Legless Flyer Heads List Of Leading British Aces;
Bags Are From, 15-30 Huns
London, Jan. 9, 1941 — (UP) — The Royal Air
Force disclosed today the identities of its ten leading aces. One is a
former financial clerk in a newspaper office, another, a former South
African sailor. One has artificial legs; one is only 22 years old; one
shot down six German planes in six hours.
Each has shot down from 15 to 30 German planes. All have been decorated,
some three times. They are veterans of the battle of France, the evacuation
of Dunkirk and of countless air fights over south England. All but one
are still active.
Scores of other R.A.F. men have shot down from five to ten German planes,
but these are the top ten:
Squadron Leader Douglas Bader, thrice
decorated leader of the Canada squadron. He lost both legs in an accident
two (ten -ed) years ago and learned to manipulate artificial legs before
the war started.
Squadron Leader Roland Tuck, thrice decorated, has 23 swastikas and two
Italian flags painted around the cockpit of his plane, signifying that
many victories. He also has an Iron Cross, the gift of a wounded German
pilot he had shot down.
Pilot Officer H. M. Stephens, thrice decorated, formerly a financial clerk
on a London evening newspaper; he and a colleague shared a pool for shooting
down the 600th German plane destroyed by their squadron.
Squadron Leader Adolph Gysbert Malan, thrice decorated, formerly a South
African sailor.
Flight-Lieut. John Ignatius (Iggy) Kilmartin, an Irishman, formerly attached
to the advanced air striking force in France, credited with having shot
down 15 German planes.
Flight-Lieut. J. S. Dundas, recently posted as missing and believed dead,
credited with 15 German planes, one of which he chased from Winchester
to Cherbourg, France, before destroying it.
Pilot Officer Geoffrey Allard, formerly a sergeant-pilot, commissioned
because of his outstanding fighting, credited with 15 German planes.
Flight-Sgt. George Cecil Unwin, credited with from 15 to 20 enemy planes;
last September, flying alone, he charged into a formation of 15 German
bombers escorted by 30 German Messerschmitt fighters and shot down two
Messerschmitts before he ran out of ammunition.
Flight-Lieut. J. H. Mungo-Park, veteran of Dunkirk and sharer with Stephens
of the 600-plane pool.
Pilot Officer Albert Gerald Lewis, of South Africa, who shot down
more than 20 German planes, including six in six hours. |
