Reginald Soar
Encyclopedia
Captain Reginald Rhys Soar was a British flying ace
during World War I. He was credited with 12 official aerial victories won while serving in the Dardanelles
and along the English Channel
.
in August 1915. He began his naval air service with No. 3 Wing RNAS in the Dardanelles
. He then transferred to 5 Naval Wing at Dunkirk. In October 1916, he transferred again, to 8 Naval Squadron.
Soar scored his first aerial victories on 20 December 1916, when he used Sopwith Pup
serial number N5181 to drive two German Halberstadt
fighter planes down out of control. He would not score again until after being re-equipped with a Sopwith Triplane
.
On 23 May 1917, he drove a German reconnaissance plane down out of control to begin a string of ten victories. In his logbook, Soar noted that when the German plane landed at
Sainte-Catherine-lès-Arras
, the pilot had suffered a head wound while the observer was shot through the abdomen. Soar also noted technical details of this DFW
in the back of his log.
Soar seems to have been a favored wingman to the leading Australian ace Robert A. Little
, as they each often mention one another in their logbooks.
By 22 July, Soar had raised his score to an even dozen, sharing some of his wins with Charles Dawson Booker
, Robert A. Little, and a couple of other squadronmates. Soar's final tally was two captured enemy reconnaissance planes shared with other pilots, a share in destroying a recon machine, and nine enemy planes driven down out of control. In official recognition of his exploits, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, gazetted 11 August 1917.
in the Royal Air Force on 7 April 1921.
Reginald Rhys Soar died in Martletwy, Wales in 1971.
----
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 World War I. He was credited with 12 official aerial victories won while serving in the Dardanelles
Dardanelles
The Dardanelles , formerly known as the Hellespont, is a narrow strait in northwestern Turkey connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. It is one of the Turkish Straits, along with its counterpart the Bosphorus. It is located at approximately...
and along the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
.
World War I
Soar joined the Royal Naval Air ServiceRoyal 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...
in August 1915. He began his naval air service with No. 3 Wing RNAS in the Dardanelles
Dardanelles
The Dardanelles , formerly known as the Hellespont, is a narrow strait in northwestern Turkey connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. It is one of the Turkish Straits, along with its counterpart the Bosphorus. It is located at approximately...
. He then transferred to 5 Naval Wing at Dunkirk. In October 1916, he transferred again, to 8 Naval Squadron.
Soar scored his first aerial victories on 20 December 1916, when he used 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...
serial number N5181 to drive two German Halberstadt
Halberstadt
Halberstadt is a town in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt and the capital of the district of Harz. It is located on the German Half-Timbered House Road and the Magdeburg–Thale railway....
fighter planes down out of control. He would not score again until after being re-equipped with a Sopwith Triplane
Sopwith Triplane
The Sopwith Triplane was a British single seat fighter aircraft designed and manufactured by the Sopwith Aviation Company during the First World War. Pilots nicknamed it the Tripehound or simply the Tripe. The Triplane became operational with the Royal Naval Air Service in early 1917 and was...
.
On 23 May 1917, he drove a German reconnaissance plane down out of control to begin a string of ten victories. In his logbook, Soar noted that when the German plane landed at
Sainte-Catherine-lès-Arras
Sainte-Catherine-lès-Arras
Sainte-Catherine-lès-Arras is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Sainte-Catherine-lès-Arras is a large suburb, just north of the centre of Arras, at the junction of the D264 and D63 roads....
, the pilot had suffered a head wound while the observer was shot through the abdomen. Soar also noted technical details of this DFW
DFW
DFW may refer to:*Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport*Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, a metropolitan area in north Texas*Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources*Division of Fisheries and Wildlife...
in the back of his log.
Soar seems to have been a favored wingman to the leading Australian ace Robert A. Little
Robert A. Little
Robert Alexander Little DSO & Bar, DSC & Bar is officially regarded as the most successful Australian flying ace of World War I, with a total of forty-seven aerial victories. Born in Victoria, he travelled to England in 1915 and learnt to fly at his own expense before joining the Royal Naval Air...
, as they each often mention one another in their logbooks.
By 22 July, Soar had raised his score to an even dozen, sharing some of his wins with Charles Dawson Booker
Charles Dawson Booker
Major Charles Dawson Booker DSC was a World War I fighter ace credited with 29 victories. He was promoted to high rank while relatively young as a result of his gallantry and unswerving dedication to his country.-Early life:Charles Dawson Booker was born to Joseph Dawson and Rachel C...
, Robert A. Little, and a couple of other squadronmates. Soar's final tally was two captured enemy reconnaissance planes shared with other pilots, a share in destroying a recon machine, and nine enemy planes driven down out of control. In official recognition of his exploits, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, gazetted 11 August 1917.
Post World War I
Flight Lieutenant Soar was appointed to a short service commission as a Flying OfficerFlying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
in the Royal Air Force on 7 April 1921.
Reginald Rhys Soar died in Martletwy, Wales in 1971.
Reference
- Franks, NormanNorman FranksNorman Leslie Robert Franks is an English writer who specialises in aviation books on the pilots and squadrons of World Wars I and II.-Biography:...
. Sopwith Triplane Aces of World War 1: Volume 62 of Aircraft of the Aces. Osprey Publishing, 2004. ISBN 184176728X, 9781841767284.
Endnotes
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