Stanley Stanger
Encyclopedia
Captain Stanley Stanger was a World War I flying ace
credited with 13 confirmed aerial victories scored on the Italian Front. He was also noted for his ingenious escape from being captured by the Austro-Hungarians.
on 21 March 1916. He claimed a year's prior military service in the Westmount Rifles with the rank of Sergeant. His mother Mary was named as his next of kin. He was five feet six inches tall at time of enlistment. He had dark brown hair, brown eyes, and dark complexion.
pilot on 18 October 1917. Shortly thereafter, the squadron relocated to Italy. At Ormelle
on 14 December 1917, Stanger forced down an Albatros D.V
out of control for his first victory. He would score twice more with 66 Squadron, destroying two foes a month apart, on 18 March and 17 April 1918. On 27 April 1918, he transferred to 28 Squadron. He shot down opposing two-seater reconnaissance planes on 2, 3, and 13 May, becoming an ace in the process. He continued to score, and by the end of July, he was a double ace. On 23 August 1918, he was wounded in action
by anti-aircraft fire. His wounds grounded him until 20 September. On 26 September 1918, he scored his eleventh win, sharing it with Clifford MacKay McEwen. Stanger then destroyed a pair of Albatros D.V
s over the Tagliamento River
on 4 October to finish his victories. He ended up with a record of three enemy planes set afire in midair, another nine destroyed while in flight, and one driven down out of control.
Stanger fell ill while he was aloft on one of his October sorties. He landed on a handy airfield and shut down his plane's engine before realizing he had landed on an Austro-Hungarian strip. His only chance to escape any enemy soldiers investigating the racket of an untimely landing was to restart his engine and fly away. The customary method for starting an engine was for a ground crew member to yank the propeller as a lever to crank the engine, while a pilot sat at the controls. Stanger's solution was to remove his boots and chock the landing gear tires with the footwear. He then cranked the prop, started the engine, circled about the rotating blades, clambered into the cockpit, and departed. The fate of the boots is unknown.
Lt. (T./Capt.) Stanley Stanger, R.A.F.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to;
duty in destroying six enemy aeroplanes.
He did splendid service.
Distinguished Flying Cross
Lieut. (A./Capt.) Stanley Stanger, M.C. (ITALY)
A dashing and determined leader who has
frequently engaged enemy formations .in
superior numbers, inflicting heavy casualties.
On 4 October he, in company with
another machine, engaged six enemy aeroplanes;
three of these were destroyed, Captain
Stanger accounting for two. In all he
has destroyed five enemy machines, displaying
on all occasions great courage and skill.
(M.C. gazetted 16 September 1918.)
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 13 confirmed aerial victories scored on the Italian Front. He was also noted for his ingenious escape from being captured by the Austro-Hungarians.
Entry into service
Stanley Stanger was an investment broker when he volunteered in Toronto for the Canadian Expeditionary ForceCanadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War. Units of the C.E.F. were divided into field formation in France, where they were organized first into separate divisions and later joined together into a single...
on 21 March 1916. He claimed a year's prior military service in the Westmount Rifles with the rank of Sergeant. His mother Mary was named as his next of kin. He was five feet six inches tall at time of enlistment. He had dark brown hair, brown eyes, and dark complexion.
Aerial service
Stanger was commissioned on 10 May 1917. He joined 66 Squadron in France as a Sopwith CamelSopwith 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...
pilot on 18 October 1917. Shortly thereafter, the squadron relocated to Italy. At Ormelle
Ormelle
Ormelle is a comune in the Province of Treviso in the Italian region Veneto, located about 40 km north of Venice and about 20 km northeast of Treviso...
on 14 December 1917, Stanger forced down 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....
out of control for his first victory. He would score twice more with 66 Squadron, destroying two foes a month apart, on 18 March and 17 April 1918. On 27 April 1918, he transferred to 28 Squadron. He shot down opposing two-seater reconnaissance planes on 2, 3, and 13 May, becoming an ace in the process. He continued to score, and by the end of July, he was a double ace. On 23 August 1918, 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....
by anti-aircraft fire. His wounds grounded him until 20 September. On 26 September 1918, he scored his eleventh win, sharing it with Clifford MacKay McEwen. Stanger then destroyed a pair of 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....
s over the Tagliamento River
Tagliamento River
The Tagliamento is a braided river in north-east Italy, flowing from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea at a point between Trieste and Venice. The source is in the Mauria Pass, on the border between the regions of Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia. In the upper section, it flows through the historic...
on 4 October to finish his victories. He ended up with a record of three enemy planes set afire in midair, another nine destroyed while in flight, and one driven down out of control.
Stanger fell ill while he was aloft on one of his October sorties. He landed on a handy airfield and shut down his plane's engine before realizing he had landed on an Austro-Hungarian strip. His only chance to escape any enemy soldiers investigating the racket of an untimely landing was to restart his engine and fly away. The customary method for starting an engine was for a ground crew member to yank the propeller as a lever to crank the engine, while a pilot sat at the controls. Stanger's solution was to remove his boots and chock the landing gear tires with the footwear. He then cranked the prop, started the engine, circled about the rotating blades, clambered into the cockpit, and departed. The fate of the boots is unknown.
Post World War I
Stanger returned to the family business in Canada. He rose to President of that firm, Guardian Trust Company of Montreal, in 1939, and remained in that position until a few months prior to his death.Honors and awards
Military CrossLt. (T./Capt.) Stanley Stanger, R.A.F.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to;
duty in destroying six enemy aeroplanes.
He did splendid service.
Distinguished Flying Cross
Lieut. (A./Capt.) Stanley Stanger, M.C. (ITALY)
A dashing and determined leader who has
frequently engaged enemy formations .in
superior numbers, inflicting heavy casualties.
On 4 October he, in company with
another machine, engaged six enemy aeroplanes;
three of these were destroyed, Captain
Stanger accounting for two. In all he
has destroyed five enemy machines, displaying
on all occasions great courage and skill.
(M.C. gazetted 16 September 1918.)
Reference
- Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. Christopher F. Shores, Norman L. R. Franks, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1990. ISBN 0-948817-19-4, 9780948817199.