When Edmund Leonard Zink enlisted, he gave his year of birth as 1897 in order to meet age requirements. The son of George Frederick and Anna Mary Zink, he was commissioned a temporary Second Lieutenant in the Suffolk Regiment on 7 October 1915. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps the following year and received Royal Aero Club Certificate 5794 on 27 September 1916. Posted to 18 Squadron on 16 November 1916, he claimed 4 victories flying the F.E.2b and was wounded in action on 23 April 1917. After serving as an instructor at Turnberry, Zink joined 32 Squadron as a flight commander in September 1918. A few days later he became an ace, scoring his fifth and final victory with the S.E.5a. He was granted a short service commission in the rank of Flying Officer, effective 24 October 1919.
Great Britain, Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificates, 1910-1950
