Harold Redler

Harold Bolton Redler
Born 27 January 1897
Taunton, Somerset, England
Died 21 June 1918
Turnberry
West Monkton Church of Saint Augustine Somerset, England
Allegiance British Empire
Service/branch Aviation
Rank Lieutenant
Unit No. 40 Squadron RFC, No. 24 Squadron RAF
Awards Military Cross

Lieutenant Harold Bolton Redler was a World War I flying ace credited with ten aerial victories. His most notable triumph was over a leading German ace, Adolf von Tutschek, whom he killed in action.

Contents

Early life

Harold Redler Bolton was the eldest son born to Mr. and Mrs. D. B. Redler. He was born in West Honkton. His family relocated to South Africa, and were resident in Moorreesburg at the time of his death.[1]

World War I

On 9 April 1917, Redler was appointed a Flying Officer with the rank of temporary second lieutenant.[2] He was posted to 40 Squadron, and became a balloon buster for his first win on 7 May 1917. He would score two more wins while with 40 Squadron.[3]

He then transferred to 24 Squadron. He began his tenure with them with his greatest feat.[4] On 15 March 1918, Redler was leading four other 24 Squadron pilots on patrol. He passed to the east of a westward bound patrol of six German craft–three Albatros fighters and three Fokker Triplanes. With the sun behind them, the British patrol dove upon a surprised sextet of Germans from Jasta 12. Redler fired at the highest flying of the Fokker Triplanes, pressing his attack to a near-collision while pumping 40 rounds into its cockpit. The triplane stalled in flight, falling off to the right and spiraling down out of the dogfight into a forced landing. Redler claimed an "out of control" victory over it. However, Tutschek had apparently been rendered insensible during the fight, and was found dead in his landed airplane under puzzling circumstances. Redler had killed one of Germany's leading aces.[5][6]

Redler ran off a string of six more victories by 20 April 1918. The following day, he was wounded in action. He was then relieved from his combat posting and returned to England.[7]

On 21 June 1918, Redler was killed in a flying accident in Scotland.[8] Ian Henderson perished along with him.[9] Redler's Military Cross was gazetted the next day:

...He encountered four enemy twoseater machines, and attacking the lowest drove it to the ground with its engine damaged. Later, he attacked one of five enemy two-seater machines, and drove it down out of control. He has destroyed in all three enemy machines and driven three others down out of control. He continually attacked enemy troops and transport from a low altitude during operations, and showed splendid qualities of courage and determination throughout.[10]

List of aerial victories

No. Date/time Aircraft Foe Result Location Notes
1 7 May 1917 @ 0935 hours Nieuport serial number B1640 Observation balloon Destroyed North of Henin-Lietard, France
2 7 June 1917 @ 1100 hours Nieuport s/n B1558 Albatros D.III fighter Driven down out of control Northeast of Ypres, Belgium
3 14 July 1917 @ 0650 hours Nieuport s/n B1558 Albatros D.III fighter Driven down out of control East of Douai, France
4 15 March 1918 @ 1030 hours Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a fighter s/n B79 Fokker Triplane fighter Driven down out of control Premontre, France Adolf Ritter von Tutschek killed in action
5 18 March 1918 @ 1140 hours Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a fighter s/n B7824 German reconnaissance plane Driven down out of control Villers le Sec, France Victory shared with Bernard Beanlands
6 23 March 1918 @ 1650 hours Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a fighter s/n B7824 German reconnaissance plane Captured South of Berlancourt, France
7 24 March 1918 @ 1010 hours Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a fighter s/n B7824 Rumpler reconnaissance plane Destroyed Pithon, France
8 26 March 1918 @ 0930 hours Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a fighter s/n C1081 Rumpler recon plane Destroyed by fire Estrées-Barleux, France
9 12 April 1918 @ 1615 hours Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a fighter s/n D275 Albatros D.V fighter Destroyed Hangard-Moreuil, France
10 20 April 1918 @ 1015 hours Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a fighter s/n D275 Pfalz D.III fighter Driven down out of control Bayonvillers, France [11]

See also

Aerial victory standards of World War I

References

Endnotes

  1. ^ (Flight, 4 July 1918) http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1918/1918%20-%200754.html Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  2. ^ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 3 May 1917) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30047/supplements/4198 Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  3. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/redler.php Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  4. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/redler.php Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  5. ^ Franks, VanWyngarden, p. 76.
  6. ^ VanWyngarden, p. 22.
  7. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/redler.php Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  8. ^ (Flight, 25 July 1918) http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1918/1918%20-%200841.html Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  9. ^ (Flight, 4 July 1918) http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1918/1918%20-%200754.html Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  10. ^ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 22 June 1918) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30761/supplements/7421 Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  11. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/redler.php Retrieved 10 June 2011.
People and aircraft
Campaigns and battles
Entente Powers air services
Central Powers air services