Roy Manzer
Encyclopedia
Captain Roy Manzer was a Canadian World War I flying ace
credited with 12 official aerial victories. After his aerial military service, he returned to Canada and a long and distinguished legal and civic career.
in the Royal Flying Corps
.
He scored his first aerial victory as a pilot of Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a serial number D259 with 84 Squadron. On 25 April 1918, he destroyed a German Albatros D.V
east of Abancourt
. Next to fall in ruins was a Fokker triplane
, on 16 May 1918. On the 28th, he doubled up, destroying one Albatros D.V fighter, and driving down another out of control over Warfusée
. On 18 June, he switched to SE.5a number C8171 and destroyed another Triplane to become an ace. He also scored his final victory that day, destroying a Pfalz D.III
.
Manzer would switch to SE.5a serial number C8732 for the remainder of his wins. He would drive down a new Fokker D.VII
on 29 June 1918. On 19 July, he would join the ranks of the balloon busters, burning a German observation balloon
near Le Quesnel
. On 28 and 29 July, he would share victories with George Vaughn
, as they destroyed Rumpler
s both days. Manzer set another Fokker D.VII afire on 3 August 1918. The next day, he destroyed another Albatros D.V. He also scored his final victory that day, destroying a Pfalz D.III
.
Lieutenant
Manzer was promoted to the rank of temporary captain on 7 August 1918. He also scored his final victory that day, destroying a Pfalz D.III
.
After education at the University of Toronto
, he articled with the law firm of Blackstock and Clow in Medicine Hat, Canada. By 1923, he had become one of the principal solicitors in the firm, which became Blackstock, Clow, and Manzer. He joined the bar in 1924, and became one of the partners of the legal firm of Manzer and Wooton in Victoria, British Columbia.
By 1940, he was also active in mining, as a director of Slade Placers Ltd. In 1944, he served as Registrar to the Diocese of British Columbia. From 1947 to 1949, he served as the unpaid Reeve to the District of Oak Bay, British Columbia
.
At the time of his death, Roy Manzer had been honored with an appointment as a Queen's Counsel
.
Lieut. Roy Manzer
While carrying out a solitary patrol he
observed a two-seater below him; diving on
it he opened fire, and following it down to
1,000 feet, caused it to land outside the
aerodrome. During his return to our lines
he saw a hostile kite balloon; attacking it as
it was being hauled down he closed to point
blank range at 300 feet altitude; on reaching
the ground, the balloon burst into
flames. In addition to the above, this officer
has accounted for seven enemy machines,
four of which were destroyed and three
driven down out of control.
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...
credited with 12 official aerial victories. After his aerial military service, he returned to Canada and a long and distinguished legal and civic career.
World War I
On 24 October 1917, Manzer was commissioned a second lieutenantSecond Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
.
He scored his first aerial victory as a pilot of Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a serial number D259 with 84 Squadron. On 25 April 1918, he destroyed a German 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....
east of Abancourt
Abancourt
Abancourt may refer to:* Abancourt, Nord, a commune of the Nord département in France* Abancourt, Oise, a commune of the Oise département in France...
. Next to fall in ruins was a Fokker triplane
Fokker Dr.I
The Fokker Dr.I Dreidecker was a World War I fighter aircraft built by Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. The Dr.I saw widespread service in the spring of 1918...
, on 16 May 1918. On the 28th, he doubled up, destroying one Albatros D.V fighter, and driving down another out of control over Warfusée
Lamotte-Warfusée
Lamotte-Warfusée is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:The commune is situated on the N29 road, some east of Amiens....
. On 18 June, he switched to SE.5a number C8171 and destroyed another Triplane to become an ace. He also scored his final victory that day, destroying a Pfalz D.III
Pfalz D.III
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962. ISBN 0-93385-271-1.* Grosz, Peter M. Pfalz D.IIIa . Berkhamsted, Herts, UK: Albatros Publications, 1995. ISBN 0-94841-425-1.* Guttman, Jon. Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1 ...
.
Manzer would switch to SE.5a serial number C8732 for the remainder of his wins. He would drive down a new Fokker D.VII
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...
on 29 June 1918. On 19 July, he would join the ranks of the balloon busters, burning a German observation balloon
Observation balloon
Observation balloons are balloons that are employed as aerial platforms for intelligence gathering and artillery spotting. Their use began during the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith during World War I, and they continue in limited use today....
near Le Quesnel
Le Quesnel
Le Quesnel is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:The commune is situated at the D161 and D41 crossroads, some southeast of Amiens.-Population:-Places of interest:...
. On 28 and 29 July, he would share victories with George Vaughn
George Augustus Vaughn, Jr.
George Augustus Vaughn, Jr. was an American fighter ace in World War I and Distinguished Service Cross, Britain's Distinguished Flying Cross, and Silver Star recipient....
, as they destroyed Rumpler
Rumpler
The Rumpler Tropfenwagen was a car developed by Austrian engineer Edmund Rumpler.Rumpler, born in Vienna, was a designer of aircraft when on the 1921's Berlin car show he introduced the Tropfenwagen. It was to be the first streamlined car . The Rumpler had a Cw-value of only 0.28...
s both days. Manzer set another Fokker D.VII afire on 3 August 1918. The next day, he destroyed another Albatros D.V. He also scored his final victory that day, destroying a Pfalz D.III
Pfalz D.III
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962. ISBN 0-93385-271-1.* Grosz, Peter M. Pfalz D.IIIa . Berkhamsted, Herts, UK: Albatros Publications, 1995. ISBN 0-94841-425-1.* Guttman, Jon. Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1 ...
.
Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
Manzer was promoted to the rank of temporary captain on 7 August 1918. He also scored his final victory that day, destroying a Pfalz D.III
Pfalz D.III
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962. ISBN 0-93385-271-1.* Grosz, Peter M. Pfalz D.IIIa . Berkhamsted, Herts, UK: Albatros Publications, 1995. ISBN 0-94841-425-1.* Guttman, Jon. Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1 ...
.
Post World War I
Manzer was transferred to the unemployed list of the Royal Air Force on 12 March 1919. Manzer went on to serve in the Royal Canadian Artillery.After education at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, he articled with the law firm of Blackstock and Clow in Medicine Hat, Canada. By 1923, he had become one of the principal solicitors in the firm, which became Blackstock, Clow, and Manzer. He joined the bar in 1924, and became one of the partners of the legal firm of Manzer and Wooton in Victoria, British Columbia.
By 1940, he was also active in mining, as a director of Slade Placers Ltd. In 1944, he served as Registrar to the Diocese of British Columbia. From 1947 to 1949, he served as the unpaid Reeve to the District of Oak Bay, British Columbia
Oak Bay, British Columbia
Oak Bay is a municipality located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, in the Canadian Province of British Columbia, Canada. A member municipality of the Capital Regional District, it is a community east of and adjacent to the City of Victoria...
.
At the time of his death, Roy Manzer had been honored with an appointment as a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
.
Honors and awards
Text of citation for the Distinguished Flying Cross:Lieut. Roy Manzer
While carrying out a solitary patrol he
observed a two-seater below him; diving on
it he opened fire, and following it down to
1,000 feet, caused it to land outside the
aerodrome. During his return to our lines
he saw a hostile kite balloon; attacking it as
it was being hauled down he closed to point
blank range at 300 feet altitude; on reaching
the ground, the balloon burst into
flames. In addition to the above, this officer
has accounted for seven enemy machines,
four of which were destroyed and three
driven down out of control.
Reference
- --, The Advocate, Volume 40, 1982. Original from the University of California. Digitized 5 June 2008. No ISBN known.
- --, Chitty's Law Journal, Volume 6. Publisher: Chitty's Law Journal, 1959. No ISBN known.
- --, Canadian Almanac & Directory. Publisher: Scobie & Balfour, 1923. No ISBN known.
- --, Mines Register, Volume 20. Publisher unknown, 1940. Original from the University of California. Digitized Sep 1, 2009. No ISBN known.