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Today in History

 
Name: Alfred William Saunders
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) Alfred William Saunders
Country: Ireland
Rank: Captain
Service: Royal Flying Corps
Royal Air Force
Units: 60
Victories: 12
Born: 16 January 1888
Place of Birth: Dublin
Died: 22 May 1930
Place of Death: Auckland, New Zealand
 
After serving with the Royal Field Artillery in the Dardanelles, Saunders transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in September 1917.   A month later, he was posted to 60 Squadron, eventually assuming command of A Flight and scoring 12 victories as an S.E.5a pilot. Saunders died in Auckland following a Moth accident.
 
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
"Lt. Alfred William Saunders.
   A gallant and determined officer whose fighting spirit and enthusiasm has been a splendid example to his squadron. On one occasion whilst leading his formation of six machines, he attacked six enemy aeroplanes. Diving from 11,000 to 3,000 feet, he singled out a group of three, and shot down one. He then engaged the other two, which in their endeavour to get away collided and crashed."
Supplement to the London Gazette, 3 August 1918 (30827/9203)
 
Victories
Date Time Unit Aircraft Opponent Location
1 10 May 1918 1735 60 S.E.5a (C5450) Pfalz D.III (DES) Bapaume-Péronne
2 16 May 1918 1615 60 S.E.5a (C5450) Albatros D.V (DES) Beaulencourt
3 23 May 1918 0550 60 S.E.5a (B137) Albatros D.V (DES) 1 Fricourt
4 09 Jun 1918 1045 60 S.E.5a (B137) Hannover C (DESF) 1 Arras
5 09 Jun 1918 1050 60 S.E.5a (B137) Hannover C (OOC) 1 Arras
6 02 Jul 1918 1045 60 S.E.5a (E1279) Pfalz D.III (DES) Villers-Brettoneaux
7 02 Jul 1918 1050 60 S.E.5a (E1279) Pfalz D.III (DES) Bois de Pierret
8 02 Jul 1918 1050 60 S.E.5a (E1279) Pfalz D.III (DES) Bois de Pierret
9 01 Aug 1918 2020 60 S.E.5a (E3916) Fokker D.VII (OOC) Bapaume
10 08 Aug 1918 1315 60 S.E.5a (E3916) C (OOC) Chaulnes
11 09 Aug 1918 1545 60 S.E.5a (E3916) Fokker D.VII (DES) Chaulnes
12 09 Aug 1918 1547 60 S.E.5a (E3916) Fokker D.VII (DES) Nesle
1 Shared with Capt James Belgrave
 
Books
Norman Franks. SE 5/5a Aces of World War I. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2007
 
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