Hazel Wallace
Encyclopedia
Captain Hazel LeRoy Wallace DFC
(13 November 1897 –22 March 1976) was a Canadian
First World War
flying ace
, officially credited with 14 victories. His record shows him to have been a notable team player in squadron tactics.
Wallace originally served with 9 Squadron RNAS in 1917 as a Sopwith Camel
pilot. He won his first dogfights there, sharing victories on 6 and 16 September 1917 with Joseph Stewart Temple Fall
and several other pilots. He then transferred to 1 Squadron RNAS in early 1918. On 11 March 1918, he scored a solo victory, driving an Albatros D.V
down out of control. Five days later, he shared a win with Maxwell Findlay
. Wallace would not score again until 2 May, when he, Reginald Brading
, Samuel Kinkead
, and several other British pilots sent a hapless German observation plane down out of control; Wallace thus became an ace.
His next triumph on the morning of 15 May was more of the same, as Wallace, Findlay, Kinkead, Brading, Charles Dawson Booker
, Robert McLaughlin
, and three other British pilots pounced upon and destroyed an Albatros D.V. A solo "out of control" win on the afternoon patrol for the 15th, and another the next day put Wallace's tally at eight.
He then transferred to 3 Squadron as the C Flight Commander. On 20 July 1918, he and Adrian Franklyn
drove a Hannover two-seater observation plane down out of control. He continued to score with his new unit–mostly solo victories, but with one win shared with George R. Riley
–bringing his total to thirteen by 21 August. The next day, he became a balloon buster
, teaming with Riley to bring down a German observation balloon. Though he scored no further victories, his Distinguished Flying Cross was awarded on 2 November 1918.
A gallant and most capable leader, who in many engagements has displayed marked ability and courage, notably in a recent attack on an aerodrome when he led his flight against the group of hangars allotted to him at an altitude of between 100 to 200 feet. By direct hits he destroyed three enemy aeroplanes and set fire to a hangar by machine-gun fire. In addition to above this officer has destroyed four aeroplanes and driven three down out of control.
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
(13 November 1897 –22 March 1976) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
, officially credited with 14 victories. His record shows him to have been a notable team player in squadron tactics.
Wallace originally served with 9 Squadron RNAS in 1917 as a Sopwith Camel
Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...
pilot. He won his first dogfights there, sharing victories on 6 and 16 September 1917 with Joseph Stewart Temple Fall
Joseph Stewart Temple Fall
Joseph Stewart Temple Fall DSC & Two Bars, AFC was a Canadian World War I flying ace with 36 credited victories.-Early life:...
and several other pilots. He then transferred to 1 Squadron RNAS in early 1918. On 11 March 1918, he scored a solo victory, driving an Albatros D.V
Albatros D.V
|-See also:-Bibliography:*Bennett, Leon. Gunning for the Red Baron. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2006. ISBN 1-58544-507-X....
down out of control. Five days later, he shared a win with Maxwell Findlay
Maxwell Findlay
Captain Maxwell Hutcheon Findlay DSC, DFC was a World War I flying ace credited with 14 aerial victories. He remained in the RAF postwar for a couple of years before going on to a civilian aviation career that ended with his death in the Johannesburg Air Race of 1936.-World War I:Findlay was a...
. Wallace would not score again until 2 May, when he, Reginald Brading
Reginald Brading
Captain Reginald Carey Brenton Brading was a World War I flying ace credited with thirteen confirmed aerial victories....
, Samuel Kinkead
Samuel Kinkead
Samuel Marcus Kinkead DSO, DSC & Bar, DFC & Bar was a South African fighter ace Captain with 33 victories during World War I. He went on to serve in southern Russia and the Middle East postwar.-Early life:...
, and several other British pilots sent a hapless German observation plane down out of control; Wallace thus became an ace.
His next triumph on the morning of 15 May was more of the same, as Wallace, Findlay, Kinkead, Brading, Charles Dawson Booker
Charles Dawson Booker
Major Charles Dawson Booker DSC was a World War I fighter ace credited with 29 victories. He was promoted to high rank while relatively young as a result of his gallantry and unswerving dedication to his country.-Early life:Charles Dawson Booker was born to Joseph Dawson and Rachel C...
, Robert McLaughlin
Robert McLaughlin (aviator)
Lieutenant Robert McLaughlin was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.McLaughlin destroyed two Albatros D.Vs and chased another down out of control during May 1918; he cooperated in one of the destructions with fellow aces Hazel LeRoy Wallace, Reginald Brading, James Henry...
, and three other British pilots pounced upon and destroyed an Albatros D.V. A solo "out of control" win on the afternoon patrol for the 15th, and another the next day put Wallace's tally at eight.
He then transferred to 3 Squadron as the C Flight Commander. On 20 July 1918, he and Adrian Franklyn
Adrian Franklyn
Lieutenant Adrian Winfrid Franklyn was a World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories, including a Fokker DR1 triplane and a Fokker DVII - the best aircraft used in the First World War....
drove a Hannover two-seater observation plane down out of control. He continued to score with his new unit–mostly solo victories, but with one win shared with George R. Riley
George R. Riley
Lieutenant George Raby Riley was a World War I flying ace credited with thirteen aerial victories. He was an ace balloon buster, as well as an ace over enemy aircraft....
–bringing his total to thirteen by 21 August. The next day, he became a balloon buster
Balloon buster
Balloon busters were military pilots known for destroying enemy observation balloons. These pilots were noted for their fearlessness. Seventy-six fighter pilots in World War I were each credited with destroying five or more balloons, and thus were balloon aces....
, teaming with Riley to bring down a German observation balloon. Though he scored no further victories, his Distinguished Flying Cross was awarded on 2 November 1918.
Text of citations
Lieut. (T./Capt.) Hazel Le Roy Wallace.A gallant and most capable leader, who in many engagements has displayed marked ability and courage, notably in a recent attack on an aerodrome when he led his flight against the group of hangars allotted to him at an altitude of between 100 to 200 feet. By direct hits he destroyed three enemy aeroplanes and set fire to a hangar by machine-gun fire. In addition to above this officer has destroyed four aeroplanes and driven three down out of control.