Roderic Dallas
Encyclopedia
Roderic Stanley Dallas DSO
, DSC
& Bar
(30 July 1891 – 1 June 1918) was an Australian fighter ace
of World War I
. His score of aerial victories is generally regarded as the second-highest by an Australian, after Robert Little
; however there is considerable dispute over Dallas's exact total. While his official score is commonly given as 39, claim-by-claim analyses list as few as 32, and other research credits him with over 50, compared to Little's official tally of 47. Like Little, Dallas flew with British units, rather than the Australian Flying Corps. Beyond his personal triumphs in combat, Dallas achieved success as a squadron leader, both in the air and on the ground. He was also an influential tactician and test pilot who trialled the latest British aeroplanes and flying equipment. His service spanned almost the entirety of World War I fighter aviation.
Born on a remote property in rural Queensland
, Dallas showed an early interest in aviation. He travelled to England at his own expense following the outbreak of World War I and became a pilot in the Royal Naval Air Service
(RNAS) in August 1915. Initially seeing action with No. 1 Naval Wing on the Western Front
in Caudrons
and Nieuport 11
s, he was chosen to test one of the earliest Sopwith Triplane
s. This became his favourite type, and he achieved many victories with it through 1916–17, earning the Distinguished Service Order
, and the Distinguished Service Cross
and Bar
. Appointed Commanding Officer of No. 1 Squadron RNAS
(formerly No. 1 Wing) in June 1917, he transferred to the newly established Royal Air Force
on 1 April 1918, taking charge of No. 40 Squadron
. Flying Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5
s, he achieved further victories before being killed in action on 1 June 1918 while on patrol near Liévin
in northern France. He was buried in Pernes
.
outside Esk
, Queensland, to labourer Peter MacArthur Dallas and his wife Honora. Mount Stanley was an isolated property, and journeys to and from Esk were long and infrequent; Stan was the first Caucasian child born at the station. His family moved to Tenterfield
, New South Wales, soon after the birth of his younger brother in 1893. They returned to Queensland in 1898, settling in Mount Morgan, where Peter Dallas became a shift boss at the local mines. Stan attended Mount Morgan Boy's School from February 1899 and eventually joined its cadet corps
, rising to Sergeant
. At school he was noted for his intelligence, ability to get along well with others, and quiet sense of humour. He enjoyed the outdoors, and spent many hours in the mountains behind his family's home, observing birds of prey
.
In July 1907, Dallas joined the assay office
of the Mount Morgan Gold Mining Company, and also enrolled in the local technical college, where he took night classes in chemistry and technical drawing. He showed an early interest in aviation, fuelled by the establishment in 1911 of the Mount Morgan chapter of the Queensland Aero Club. Dallas and his younger brother Norvel built a glider, which was wrecked by an untimely gust of wind the first time they tried to launch it. The two brothers continued to build model gliders after this initial disaster, however, and Stan corresponded with pioneer aviators in France, England, and the United States. He later transferred to a higher-paying job driving trucks for Iron Island ironstone quarries. Stan and Norvel once again built their own flying machine while Stan was working on Iron Island. They experimented with this seaplane on nearby Marble Island, notorious for its treacherous waters; Stan lost this aeroplane in the sea.
At 1.88 metre tall, and weighing 101 kg (222.7 lb), Dallas would later surprise observers with his ability to fit into the cramped cockpits of fighter planes. Despite his size, he was considered a fine athlete with quick reflexes. Although he could project a loud speaking voice, he was generally soft-spoken and was not known to curse or drink alcohol, nor often to smoke. Dallas stayed fit through regular exercise at the gym, and played rugby union
football. He had exceptionally keen eyesight, which he had trained by reading small print in newspapers at the six-foot length of his family's table. To balance out athletics, he participated in amateur theatrics, where his strong voice served him well.
in 1913, and was commissioned as a Lieutenant
prior to the outbreak of World War I
. Believing he had little chance of gaining a place in the newly established Australian Flying Corps, he applied to join the British Royal Flying Corps
(RFC), but was rejected. Undaunted, he travelled from Queensland to Melbourne, where he impressed Minister Without Portfolio J.A. Jensen
. Jensen gave the young aspirant a letter of introduction to the Australian High Commissioner in London, Sir George Reid
. Dallas paid his own passage to England and, once there, applied again to the RFC. Rejected again, he turned to the Royal Naval Air Service
(RNAS) and was accepted, topping the entrance examination over 83 other students. He was commissioned a Flight Sub-Lieutenant and began training at Hendon
in June 1915, gaining Pilot's License #1512 on 5 August. On 3 December, he began flying combat missions in Dunkirk, France, as a member of No. 1 Naval Wing (later redesignated as No. 1 Squadron), which operated two-seat Caudrons
and single-seat Nieuport 11
s. Early in his career with No. 1 Squadron, a practical jokester imitating the squadron's Commanding Officer telephoned Dallas, who was the duty officer, and peremptorily ordered him to take off in a propellerless Breguet. Upon learning that he had been tricked, Dallas joined in the laughter. He not only accepted the resulting nickname of "Breguet", but also used it as a signature on his letters home later in the war. Having made two unconfirmed claims in February 1916, Dallas scored his first confirmed victory on 23 April. He outmaneuvred a German Aviatik C
and shot it out of control, following his victim down to 2,000 feet, though heavy anti-aircraft fire holed his plane in several places. He went on to score three more confirmed victories with his Nieuport.
On 23 June 1916, Dallas took delivery of the newest RNAS fighter, Sopwith Triplane
#N500. This was the original prototype, having undergone Admiralty
trials before being shipped to France. Though still only a test plane, it was flown into combat 15 minutes after its arrival. Dallas named it Brown Bread, and it was the first of a series of 'Tripes' that he would fly and fight in over the next year. He won his first victory with Brown Bread on 1 July, the same day he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant
. Three days later, he was recommended for further promotion. He scored his last Nieuport-mounted 'kill' on 9 July, earning the Croix de guerre and a Mention in Despatches for coming to the aid of a French Maurice Farman biplane. On 7 September 1916, Dallas was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
, "for the specially gallant manner in which he has carried out his duties" since first seeing action in December 1915. By the end of the year he was among the earliest RNAS aces, with eight confirmed and four unconfirmed victories, and had been raised to the rank of Flight Commander.
Dallas became one of the best-known pilots of Sopwith Triplanes in the RNAS. He opened 1917 by setting an altitude record of 26,000 feet in the Triplane while testing a prototype oxygen set; he endured frostbite and oxygen intoxication in the process. By now No. 1 Squadron had totally re-equipped with production Triplanes. It also shifted airfields from Veurne
in Belgium to Chipilly
in France, leaving behind RNAS control by transferring to No. 14 Wing, 4th Brigade of the RFC. Formation flying became the order of the day, as the practice of fighter pilots soloing into combat dwindled. The last three weeks of March were also filled with Dallas's responsibilities for flight and gunnery testing. As British losses in the air began to mount during Bloody April
, Dallas and his squadron moved airfields once again, to La Bellevue. They were thus positioned to take a prominent part in the subsequent Battle of Arras
, where the intense aerial fighting saw Dallas add to his burgeoning score. The combat of 23 April became known as one of the classic air battles of the war. Dallas and his wingman Thomas Culling
took on a squadron-sized formation of 14 German aircraft, having gained an altitude edge over their foes. The naval aces exploited this edge by making quick diving attacks from opposite sides, culminating in short bursts of machine-gun fire. Using the Triplane's superior climbing ability, they would then bob back up to position themselves for the next assault. In contrast to the usual hit-and-run tactics of most dogfights, the RNAS duo launched at least 20 gunnery runs over 45 minutes. The Germans were forced progressively lower, into disarray, and then chased back over their own lines. While they shot down three of the Germans, Dallas and Culling also achieved a more important outcome by blocking and then breaking up a determined enemy effort against the British ground offensive. The action led to the award of a Bar
to the Distinguished Service Cross for Dallas, and a Distinguished Service Cross for Culling, which were gazetted on 29 June.
. As a leader, Dallas made a point of shepherding new pilots through their first flights, and even setting them up with their first victories by manouvring enemy aircraft into a good position for the rookie to take a shot. On the ground, he proved to be an efficient organiser, designing and directing construction of the new air base. It was also during this time that he wrote a treatise on air combat tactics, extracts of which have survived. Both the air base layout and the treatise displayed his talent as a sketch artist. On 2 November, No. 1 Squadron moved airfields once more, to Middle Aerodrome, which put it back under overall RNAS control. The unit received its first eight new Sopwith Camel
s on 9 November as replacements for the Triplanes. On 11 November, Dallas was again Mentioned in Despatches, this time by Field Marshal Haig
. After gaining its full complement of Camels, No. 1 Squadron was transferred to England, and took up home defence duties at Dover
. On 16 February 1918, Dallas led his squadron back to France, where it was based at Téteghem
, supporting units on operations along the Belgian coast. He commanded it for another six weeks, until 31 March.
As part of the amalgamation of the RFC and RNAS to form the Royal Air Force
, on 1 April 1918 Dallas was promoted to Major
and given command of No. 40 Squadron RAF
, flying Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5
s. The squadron boasted a number of aces in its ranks, and its former RFC members were suspicious of Dallas's naval background. However, he was able to overcome their misgivings and established himself as the new CO with his personal demeanour and courage; the nickname of "Admiral" that they bestowed upon him was an affectionate one. Ten days after taking over, he had adapted well enough to his new mount with its inline engine
to score his first victory with his new unit. His men also saw that he would not only look out for his rookie pilots, but would not shirk the dangers of ground attack sorties. His offhand attitude toward two leg wounds he received during a strafing mission on 14 April, after which he made "a perfect landing", especially impressed his subordinates, as did his appreciation of all ranks for their hard work. His studious bent continued to serve him; he kept notes on his methods of attacking enemy aircraft, which often exploited their structural weaknesses, and used them to tutor pilots under his command.
Dallas was briefly hospitalised with the wounds to his thigh and heel on 14 April, but snuck out four days later to rejoin his squadron. His departure may have been spurred by news of the capture of his friend Richard Minifie
. As soon as he was able, Dallas was flying again. By 26 April, he had increased his official score to 37, and been awarded the Distinguished Service Order
for operations at Dunkirk. He had also several times been recommended for the Victoria Cross
, but it was never approved. His casual attitude towards claiming victories was noted by a member of No. 40 Squadron, Cecil Usher, who related that Dallas once remarked of an opponent, "...he went down belching a lot of black smoke and after he had gone down someways one of his planes came off, but I didn't see him crash so I shan't claim him." On 2 May, during a lull in the fighting at Flanders
, Dallas took off in his S.E.5 to engage in a taunting practical joke on his foes. He strafed the German base at La Brayelle to "attract attention" before dropping a package on the aerodrome with a note reading, "If you won't come up here and fight, herewith a pair of boots for work on the ground, pilots for the use of". He then circled in mist until troops came to examine the bundle, whereupon he dropped two bombs and again shot up the base, causing "general panic". News of this singular exploit reportedly provoked laughter from Field Marshal Haig and RAF founder General Sir Hugh Trenchard
, two men not known for their sense of humour. While adding to his score and leading his squadron into combat, Dallas had begun thinking beyond the war. He was pleading with his father to quit the dangerous job of mining, with hints that he would support his parents by pioneering aviation in Australia. He also harboured a long-standing ambition of flying from England back to Australia, which would be a record-setting journey.
and appointed to the command of a wing, but would never see the message from headquarters that arrived on 1 June 1918 advising him of the promotion and ordering him to cease flying. He disappeared on a solo mission the same day. It was later learned that he had been killed over Lievin
during combat with three Fokker Triplanes
from Jagdstaffel 14, probably by its Commander, Leutnant Johannes Werner. There are various theories as to how he died. The common elements are that he was on patrol near the front line when he pounced on a German plane flying at a lower level, that there might have been another unknown British pilot in trouble, and that the Germans who shot Dallas down had dived from a still higher altitude. Medics near his crash site at Absalom Trench ventured into no man's land
and retrieved his body, while a patrol of eight volunteers salvaged his personal effects from the fallen aircraft. News of Dallas's death was greeted with shock and disbelief by his squadron, one pilot recording:
The British magazine Aeroplane later paid tribute to him in an editorial:
For his record in aerial combat and his leadership skills, Dallas has been compared to the "Red Baron", Manfred von Richthofen
. The former flew combat for 29 months, and the latter for 31 months, if his three months in hospital are deducted. Dallas successfully led two different squadrons during his career, and was killed just before assuming command of a wing. Richthofen led first a squadron, then a wing during his 12 months in command, again excluding hospital time; he achieved more victories, but had the tactical advantage of fighting over his own lines with the wind in his favour. Dallas flew a score of different types of Allied aircraft, as well as captured German planes; he was also instrumental in developing the Sopwith Triplane. Richthofen flew the Fokker copy of the Sopwith, and helped develop the Fokker D.VII
, but did not live to fly it into battle.
Stan Dallas was buried at the Pernes British Cemetery, France, in Lot 38, Row E of Plot II. In addition to his military decorations, he was honoured with a Gold Medal by the Aéro-Club de France
, and a Bronze Medal and Diploma by the Aero Club of America
. The town of Toogoolawah, Queensland, commemorated him in the name of its airport, and the national capitol of Canberra
remembered him with Dallas Place. His home town of Mount Morgan has dedicated a water reservoir in his honour; its Historical Society Museum holds his medals, uniform, and sword, as well the propeller from one of his planes.
—who was credited with 47—among Australian aces. However, Dallas's unofficial tally has been estimated at over 50. This list is a compilation of claim-by-claim analyses that follow, as much as possible, the British system of confirming victory: pilot log entries and/or combat reports did not count, unless verified by squadron or higher levels of command. Thus, inclusion of a confirmed victory in this list has depended on verification by the Squadron Record Book, and/or by RNAS/RAF Communique or other reliable secondary source verification. Victories not confirmed by these methods are marked "u/c".
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, DSC
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
& Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
(30 July 1891 – 1 June 1918) was an Australian fighter ace
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...
of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. His score of aerial victories is generally regarded as the second-highest by an Australian, after Robert 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...
; however there is considerable dispute over Dallas's exact total. While his official score is commonly given as 39, claim-by-claim analyses list as few as 32, and other research credits him with over 50, compared to Little's official tally of 47. Like Little, Dallas flew with British units, rather than the Australian Flying Corps. Beyond his personal triumphs in combat, Dallas achieved success as a squadron leader, both in the air and on the ground. He was also an influential tactician and test pilot who trialled the latest British aeroplanes and flying equipment. His service spanned almost the entirety of World War I fighter aviation.
Born on a remote property in rural Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Dallas showed an early interest in aviation. He travelled to England at his own expense following the outbreak of World War I and became a pilot in 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...
(RNAS) in August 1915. Initially seeing action with No. 1 Naval Wing on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
in Caudrons
Caudron G.4
|-References:*Donald, David . The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Leicester, UK: Blitz Editions, 1997. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.* Kalevi Keskinen, Kyösti Partonen, Kari Stenman: Suomen Ilmavoimat I 1918-27, 2005. ISBN 952-99432-2-9....
and Nieuport 11
Nieuport 11
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Angelucci, Enzio, ed. The Rand McNally Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft. New York: The Military Press, 1983. ISBN 0-517-41021-4....
s, he was chosen to test one of the earliest 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...
s. This became his favourite type, and he achieved many victories with it through 1916–17, earning the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, and the Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
and Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
. Appointed Commanding Officer of No. 1 Squadron RNAS
No. 201 Squadron RAF
No. 201 Squadron of the Royal Air Force, until March 2010, operated the Nimrod MR2, based at RAF Kinloss, Moray. It is the only squadron affiliated with Guernsey, in the Channel Islands. This affiliation started in 1935 and is commemorated in the museum on Castle Cornet. Its history goes even...
(formerly No. 1 Wing) in June 1917, he transferred to the newly established Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
on 1 April 1918, taking charge of No. 40 Squadron
No. 40 Squadron RAF
No. 40 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was formed in 1916 at Gosport as No 40 Squadron RFC and was disbanded for the last time in 1957.Edward Mannock gained 16 of his 73 victories while with 40 Squadron, 15 of which he shot down while flying a Nieuport Scout...
. Flying Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5
The Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 was a British biplane fighter aircraft of the First World War. Although the first examples reached the Western Front before the Sopwith Camel and it had a much better overall performance, problems with its Hispano-Suiza engine, particularly the geared-output H-S...
s, he achieved further victories before being killed in action on 1 June 1918 while on patrol near Liévin
Liévin
Liévin is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France.-Overview:The city of Liévin is an old mining city of Pas-de-Calais. Near Lens, this modest-sized city nevertheless has several nursery schools, schools, colleges, a university, a swimming pool, a city library, a cultural and...
in northern France. He was buried in Pernes
Pernes, Pas-de-Calais
Pernes is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography and Access:Pernes lies halfway between Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise and Lillers, on the junction of the D70 and D916 roads...
.
Early life
Stan Dallas was born on 30 July 1891 at Mount Stanley stationStation (Australian agriculture)
Station is the term for a large Australian landholding used for livestock production. It corresponds to the North American term ranch or South American estancia...
outside Esk
Esk, Queensland
Esk is a town in the West Moreton region of South East Queensland, approximately 90 km northwest of Ipswich on the Brisbane Valley Highway. It was named after the River Esk in Scotland and England. It is the administrative centre of the Somerset Region...
, Queensland, to labourer Peter MacArthur Dallas and his wife Honora. Mount Stanley was an isolated property, and journeys to and from Esk were long and infrequent; Stan was the first Caucasian child born at the station. His family moved to Tenterfield
Tenterfield, New South Wales
Tenterfield is a town in New South Wales, Australia. It is located in the New England region at the intersection of the New England and Bruxner Highways. Tenterfield is a three-hour drive from Brisbane, 2.5 hours from Byron Bay, two hours from Armidale, New South Wales and 10 hours from Sydney....
, New South Wales, soon after the birth of his younger brother in 1893. They returned to Queensland in 1898, settling in Mount Morgan, where Peter Dallas became a shift boss at the local mines. Stan attended Mount Morgan Boy's School from February 1899 and eventually joined its cadet corps
Australian Army Cadets
The Australian Army Cadets is a youth organisation that is involved with progressive training of youths in military and adventurous activities. The programme has more than 19,000 Army Cadets between the ages of 12½ and 19 based in 236 units around Australia...
, rising to Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
. At school he was noted for his intelligence, ability to get along well with others, and quiet sense of humour. He enjoyed the outdoors, and spent many hours in the mountains behind his family's home, observing birds of prey
Bird of prey
Birds of prey are birds that hunt for food primarily on the wing, using their keen senses, especially vision. They are defined as birds that primarily hunt vertebrates, including other birds. Their talons and beaks tend to be relatively large, powerful and adapted for tearing and/or piercing flesh....
.
In July 1907, Dallas joined the assay office
Assay office
Assay offices are institutions set up to assay precious metals, in order to protect consumers. Upon successful completion of an assay, Assay offices are institutions set up to assay (test the purity of) precious metals, in order to protect consumers. Upon successful completion of an assay, Assay...
of the Mount Morgan Gold Mining Company, and also enrolled in the local technical college, where he took night classes in chemistry and technical drawing. He showed an early interest in aviation, fuelled by the establishment in 1911 of the Mount Morgan chapter of the Queensland Aero Club. Dallas and his younger brother Norvel built a glider, which was wrecked by an untimely gust of wind the first time they tried to launch it. The two brothers continued to build model gliders after this initial disaster, however, and Stan corresponded with pioneer aviators in France, England, and the United States. He later transferred to a higher-paying job driving trucks for Iron Island ironstone quarries. Stan and Norvel once again built their own flying machine while Stan was working on Iron Island. They experimented with this seaplane on nearby Marble Island, notorious for its treacherous waters; Stan lost this aeroplane in the sea.
At 1.88 metre tall, and weighing 101 kg (222.7 lb), Dallas would later surprise observers with his ability to fit into the cramped cockpits of fighter planes. Despite his size, he was considered a fine athlete with quick reflexes. Although he could project a loud speaking voice, he was generally soft-spoken and was not known to curse or drink alcohol, nor often to smoke. Dallas stayed fit through regular exercise at the gym, and played rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
football. He had exceptionally keen eyesight, which he had trained by reading small print in newspapers at the six-foot length of his family's table. To balance out athletics, he participated in amateur theatrics, where his strong voice served him well.
Rise to flying ace
Dallas joined the Port Curtis MilitiaAustralian Army Reserve
The Australian Army Reserve is a collective name given to the reserve units of the Australian Army. Since the Federation of Australia in 1901, the reserve military force has been known by many names, including the Citizens Forces, the Citizen Military Forces, the Militia and, unofficially, the...
in 1913, and was commissioned as a Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
prior to the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Believing he had little chance of gaining a place in the newly established Australian Flying Corps, he applied to join the British Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
(RFC), but was rejected. Undaunted, he travelled from Queensland to Melbourne, where he impressed Minister Without Portfolio J.A. Jensen
Jens Jensen
Jens August Jensen was an Australian politician and Minister for the Navy.Jensen was born in Ballarat, Victoria and educated at Ballarat, leaving school at 11. He became a rabbit-hawker and miner at Beaconsfield, Tasmania. In July 1885 he married Elizabeth Frances Broadhurst; she died in 1894...
. Jensen gave the young aspirant a letter of introduction to the Australian High Commissioner in London, Sir George Reid
George Reid (Australian politician)
Sir George Houstoun Reid, GCB, GCMG, KC was an Australian politician, Premier of New South Wales and the fourth Prime Minister of Australia....
. Dallas paid his own passage to England and, once there, applied again to the RFC. Rejected again, he turned to 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...
(RNAS) and was accepted, topping the entrance examination over 83 other students. He was commissioned a Flight Sub-Lieutenant and began training at Hendon
Hendon Aerodrome
Hendon Aerodrome was an aerodrome in Hendon, north London, England that, between 1908 and 1968, was an important centre for aviation.It was situated in Colindale, seven miles north west of Charing Cross. It nearly became "the Charing Cross of the UK's international air routes", but for the...
in June 1915, gaining Pilot's License #1512 on 5 August. On 3 December, he began flying combat missions in Dunkirk, France, as a member of No. 1 Naval Wing (later redesignated as No. 1 Squadron), which operated two-seat Caudrons
Caudron G.4
|-References:*Donald, David . The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Leicester, UK: Blitz Editions, 1997. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.* Kalevi Keskinen, Kyösti Partonen, Kari Stenman: Suomen Ilmavoimat I 1918-27, 2005. ISBN 952-99432-2-9....
and single-seat Nieuport 11
Nieuport 11
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Angelucci, Enzio, ed. The Rand McNally Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft. New York: The Military Press, 1983. ISBN 0-517-41021-4....
s. Early in his career with No. 1 Squadron, a practical jokester imitating the squadron's Commanding Officer telephoned Dallas, who was the duty officer, and peremptorily ordered him to take off in a propellerless Breguet. Upon learning that he had been tricked, Dallas joined in the laughter. He not only accepted the resulting nickname of "Breguet", but also used it as a signature on his letters home later in the war. Having made two unconfirmed claims in February 1916, Dallas scored his first confirmed victory on 23 April. He outmaneuvred a German Aviatik C
Aviatik
Automobil und Aviatik AG was a German aircraft manufacturer during World War I. The company was established at Mülhausen in 1910 and soon became one of the country's leading producers of aircraft, relocating to Freiburg in 1914 and establishing a subsidiary in Vienna as Österreichisch-Ungarische...
and shot it out of control, following his victim down to 2,000 feet, though heavy anti-aircraft fire holed his plane in several places. He went on to score three more confirmed victories with his Nieuport.
On 23 June 1916, Dallas took delivery of the newest RNAS fighter, 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...
#N500. This was the original prototype, having undergone Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
trials before being shipped to France. Though still only a test plane, it was flown into combat 15 minutes after its arrival. Dallas named it Brown Bread, and it was the first of a series of 'Tripes' that he would fly and fight in over the next year. He won his first victory with Brown Bread on 1 July, the same day he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
. Three days later, he was recommended for further promotion. He scored his last Nieuport-mounted 'kill' on 9 July, earning the Croix de guerre and a Mention in Despatches for coming to the aid of a French Maurice Farman biplane. On 7 September 1916, Dallas was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
, "for the specially gallant manner in which he has carried out his duties" since first seeing action in December 1915. By the end of the year he was among the earliest RNAS aces, with eight confirmed and four unconfirmed victories, and had been raised to the rank of Flight Commander.
Dallas became one of the best-known pilots of Sopwith Triplanes in the RNAS. He opened 1917 by setting an altitude record of 26,000 feet in the Triplane while testing a prototype oxygen set; he endured frostbite and oxygen intoxication in the process. By now No. 1 Squadron had totally re-equipped with production Triplanes. It also shifted airfields from Veurne
Veurne
Veurne is a city and municipality in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the town of Veurne proper and the settlements of Avekapelle, Booitshoeke, Bulskamp, De Moeren, Eggewaartskapelle, Houtem, Steenkerke, Vinkem, Wulveringem, and Zoutenaaie.-Origins in the 15th...
in Belgium to Chipilly
Chipilly
Chipilly is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Chipilly is situated on the D71 road, on the opposite bank of the river Somme from Cerisy, to the east of Amiens and from Albert.-Population:-External links:*...
in France, leaving behind RNAS control by transferring to No. 14 Wing, 4th Brigade of the RFC. Formation flying became the order of the day, as the practice of fighter pilots soloing into combat dwindled. The last three weeks of March were also filled with Dallas's responsibilities for flight and gunnery testing. As British losses in the air began to mount 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...
, Dallas and his squadron moved airfields once again, to La Bellevue. They were thus positioned to take a prominent part in the subsequent Battle of Arras
Battle of Arras (1917)
The Battle of Arras was a British offensive during the First World War. From 9 April to 16 May 1917, British, Canadian, New Zealand, Newfoundland, and Australian troops attacked German trenches near the French city of Arras on the Western Front....
, where the intense aerial fighting saw Dallas add to his burgeoning score. The combat of 23 April became known as one of the classic air battles of the war. Dallas and his wingman Thomas Culling
Thomas Culling
Flight Sub-Lieutenant Thomas Grey Culling was New Zealand's first World War I flying ace, and was credited with six aerial victories.Culling was assigned to fly Sopwith Triplane No. N5444 with 1 Naval Squadron after joining the Royal Naval Air Service in 1916. He began to score victories in Bloody...
took on a squadron-sized formation of 14 German aircraft, having gained an altitude edge over their foes. The naval aces exploited this edge by making quick diving attacks from opposite sides, culminating in short bursts of machine-gun fire. Using the Triplane's superior climbing ability, they would then bob back up to position themselves for the next assault. In contrast to the usual hit-and-run tactics of most dogfights, the RNAS duo launched at least 20 gunnery runs over 45 minutes. The Germans were forced progressively lower, into disarray, and then chased back over their own lines. While they shot down three of the Germans, Dallas and Culling also achieved a more important outcome by blocking and then breaking up a determined enemy effort against the British ground offensive. The action led to the award of a Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
to the Distinguished Service Cross for Dallas, and a Distinguished Service Cross for Culling, which were gazetted on 29 June.
Squadron command
By June 1917, Dallas had achieved over 20 victories in aerial combat. This experience, and his leadership ability, led to his appointment as Commanding Officer of No. 1 Naval Squadron on 23 June 1917. The unit had been forced to cut back its operational strength from 18 aircraft to 15 due to lack of pilot replacements and a shortage of spare parts for the aging Triplanes. It had also moved airfields, to an unprepared site at BailleulBailleul, Somme
Bailleul is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Situated in the west of the department, 5 miles to the south of Abbeville, on the D93 road.-Population:-External links:* * * *...
. As a leader, Dallas made a point of shepherding new pilots through their first flights, and even setting them up with their first victories by manouvring enemy aircraft into a good position for the rookie to take a shot. On the ground, he proved to be an efficient organiser, designing and directing construction of the new air base. It was also during this time that he wrote a treatise on air combat tactics, extracts of which have survived. Both the air base layout and the treatise displayed his talent as a sketch artist. On 2 November, No. 1 Squadron moved airfields once more, to Middle Aerodrome, which put it back under overall RNAS control. The unit received its first eight new 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...
s on 9 November as replacements for the Triplanes. On 11 November, Dallas was again Mentioned in Despatches, this time by Field Marshal Haig
Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig
Field Marshal Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig, KT, GCB, OM, GCVO, KCIE, ADC, was a British senior officer during World War I. He commanded the British Expeditionary Force from 1915 to the end of the War...
. After gaining its full complement of Camels, No. 1 Squadron was transferred to England, and took up home defence duties at Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
. On 16 February 1918, Dallas led his squadron back to France, where it was based at Téteghem
Téteghem
Téteghem is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.-History:Téteghem is one of the common ending HEM. This suffix meaning house, dwelling, village ... became Ghem. Tete would come from an ancestor's name Tatto, perhaps, or Theodore Theodoric, personified by the giant of the town....
, supporting units on operations along the Belgian coast. He commanded it for another six weeks, until 31 March.
As part of the amalgamation of the RFC and RNAS to form the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, on 1 April 1918 Dallas was promoted to 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. ...
and given command of No. 40 Squadron RAF
No. 40 Squadron RAF
No. 40 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was formed in 1916 at Gosport as No 40 Squadron RFC and was disbanded for the last time in 1957.Edward Mannock gained 16 of his 73 victories while with 40 Squadron, 15 of which he shot down while flying a Nieuport Scout...
, flying Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5
The Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 was a British biplane fighter aircraft of the First World War. Although the first examples reached the Western Front before the Sopwith Camel and it had a much better overall performance, problems with its Hispano-Suiza engine, particularly the geared-output H-S...
s. The squadron boasted a number of aces in its ranks, and its former RFC members were suspicious of Dallas's naval background. However, he was able to overcome their misgivings and established himself as the new CO with his personal demeanour and courage; the nickname of "Admiral" that they bestowed upon him was an affectionate one. Ten days after taking over, he had adapted well enough to his new mount with its inline engine
Inline engine (aviation)
In aviation, an inline engine means any reciprocating engine with banks rather than rows of cylinders, including straight engines, flat engines, V engines and H engines, but excluding radial engines and rotary engines....
to score his first victory with his new unit. His men also saw that he would not only look out for his rookie pilots, but would not shirk the dangers of ground attack sorties. His offhand attitude toward two leg wounds he received during a strafing mission on 14 April, after which he made "a perfect landing", especially impressed his subordinates, as did his appreciation of all ranks for their hard work. His studious bent continued to serve him; he kept notes on his methods of attacking enemy aircraft, which often exploited their structural weaknesses, and used them to tutor pilots under his command.
Dallas was briefly hospitalised with the wounds to his thigh and heel on 14 April, but snuck out four days later to rejoin his squadron. His departure may have been spurred by news of the capture of his friend Richard Minifie
Richard Minifie
Richard Pearman Minifie DSC & Two Bars was an Australian fighter pilot and flying ace of the First World War. Born in Victoria, he attended Melbourne Church of England Grammar School. Travelling to the United Kingdom, he enlisted in the Royal Naval Air Service in June 1916...
. As soon as he was able, Dallas was flying again. By 26 April, he had increased his official score to 37, and been awarded the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
for operations at Dunkirk. He had also several times been recommended for the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, but it was never approved. His casual attitude towards claiming victories was noted by a member of No. 40 Squadron, Cecil Usher, who related that Dallas once remarked of an opponent, "...he went down belching a lot of black smoke and after he had gone down someways one of his planes came off, but I didn't see him crash so I shan't claim him." On 2 May, during a lull in the fighting at Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, Dallas took off in his S.E.5 to engage in a taunting practical joke on his foes. He strafed the German base at La Brayelle to "attract attention" before dropping a package on the aerodrome with a note reading, "If you won't come up here and fight, herewith a pair of boots for work on the ground, pilots for the use of". He then circled in mist until troops came to examine the bundle, whereupon he dropped two bombs and again shot up the base, causing "general panic". News of this singular exploit reportedly provoked laughter from Field Marshal Haig and RAF founder General Sir Hugh Trenchard
Hugh Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard
Marshal of the Royal Air Force Hugh Montague Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard GCB OM GCVO DSO was a British officer who was instrumental in establishing the Royal Air Force...
, two men not known for their sense of humour. While adding to his score and leading his squadron into combat, Dallas had begun thinking beyond the war. He was pleading with his father to quit the dangerous job of mining, with hints that he would support his parents by pioneering aviation in Australia. He also harboured a long-standing ambition of flying from England back to Australia, which would be a record-setting journey.
Death and legacy
Dallas was raised to Lieutenant ColonelLieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
and appointed to the command of a wing, but would never see the message from headquarters that arrived on 1 June 1918 advising him of the promotion and ordering him to cease flying. He disappeared on a solo mission the same day. It was later learned that he had been killed over Lievin
Liévin
Liévin is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France.-Overview:The city of Liévin is an old mining city of Pas-de-Calais. Near Lens, this modest-sized city nevertheless has several nursery schools, schools, colleges, a university, a swimming pool, a city library, a cultural and...
during combat with three Fokker Triplanes
Fokker Dr.I
The Fokker Dr.I Dreidecker was a World War I fighter aircraft built by Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. The Dr.I saw widespread service in the spring of 1918...
from Jagdstaffel 14, probably by its Commander, Leutnant Johannes Werner. There are various theories as to how he died. The common elements are that he was on patrol near the front line when he pounced on a German plane flying at a lower level, that there might have been another unknown British pilot in trouble, and that the Germans who shot Dallas down had dived from a still higher altitude. Medics near his crash site at Absalom Trench ventured into no man's land
No man's land
No man's land is a term for land that is unoccupied or is under dispute between parties that leave it unoccupied due to fear or uncertainty. The term was originally used to define a contested territory or a dumping ground for refuse between fiefdoms...
and retrieved his body, while a patrol of eight volunteers salvaged his personal effects from the fallen aircraft. News of Dallas's death was greeted with shock and disbelief by his squadron, one pilot recording:
The British magazine Aeroplane later paid tribute to him in an editorial:
For his record in aerial combat and his leadership skills, Dallas has been compared to the "Red Baron", Manfred von Richthofen
Manfred von Richthofen
Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen , also widely known as the Red Baron, was a German fighter pilot with the Imperial German Army Air Service during World War I...
. The former flew combat for 29 months, and the latter for 31 months, if his three months in hospital are deducted. Dallas successfully led two different squadrons during his career, and was killed just before assuming command of a wing. Richthofen led first a squadron, then a wing during his 12 months in command, again excluding hospital time; he achieved more victories, but had the tactical advantage of fighting over his own lines with the wind in his favour. Dallas flew a score of different types of Allied aircraft, as well as captured German planes; he was also instrumental in developing the Sopwith Triplane. Richthofen flew the Fokker copy of the Sopwith, and helped develop the Fokker D.VII
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...
, but did not live to fly it into battle.
Stan Dallas was buried at the Pernes British Cemetery, France, in Lot 38, Row E of Plot II. In addition to his military decorations, he was honoured with a Gold Medal by the Aéro-Club de France
Aéro-Club de France
The Aéro-Club de France was founded as the Aéro-Club on 20 October 1898 as a society 'to encourage aerial locomotion' by Ernest Archdeacon, Léon Serpollet, Henri de la Valette, Jules Verne and his wife, André Michelin, Albert de Dion, Alberto Santos-Dumont, Henry Deutsch de la Meurthe, and Henry de...
, and a Bronze Medal and Diploma by the Aero Club of America
Aero Club of America
The Aero Club of America was a social club formed in 1905 by Charles Glidden and others to promote aviation in America. It was the parent organization of numerous state chapters, the first being the Aero Club of New England. It thrived until 1923, when it transformed into the National Aeronautic...
. The town of Toogoolawah, Queensland, commemorated him in the name of its airport, and the national capitol of Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
remembered him with Dallas Place. His home town of Mount Morgan has dedicated a water reservoir in his honour; its Historical Society Museum holds his medals, uniform, and sword, as well the propeller from one of his planes.
List of victories
Historians have struggled to develop a definitive list of Dallas's victories; Adrian Hellwig, in the bibliography to his 2006 biography, lists over a dozen previous historians that have investigated the subject. He also refers to his difficulties in reconciling previous accounts. While various claim-by-claim analyses ascribe Dallas a score of 32 aircraft shot down, he was officially credited with 39, and with being second only to Robert LittleRobert 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...
—who was credited with 47—among Australian aces. However, Dallas's unofficial tally has been estimated at over 50. This list is a compilation of claim-by-claim analyses that follow, as much as possible, the British system of confirming victory: pilot log entries and/or combat reports did not count, unless verified by squadron or higher levels of command. Thus, inclusion of a confirmed victory in this list has depended on verification by the Squadron Record Book, and/or by RNAS/RAF Communique or other reliable secondary source verification. Victories not confirmed by these methods are marked "u/c".
| No. | Date/time | Aircraft | Foe | Result | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| u/c | 6 February 1916 | Nieuport 10 #3968 | LVG | Indecisive | Germans dove away after Dallas hit the observer, and possibly the pilot. | |
| 1 | 20 February 1916 | Nieuport 11 #3981 | C type | Destroyed | Germans fled scene after observer was hit. | |
| 2 | 23 April 1916 | Nieuport 11 #3987 | Aviatik C | Out of control | Middelkerke | As verified by Naval Communique. |
| 3 | 11 May 1916 | Nieuport 11 | Aviatik C | Destroyed | Dallas's solo attack hit both pilot and observer. | |
| 4 | 20 May 1916 | Nieuport 11 #3933 | Friedrichshafen FF33 | Destroyed | Off Blankenberghe | Dallas shot down and sank a seaplane. |
| 5 | 21 May 1916 | Nieuport 11 | Albatros C-III | Destroyed | North of Dunkirk | Dallas's solo attack on seven Germans sent one down in smoke. |
| u/c | 22 May 1916 | Destroyed | Wing of enemy plane crumpled and it spun. | |||
| u/c | 11 June 1916 | Nieuport | Fokker Eindekker | Destroyed | Dallas supposedly downed an attacking German after his own plane's engine had been hit. | |
| 6 | 1 July 1916 | Sopwith Triplane #N500 | Unidentified 2-seater (large brown biplane) | Out of control | Off La Panne | Dallas downed German despite gun jam; confirmed by French artillery officer. |
| 7 | 9 July 1916 | Nieuport 11 | Fokker E-III | Destroyed | Mariakerke | Pilot killed. |
| u/c | 9 July 1916 | Nieuport 11 | Large enemy biplane | Inconclusive | Mariakerke | Per Squadron Record Book; Dallas fired into German, who dove erratically away. |
| 8 | 30 September 1916 | Sopwith Triplane #N500 | Unidentified scout | Out of control | Southwest of St Pierre Capelle | Verified by Squadron Record Book. |
| 9 | 21 October 1916 | Sopwith Triplane #N500 | LVG 2-seater | Destroyed | Vicinity of Pervaise | Verified by Squadron Record Book. |
| u/c | 27 January 1917 | Sopwith Triplane #N5436 | 2-seater | Enemy aircraft departed in steep dive. | Near Dixmude | Royal Naval Air Service Summary: "not verified". |
| 10 | 1 February 1917 | Sopwith Triplane #N5436 | LVG C-type | Destroyed | North of Dixmude | Verified by Squadron Record Book. |
| 11 | 5 April 1917 | Sopwith Triplane #N5436 | Albatros D-II | Out of control | East-Southeast of St. Quentin | Combat Report verified by Squadron Record Book. |
| 12 | 6 April 1917 | Sopwith Triplane #5436 | Albatros fighter | Out of control | Thomas Culling Thomas Culling Flight Sub-Lieutenant Thomas Grey Culling was New Zealand's first World War I flying ace, and was credited with six aerial victories.Culling was assigned to fly Sopwith Triplane No. N5444 with 1 Naval Squadron after joining the Royal Naval Air Service in 1916. He began to score victories in Bloody... scored in same fight, and had victory recorded on this date. |
|
| 13 | 8 April 1917 | Sopwith Triplane #N5436 | Albatros C-type | Out of control | E of Cambrai | Per Squadron Record Book, Combat Report counter-signed by witness and squadron commander. |
| 2 u/c | 16 April 1917 and 19 April 1917 | Sopwith Triplane #N5436 | These victories are only in Dallas's logbook. They immediately followed his squadron's change of home airfields. | |||
| 14 | 21 April 1917 | Sopwith Triplane #N5436 | Albatros Scout | Out of control | Per Squadron Record Book. This victory is sometimes mistakenly dated 22 April 1917. | |
| 15 and 16 | 22 April 1917 | Sopwith Triplane #N5436 | Two Albatros D-IIIs | Destroyed; set on fire and destroyed | Arleux | Dallas and wingman Thomas Culling constantly attacked 14 German airplanes for 45 minutes, per Squadron Record Book and Royal Flying Corps Communique #85. |
| 17 | 23 April 1917 | Sopwith Triplane #N5436 | Albatros C-type | Destroyed | Near Douai | Per Dallas's Official Service Record and Squadron Record Book. |
| 18 | 23 April 1917 | Sopwith Triplane #N5436 | Unidentified two-seater | Set afire and destroyed | Near Douai | Per Dallas's Official Service Record and Squadron Record Book. |
| 19 | 24 April 1917 | Sopwith Triplane #N5436 | Albatros D.III | Out of control | SE of Lens | Per Squadron Record Book and Combat Report; pilot hit. |
| 20 and 21 | 30 April 1917 | Sopwith Triplane #N5436 | Rumpler C-type; "German Nieuport" | Destroyed; out of control | Near Haynecourt | Per Squadron Record Book. |
| 22 | 5 May 1917 | Sopwith Triplane #N5436 | Albatros D-III | Out of control | 4 miles E of Lens | Per Squadron Record Book. |
| 23 | 6 May 1917 | Sopwith Triplane | Albatros D-III | Out of control | Confirmed by Dallas's Official Service Record. | |
| 24 | 9 May 1917 | Sopwith Triplane | Two-seater | Out of control | Near Vitry | Confirmed by Dallas's Official Service Record; German observer killed. |
| 25 | 19 May 1917 | Sopwith Triplane | Albatros D-III | Out of control | Henin-Lietard | Victory witnessed by Flight Sub-Lieutenant Cyril Ridley Cyril Ridley Flight Lieutenant Cyril Ridley, DSC was a British World War I flying ace. He served with the Royal Naval Air Service in 1917/1918, flying Sopwith Triplanes and Sopwith Camels.-Early life:... . |
| u/c | 16 June 1917 | Sopwith Triplane | Aviatik | Dallas's first possible victory as Squadron Commander. | ||
| 3 u/c | 22 June 1917; one in AM and two in PM | Sopwith Triplane | AEG; AEG; Halberstadt | Douai? | Dallas's second, third, and fourth possible victories as Squadron Commander. | |
| 26 | 22 July 1917 | Sopwith Triplane | Albatros C | Out of control | Lille | Confirmed by Royal Flying Corps Communique #98. |
| 27 | 12 August 1917 | Sopwith Triplane N6508 | Albatros | Destroyed | E of Wervicq | Royal Flying Corps Communique #101. |
| 28 | 16 August 1917 | Sopwith Triplane | Albatros D.V | Destroyed | N of Gheluwe | Royal Flying Corps Communique #101. |
| 29 | 16 September 1917 | Sopwith Triplane | Destroyed | Reputedly in company with Captain Robert 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... |
||
| 30 | 15 November 1917 | Sopwith Camel #B6427 | DFW C-type | Destroyed | Ruggevelde | Per Royal Naval Air Service communique. Scored while on home defense duties. |
| 31 | 6 December 1917 | Sopwith Camel #B6431 | DFW C-type | Out of control | Ostend | Scored while on home defence duties. |
| 32 | 11 March 1918 | Sopwith Camel | Aviatik? 2-seater | Destroyed | Near Dixmude | Per Royal Naval Air Service Communique. |
| 33 | 11 March 1918 | Sopwith Camel | Rumpler C | Destroyed | Near Dixmude | Per Royal Naval Air Service Communique. |
| 34 | 12 March 1918 | Sopwith Camel #5427 | Kite balloon | Destroyed—set aflame | Only confirmed balloon victory, though he drove balloons down on several occasions. | |
| 35 | 19 March 1918 | 2-seater | Destroyed | Per Dallas's Official Service Record. | ||
| 36 | 11 April 1918 | RAF SE5a #C4879 | DFW C-type | Destroyed | La Bassee | Per Squadron Record Book. |
| 37 | 12 April 1918 | RAF SE5a #B178 | Albatros | Destroyed | S of Estaires | German Albatros was circling downed wingman when shot down. |
| 38 | 2 May 1918 | RAF SE5a #D3511 | Albatros D.V | Destroyed | Brebieres | Per Squadron Record Book. |
| 39 | 8 May 1918 | RAF SE5a #D3511 | Albatros D.V | Out of control | Brebieres | Victory witnessed by Lieutenant Rusden. |
| 40 | 15 May 1918 | RAF SE5a #D3511 | Albatros C-type | Out of control | E of La Bassee | Per Squadron Record Book. |
| 41 | 18 May 1918 | RAF SE5a #D3511 | Rumpler C-type | Destroyed | Lille | Per Squadron Record Book; this was reportedly an artillery spotter calling in fire on Dallas's airfield. |
| 42 | 20 May 1918 | RAF SE5a #D3511 | Pfalz | Out of control | Merville | Per Squadron Record Book, despite Combat Report stating "...no pilot is prepared to take credit..." |
| 43 | 22 May 1918 | RAF SE5a #D3511 | Pfalz | Out of control | W of Lille | Dallas's solo attack picked off last plane in formation. |
| 3 u/c | 23 May 1918 | RAF SE5a | Fokker Dr.I; Fokker Dr.1; Rumpler 2-seater | Dallas's squadron was changing home airfields at this time. | ||
| 44 | 27 May 1918 | RAF SE5a | Pfalz Scout | Destroyed | Hantay | Per Combat Report. |
| 45 | 30 May 1918 | RAF SE5a #D3511 | DFW 2-seater | Destroyed | Estaires | Per Squadron Record Book. |