William Roy Irwin
Encyclopedia
Wing Commander William Roy Irwin was a Canadian-born World War I flying ace
credited with 11 aerial victories. In the process of becoming an ace, he rose as far as the rank of captain. During World War II, he returned to service, reached the rank of Wing Commander, and won an OBE
.
with the aim of serving in the Royal Naval Air Service
. Upon his arrival in Britain, he was switched to the Royal Flying Corps
.
On 22 November 1917, probationary second lieutenant
W. R. Irwin was appointed a Flying Officer
. This date also marked his later postdated promotion to lieutenant
.
Once assigned to 56 Squadron at the combat front in France, Irwin flew his first patrol on 1 March 1918, as a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a pilot. He joined the war even as the Germans launched their last great offensive of the war. Two months later, on 3 May 1918, he joined Trevor Durrant and Edward Dawson Atkinson
in destroying one German Rumpler
two-seater reconnaissance plane and driving another down out of control. Then, on an evening patrol on 28 June, he destroyed an Albatros D.III
fighter for his third win.
Irwin would not score again until 8 August 1918, when he destroyed a Fokker D.VII
northeast of Chaulnes
. He would proceed to score five more victories over Fokker D.VIIs that month. He destroyed two of them on the morning of 10 August and drove down another out of control in the evening; two days later, he destroyed another pair. On 28 August, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his feats. That his award was for his air to air prowess is apparent in the citation accompanying the DFC:
This officer is a fine leader, displaying tactical skill and personal gallantry. On the 10th August he led his flight down to attack fifteen Fokkers. In the engagement that ensued he showed brilliant leadership and personal courage, accounting for two machines himself. He has destroyed five enemy aeroplanes and brought down three out of control.
Irwin destroyed another pair of Fokker D.VIIs on the morning of 3 September 1918, rounding out his total tally at nine enemy planes destroyed and two driven down out of control. However, on 15 September, he pounced on a decoy two-seater and was in turn jumped by four enemy fighters. He was wounded in action
during the dogfight, but escaped. It was while he remained in hospital on 23 September that he was awarded a Bar in lieu of a second award of the DFC. Once again, the award citation stressed his aerial tactics and success:
This officer is an exceptionally skilful pilot leader, combining fine fighting qualities with sound, clear judgement. On the 12 August [1918] he led his patrol to attack a large formation of Fokker biplanes; he himself accounted for two of them. On a later date, attacking a formation of Fokker biplanes, he again destroyed two, the patrol accounting for two others.
Shortly thereafter, Irwin was discharged from hospital and assigned to instructor duty at the Central Flying School
in Upavon
. The war ended while he was in this assignment.
, underwent refresher training, and became an instructor at No. 3 Elementary Flying School at Yorkton, Canada
. He was subsequently appointed to command of No. 3 Service Flying Training School
.
On 1 January 1944, Wing Commander Irwin was awarded Order of the British Empire for his efforts. He would serve through war's end, resigning from the RCAF in August 1945.
Towards the end of his life, Irwin served on the Canadian Transport Commission
, reportedly from 20 September 1967 until 14 January 1970. Irwin died on 14 January 1969 in an Ottawa hospital. He was survived by his widow and daughter.
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 11 aerial victories. In the process of becoming an ace, he rose as far as the rank of captain. During World War II, he returned to service, reached the rank of Wing Commander, and won an OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
.
Early life
William Roy Irwin was born on 7 June 1898 in Ripley, Canada, to Marion Irwin. He was still living in Ripley when he enlisted on 16 June 1916. He traded the life of a student for the military. The physical description on his enlistment papers describes him as 5 feet 7 1/2 inches tall, with brown eyes, dark hair, and a "fresh" complexion.World War I
William Roy Irwin joined the Canadian Expeditionary ForceCanadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War. Units of the C.E.F. were divided into field formation in France, where they were organized first into separate divisions and later joined together into a single...
with the aim of serving in the Royal Naval Air Service
Royal Naval Air Service
The Royal Naval Air Service or RNAS was the air arm of the Royal Navy until near the end of the First World War, when it merged with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps to form a new service , the Royal Air Force...
. Upon his arrival in Britain, he was switched to 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...
.
On 22 November 1917, probationary second lieutenant
Second 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...
W. R. Irwin was appointed a Flying Officer
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
. This date also marked his later postdated promotion to 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...
.
Once assigned to 56 Squadron at the combat front in France, Irwin flew his first patrol on 1 March 1918, as a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a pilot. He joined the war even as the Germans launched their last great offensive of the war. Two months later, on 3 May 1918, he joined Trevor Durrant and Edward Dawson Atkinson
Edward Dawson Atkinson
Captain Edward Dawson Atkinson was a World War I flying ace credited with a total of 10 aerial victories, won while serving in three different squadrons during World War I. He would serve postwar until invalided out of the Royal Air Force. He then turned to a business career.-Early life:Atkinson...
in destroying one German 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...
two-seater reconnaissance plane and driving another down out of control. Then, on an evening patrol on 28 June, he destroyed an Albatros D.III
Albatros D.III
The Albatros D.III was a biplane fighter aircraft used by the Imperial German Army Air Service and the Austro-Hungarian Air Service during World War I. The D.III was flown by many top German aces, including Manfred von Richthofen, Ernst Udet, Erich Löwenhardt, Kurt Wolff, and Karl Emil Schäfer...
fighter for his third win.
Irwin would not score again until 8 August 1918, when he destroyed a 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...
northeast of Chaulnes
Chaulnes
Chaulnes is a commune in the Somme department in Picardy in northern France.-Demography:-Culture:Chaulnes is noted for its cultural events, especially the heavy metal music festival "Killer Fest"...
. He would proceed to score five more victories over Fokker D.VIIs that month. He destroyed two of them on the morning of 10 August and drove down another out of control in the evening; two days later, he destroyed another pair. On 28 August, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his feats. That his award was for his air to air prowess is apparent in the citation accompanying the DFC:
This officer is a fine leader, displaying tactical skill and personal gallantry. On the 10th August he led his flight down to attack fifteen Fokkers. In the engagement that ensued he showed brilliant leadership and personal courage, accounting for two machines himself. He has destroyed five enemy aeroplanes and brought down three out of control.
Irwin destroyed another pair of Fokker D.VIIs on the morning of 3 September 1918, rounding out his total tally at nine enemy planes destroyed and two driven down out of control. However, on 15 September, he pounced on a decoy two-seater and was in turn jumped by four enemy fighters. He was wounded in action
Wounded in action
Wounded in action describes soldiers who have been wounded while fighting in a combat zone during war time, but have not been killed. Typically it implies that they are temporarily or permanently incapable of bearing arms or continuing to fight....
during the dogfight, but escaped. It was while he remained in hospital on 23 September that he was awarded a Bar in lieu of a second award of the DFC. Once again, the award citation stressed his aerial tactics and success:
This officer is an exceptionally skilful pilot leader, combining fine fighting qualities with sound, clear judgement. On the 12 August [1918] he led his patrol to attack a large formation of Fokker biplanes; he himself accounted for two of them. On a later date, attacking a formation of Fokker biplanes, he again destroyed two, the patrol accounting for two others.
Shortly thereafter, Irwin was discharged from hospital and assigned to instructor duty at the Central Flying School
Central Flying School
The Central Flying School is the Royal Air Force's primary institution for the training of military flying instructors. Established in 1912 it is the longest existing flying training school.-History:...
in Upavon
Upavon
Upavon is a rural village in the English County of Wiltshire, England. As its name suggests, it is on the upper portions of the River Avon which runs from the north to the south through the village. It is situated about south of Pewsey, about southeast of the market town of Devizes, and about ...
. The war ended while he was in this assignment.
Between the World Wars
On 28 September 1919, Irwin was transferred to unemployed list of the Royal Air Force. He returned to Canada for a university education. On 14 October 1921, he married Doris Violet Dickin at Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Canada. The union would produce two children: Roy Keith and Doreen Marion.World War II and beyond
Irwin was a high school teacher in Saskatchewan until the beginning of World War II. He then joined the Royal Canadian Air ForceRoyal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
, underwent refresher training, and became an instructor at No. 3 Elementary Flying School at Yorkton, Canada
Yorkton Municipal Airport
Yorkton Municipal Airport, , is located north of Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada.-History:During World War II Yorkton Airport was home to No. 23 Elementary Flying Training School and No. 11 Service Flying Training School - both schools being a part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan...
. He was subsequently appointed to command of No. 3 Service Flying Training School
RCAF Station Calgary
What is referred to here as RCAF Station Calgary was actually a collection of Royal Canadian Air Force training establishments and other facilities that operated in Calgary, Alberta, Canada from the mid-1930s to the mid-1960s....
.
On 1 January 1944, Wing Commander Irwin was awarded Order of the British Empire for his efforts. He would serve through war's end, resigning from the RCAF in August 1945.
Towards the end of his life, Irwin served on the Canadian Transport Commission
Canadian Transport Commission
The Canadian Transport Commission was Canada's first fully converged, multi-modal regulator.The body was created by Canada's Parliament on September 19, 1967, to assumed the responsibilities of two bodies: the Board of Transport Commissioners , which oversaw air and railway regulation, and the...
, reportedly from 20 September 1967 until 14 January 1970. Irwin died on 14 January 1969 in an Ottawa hospital. He was survived by his widow and daughter.