|
Lieutenant Edwin Arnold Clear〔In several sources, including the ''London Gazette'', he is sometimes listed was EDWARD Arnold Clear.〕 (28 May 1896 – 21 February 1960) was an English World War I flying ace credited with twelve aerial victories. Most unusually for a Royal Air Force ace of the era, all of his victories involved destruction of the enemy aircraft. Ill-health forced him to resign from the RAF in 1919, but he served in the RAF Reserve from 1923 to 1935. ==World War I== Clear originally joined the Royal Flying Corps at the same time as his younger brother Harold, being issued consecutive service numbers (Harold later became a prisoner of war after being shot down behind the German lines). After spending 20 months in Egypt as a vehicle mechanic he was accepted for pilot training,〔Shores ''et.al.'' (1997), pp.108.〕 and on 28 April 1917 1st Class Air Mechanic Clear was transferred, and appointed a probationary temporary second lieutenant, being confirmed in the rank on 27 June. He began his training before departing Egypt, at both Heliopolis and Aboukir. He then returned to England for further training at the Central Flying School at RAF Upavon. He was commissioned in September 1917, and assigned to 84 Squadron in France the following month as a SE.5a pilot.〔 His first aerial success came on 29 January 1918, when he set a German observation aircraft afire in midair. After a lull, he destroyed another two-seater on 10 March. Five days later, he shot down his first enemy fighter, an Albatros D.V. Then, on 17 March, he was engaged in a dogfight when two of his opponents collided with one another; Clear was credited with both and became an ace. He finished March with a victory on the 30th.〔 On 12 April, Clear shot down an enemy aircraft on both morning and evening patrols. On the 25th, he downed two more German aircraft within ten minutes. After a month's lapse, he destroyed another Albatros D.V for his final victory on 28 May. In June 1918, he was removed from combat duty and returned to England to train as an instructor,〔Personal flying log book in possession of descendant.〕 and was awarded the Military Cross for his efforts.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Edwin A. Clear」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|