John Richard Orr - an Irish ace?

[Airshipped]

Hi, I'm finding it difficult to track down proper biographical data on John Richard Orr. He served with No.80 Squadron.

According to the Canadian Bank of Commerce material, Orr was an ace with 6 aerial victories:

Read the ebook Letters from the front. Being a record of the part played by officers of the Bank in the great war, 1914-1919 (Volume 2) by Canadian Bank of Commerce. cn

However, I strongly suspect that this is a case of mistaken identity and that they have appropriated some of the kills of the American/Canadian ace Osborne John Orr of 204/naval squadron.

I can't find an individual AIR 76 file in the UK National Archives for John Richard Orr. I'm also finding it difficult to track down any definitive list of aerial victories for 80 Squadron. Does anyone have a source to recommend?

[R Gannon]

Mate

I can offer this:

On 18 Jul 18 - 80 Sqn's Lt JR Orr crashed a 2-seater in French Lines at Buission de Hauthisson - possbly a Schlasta 20 machine?

On 30 Jul 18 he was involved in a fight near Fismes with 7 Fokkers re-inforced by 3 more, in which he sent one down apparently OOC. Capt Whistler sent down two OOC (one smoking confirmed by whole patrol) and Lt Baker another.

He was shot down by ground fire (kia) on 9 Aug 18 flying Camel D4425 on low bombing mission near Etinegem (on Somme) supporting III Corps advance.

Cheers Russ

[Airshipped]

Thanks Russ,

I actually managed to track down his AIR 76/382 scan eventually. (Ever since the UK National Archives scrapped their 'Documents Online' subsection in favour of a series of 'records' sub-sections I've lost my way a little). There's little in the scan, other than to note that Orr served with 94 Squadron before 80 Squadron. This raised false hopes (for a few seconds) of finding Orr having scored a few victories with more than one squadron ... until I realised that No.94 didn't see any frontline service in WWI.

On the history of No.80 Squadron itself, well this was re-numbered No.56 Squadron on 01-Feb-1920, although a No.80 Squadron was re-formed on 08-Mar-1937. Thanks for the info on Orr, as he seems to have left little trace.

[Joe M]

Originally Posted by R Gannon

Mate

I can offer this:

On 18 Jul 18 - 80 Sqn's Lt JR Orr crashed a 2-seater in French Lines at Buission de Hauthisson - possbly a Schlasta 20 machine?


Cheers Russ

Re the above part or Russ's quote, this may have been the crew of Ltn. P Barber and Uffz G Ellert of Schlasta 20 who were taken PoW on this day.

Happy Hunting

Joe M

[PFFF]

Which Orr was an Ace? - The war in the air - Great War Forum
http://www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-d...OSBORNE%20JOHN

vs

Who's credit 23 OCt 1918?

[Airshipped]

Thanks everyone for the information.

Apparently J.R. Orr's death also gets a passing mention in Yeates "Winged Victory"

80 Squadron RAF