The son of Theophilus L. and Mary Helen (Coultis) Salter, Ernest James Salter joined the Royal Flying Corps on 3 June 1917. Cadet Salter received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate 7211 on 27 August 1917. In the summer of 1918, he was posted to 54 Squadron in France. The highest scoring ace to serve with this squadron, Salter scored nine victories flying the Sopwith Camel before being badly wounded on 2 September 1918.
Great Britain, Royal Aero Club Aviators’ Certificates, 1910-1950
Victories
Date
Time
Unit
Aircraft
Opponent
Location
1
09 Jun 1918
0715
54
Sopwith Camel (B7171)
C (OOC)
E of Zandvoorde
2
04 Jul 1918
1430
54
Sopwith Camel (D1948)
Hannover C (OOC)
Herleville
3
05 Jul 1918
1050
54
Sopwith Camel (D1948)
Albatros D.V (OOC)
NE of Lamotte
4
21 Jul 1918
1555
54
Sopwith Camel (D1946)
Halberstadt C (DES)
E of Dravegny
5
21 Jul 1918
1600
54
Sopwith Camel (D1946)
Halberstadt C (DES)
.5 mi E of Chery
6
21 Jul 1918
1915
54
Sopwith Camel (D9497)
Fokker D.VII (DESF)
Fère en Tardenois
7
22 Aug 1918
1745
54
Sopwith Camel (D1946)
Albatros C (DES)1
200 yds W of Greyvillers
8
25 Aug 1918
1045
54
Sopwith Camel (D1946)
Fokker D.VII (OOC)
Combles
9
30 Aug 1918
0645
54
Sopwith Camel (E5168)
Fokker D.VII (OOC)
SE of Riencourt
1
Shared with Lt Crosse (E5174), Lt Bellivaux (E5149), Lt A S Crompton (D9567)
