December 1888; the exact town is given as either Erindale or Tioga. He joined the Royal Naval Air Service. At 28 years of age when he reported for duty, he was somewhat older than the majority of his fellow pilots.World War I
On 15 November 1915, Shook was awarded Aviator's Certificate number 2056 at the completion of his pilot's training on a CurtissCurtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company
Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company was an American aircraft manufacturer that went public in 1916 with Glenn Hammond Curtiss as president. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the company was the largest aircraft manufacturer in the United States...
biplane earned at their school in Toronto. He first flew Sopwith two-seater airplanes for No. 5 Naval Wing after his training. "A" Squadron of 5 Wing became No. 4 Squadron RNAS
No. 204 Squadron RAF
No 204 Squadron was a Royal Air Force squadron formed in 1918 near Dunkerque, France, from No 4 Squadron Royal Naval Air Service, which had already been formed in 1915 and reformed once in 1916. The squadron served during World War I in the roles of bomber, scout and fighter unit...
in December 1916, being equipped with Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutters and Sopwith Pup
Sopwith Pup
The Sopwith Pup was a British single seater biplane fighter aircraft built by the Sopwith Aviation Company. It entered service with the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service in the autumn of 1916. With pleasant flying characteristics and good maneuverability, the aircraft proved very...
s. Shook was transferred to 4 Naval as a founding member and Flight Commander. Flying one of their Pups, serial numbered N6200 but dubbed "Bobs", he scored his first aerial victory during Bloody April
Bloody April
During the First World War, the month of April 1917 was known as Bloody April by the Royal Flying Corps . The RFC suffered particularly severe losses — about three times as many as the Imperial German Army Air Service over the same period — but continued its primary role in support of the ground...
, 1917, driving an Albatros D.II
Albatros D.II
|-See also:...
down out of control on the 24th. On 9 May, he would use the same Pup to share a victory over a German reconnaissance plane; Langley Frank Willard Smith
Langley Frank Willard Smith
Langley Frank Willard Smith, was a Canadian Flying Ace in World War I credited with 16 victories.-Background:Smith was born in Philipsburg, in the Province of Quebec, and was brought up by his grandmother, his father having been widowed. Whilst attending Flying School in St...
was the other victorious pilot. Three days later, Shook scored his third and last win in "Bobs", downing a seaplane
Seaplane
A seaplane is a fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing on water. Seaplanes that can also take off and land on airfields are a subclass called amphibian aircraft...
offshore of Zeebrugge
Zeebrugge
Zeebrugge is a village on the coast of Belgium and a subdivision of Bruges, for which it is the modern port. Zeebrugge serves as both the international port of Bruges-Zeebrugge and a seafront resort with hotels, cafés, a marina and a beach.-Location:...
. He then upgraded to 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...
.
On 5 June 1917, Shook became the first pilot from Naval 4 to score a victory in one of the new Camels; he destroyed a German Albatros D.III
Albatros D.III
The Albatros D.III was a biplane fighter aircraft used by the Imperial German Army Air Service and the Austro-Hungarian Air Service during World War I. The D.III was flown by many top German aces, including Manfred von Richthofen, Ernst Udet, Erich Löwenhardt, Kurt Wolff, and Karl Emil Schäfer...
and drove down a two-seater reconnaissance plane above Ostend
Ostend
Ostend is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke , Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast....
to become an ace. A month later, on 4 July, he was credited with destroying a Gotha G
Gotha G
|-See also:-References:* The Complete Encyclopedia of Flight 1848-1939 by John Batchelor and Malcolm V. Lowe-External links:*...
bomber although the German records do not acknowledge the loss. His efforts earned him a Croix de guerre from a grateful French government on 20 July 1917.
He was also awarded the Distinguished Service Cross on 11 August 1917; the accompanying citation read:
"For exceptional gallantry and remarkable skill and courage whilst serving with the R.N.A.S. at Dunkirk during May and June, 1917, in repeatedly attacking and destroying hostile aircraft."
On 18 August 1917, he was credited with a win over 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....
. He would score once more in 1917, being credited with victory over an Albatros D.III on 21 October, he was wounded in action
Wounded in action
Wounded in action describes soldiers who have been wounded while fighting in a combat zone during war time, but have not been killed. Typically it implies that they are temporarily or permanently incapable of bearing arms or continuing to fight....
during this dogfight. He would not return to action until January 1918.
On 1 January 1918, King George
King George
King George has referred to many monarchs and kings throughout history.Bohemia*George of Bohemia, king of BohemiaDuala people of Cameroon*George , king of the Duala peopleGeorgia*George I of Georgia , king of Georgia 1014-1027...
appointed Shook as a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order "in recognition of...services in the prosecution of the war."
In March 1918, Shook resumed his winning ways. On the 11th, he was credited with an Albatros D.V; on the 22nd, he downed three more over Slype
Slype
The term slype is a variant of slip in the sense of a narrow passage; in architecture, the name for the covered passage usually found in monasteries or cathedrals between the transept and the chapter house, as at St Andrews, Winchester, Gloucester, Exeter and St. Albans....
, including German ace Bertram Heinrich. This ended his victory tally; it included seven enemy airplanes destroyed and five driven down out of control.
Shook added an Air Force Cross to his awards after the RNAS was subsumed into the new Royal Air Force on 1 April 1918. Shook emerged from the war as a major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
.