Herbert Ellis
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Herbert Edward Oscar Ellis, MC, (born 15 July 1893, date of death unknown) was a World War I flying ace
credited with seven aerial victories. On 4 May 1917, after running out of machine gun ammunition, he scored his third victory of the day with pistol fire.
Ellis scored four victories during Bloody April
, 1917, on the 13th, 23rd, 26th, and 28th. On 4 May 1917, he engaged three Albatros fighters over Douai
. One he shot down at 500 feet, a second he sent into a crash-landing, but the third got on his tail even as Ellis ran out of machine gun ammunition. He managed to drop below it and emptied his Colt pistol into it. It fell into a sideslip that tore off its bottom wing, then plunged into a pond. Ellis' final tally was six enemy planes destroyed, one driven down out of control. Two days after this triple triumph, Ellis was injured in a crash which ended his career as a fighter pilot. He was returned to England.
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 seven aerial victories. On 4 May 1917, after running out of machine gun ammunition, he scored his third victory of the day with pistol fire.
Ellis scored four victories 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, on the 13th, 23rd, 26th, and 28th. On 4 May 1917, he engaged three Albatros fighters over Douai
Douai
-Main sights:Douai's ornate Gothic style belfry was begun in 1380, on the site of an earlier tower. The 80 m high structure includes an impressive carillon, consisting of 62 bells spanning 5 octaves. The originals, some dating from 1391 were removed in 1917 during World War I by the occupying...
. One he shot down at 500 feet, a second he sent into a crash-landing, but the third got on his tail even as Ellis ran out of machine gun ammunition. He managed to drop below it and emptied his Colt pistol into it. It fell into a sideslip that tore off its bottom wing, then plunged into a pond. Ellis' final tally was six enemy planes destroyed, one driven down out of control. Two days after this triple triumph, Ellis was injured in a crash which ended his career as a fighter pilot. He was returned to England.