Austin Lloyd Fleming

Austin Lloyd Fleming
Born 7 August 1894
Toronto, Canada
Died 26 January 1969
Malaga, Spain
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch Aviation
Rank Captain
Unit No. 46 Squadron RFC, No. 111 Squadron RAF
Awards Military Cross
Other work Served in Royal Air Force during World War II

Captain Austin Lloyd Fleming was a Canadian flying ace during World War I. He was credited with eight aerial victories.

Contents

Early life

Austin Lloyd Fleming was born on 7 August 1894 in Toronto, Ontario. His parents were Lydia Jane Orford and Robert John Fleming.[1] He was a stockbroker before the First World War.[2]

World War I

After joining military service on 10 November 1916,[3] Fleming transferred from the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry to the General List of the Royal Flying Corps on 13 May 1917.[4] He was appointed as a Flying Officer, with the rank of second lieutenant on probation on 16 May 1917, signifying that he had completed pilot's training.[5] On 8 June 1917, he was assigned to No. 46 Squadron. He was reassigned to No. 111 Squadron in Palestine later that year.[6]

Between 17 January and 12 April 1918, he scored eight aerial victories (listed below). His exploits gained him the Military Cross, although the award citation did not recognize all his feats. His MC was gazetted on 13 May 1918:

Temporary Lieutenant Austin Lloyd Fleming, Royal Flying Corps:
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He attacked a formation of three enemy machines, and forced the leading machine, which was a two-seater, to land, although the other two were attacking him from behind. He then attacked and destroyed another of the enemy machines, and engaged the third, which succeeded in escaping. He destroyed four enemy machines during one month, and showed splendid courage and skill on many occasions."[7]

On 11 September 1918, Fleming was injured.[8]

List of aerial victories

See also Aerial victory standards of World War I

No. Date/time Aircraft Foe Result Location Notes
1 17 January 1918 @ 0920 hours Bristol F.2 Fighter serial number A7192 Enemy two-seater Destroyed Kalikieh Observer/gunner: Frederick John Knowles
2 18 January 1918 @ 1130 hours Bristol F.2 Fighter s/n A7198 Enemy two-seater Destroyed Between Jaffa and Arsuf Observer/gunner: Frederick John Knowles; victory shared with another air crew
3 23 January 1918 @ 1145 hours Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n B538 Albatros D.III Destroyed Tul Keram
4 24 January 1918 @ 1130 hours Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n B538 Enemy two-seater Destroyed Northwest of Tul Keram
5 29 January 1918 @ 1530 hours Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n B538 Enemy two-seater Captured Southwest of Junction Station Pilot KIA; observer taken POW
6 10 March 1918 @ 0930 hours Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n B540 Albatros D.III East of al-Bireh
7 12 April 1918 @ 0715 hours Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n B6242 Albatros D.V Driven down out of control Tul Keram
8 12 April 1918 @ 0720 hours Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n B6242 Albatros D.V Driven down out of control Tul Keram[9]

Post World War I

On 1 June 1919, Fleming was transferred to the unemployed list of the Royal Air Force, ending his service.[10] He would subsequently spend some years in the United States before moving to Britain.[11]

With the advent of the Second World War, he returned to military service in the Royal Air Force. On 1 September 1939, he appointed as a captain.[12] He would serve until 1 August 1942, when he once again gave up his commission and once again left the RAF.[13]

In 1959, he presented No. 111 Squadron a souvenir machine gun taken from the reconnaissance craft he captured on 29 January 1918.[14]

Austin Lloyd Fleming died in Malaga, Spain on 26 January 1969.[15] He was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto, and was survived by his wife, Helen Hyde Fleming.[16]

See also

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=63440093 is a photograph of his memorial.

Reference

Endnotes

  1. ^ http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/c/h/r/Pam-Christie-MB/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0393.html Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  2. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/fleming.php Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  3. ^ http://canadiangreatwarproject.com/searches/soldierDetail.asp?ID=97625 Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  4. ^ Supplement to the London Gazette, 28 June 1917, p. 6384. http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30155/supplements/6384 Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  5. ^ Supplement to the London Gazette, 5 June 1917, p. 5580. http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30115/supplements/5580 Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  6. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/fleming.php Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  7. ^ Supplement to the London Gazette, 13 May 1918, pp. 5696, 5699. http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30681/supplements/5696; http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30681/supplements/5699 Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  8. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/fleming.php Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  9. ^ List compiled from Above the Trenches, p. 157; Bristol F.2 Fighter Aces, pp. 77-78; http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/fleming.php Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  10. ^ The London Gazette, 13 January 1920, p. 562. http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31730/pages/562 Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  11. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/fleming.php Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  12. ^ The London Gazette, 27 October 1939, p. 7183. http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/34718/supplements/7183 Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  13. ^ Supplement to the London Gazette, 18 August 1942. http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/35671/pages/3609 Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  14. ^ Above the Trenches, p. 157.
  15. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/fleming.php Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  16. ^ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=63440093 Retrieved 9 December 2011.
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