Robert A. Little
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Robert Alexander Little DSO and Bar, DSC and Bar, C de G (France) (19 July 1895–27 May 1918) has long been regarded as the most successful Australian flying ace of World War I, with a total of 47 kills. However, some later researchers have suggested that this total was surpassed by Roderic Dallas.
[edit] World War I service
Hailing from Melbourne, and educated at Camberwell Grammar School, Little joined the Royal Naval Air Service and became a certified aviator in October. He arrived in France in June 1916, posted to "Naval Eight" squadron. By year's end he had three victories to his credit, flying Sopwith Pups. When the unit converted to Triplanes, he began scoring heavily: eight victories each in April and May; four in June; and fourteen in July, the month he began flying Sopwith Camels. When he rotated to England for rest that summer, he was credited with 38 victories, including 15 destroyed or captured.
In March 1918 Little joined Raymond Collishaw's unit, which became No. 203 Squadron of the new Royal Air Force on 1 April. He gained a further nine successes before being killed attacking a Gotha bomber on 27 May. At age 22 he left a widow and a son, having received the Distinguished Service Order and bar, the Distinguished Service Cross and bar, and the French Croix de Guerre, as well as being Mentioned in Dispatches, he was one of Australia's highest decorated pilots.
Of Little's 47 victories, 24 were credited as destroyed or captured (six shared) and 23 "out of control."
