List of World War I aces from Canada

This is a list of flying aces in World War I from Canada. A flying ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. Canadians served in the British flying services–the Royal Flying Corps, the Royal Naval Air Service, and the Royal Air Force, as Canada had no air arm until the formation of the Canadian Air Force on September 19, 1918.

For a master list of victories during the conflict, see List of World War I flying aces.

Contents

Canadian WWI aces

More than 10 victories

      This indicates that the pilot was either killed in action or killed in a flying accident.

Name Rank Victories Unit(s) Notes
Bishop, BillyBilly Bishop Lieutenant Colonel 72 21, 60, 85 VC
Collishaw, RaymondRaymond Collishaw Lieutenant Colonel 60 10N, 13N, 3W (RNAS); 47, 203 (RAF)
MacLaren, Donald RoderickDonald Roderick MacLaren Major 54 46
Barker, William GeorgeWilliam George Barker Major 50 4, 9, 15, 28, 66 (RFC); 139, 201 (RAF) VC
Atkey, Alfred ClayburnAlfred Clayburn Atkey Captain 38 18, 22
Claxton, William GordonWilliam Gordon Claxton Captain 37 41
Fall, Joseph Stewart TempleJoseph Stewart Temple Fall Flight Commander 36 3N, 9N (RNAS)
McCall, Frederick Robert GordonFrederick Robert Gordon McCall Captain 35 13, 41
Quigley, Frank GrangerFrank Granger Quigley Captain 33 70
McKeever, Andrew EdwardAndrew Edward McKeever Lieutenant Colonel 31 11
Carter, Albert DesbrisayAlbert Desbrisay Carter Major 28 19
Hoidge, ReginaldReginald Hoidge Captain 28 1, 56
McEwen, Clifford MacKayClifford MacKay McEwen Lieutenant 27 28
Soden, Frank OrmondFrank Ormond Soden Captain 27 41, 60
Whealy, ArthurArthur Whealy Captain 27 3N, 9N, 3W (RNAS); 203 (RAF)
Thomson, William McKenzieWilliam McKenzie Thomson Captain 26 20
Rosevear, Stanley WallaceStanley Wallace Rosevear Captain 25 1 Naval (RNAS); 201 (RAF)
Shields, William ErnestWilliam Ernest Shields Captain 24 41
Alexander, William MelvilleWilliam Melville Alexander Captain 22 10N, 3W (RNAS); 210 (RAF)
White, Joseph Leonard MariesJoseph Leonard Maries White Captain 22 65
Edwards, Harold LeslieHarold Leslie Edwards 2nd Lieutenant 21 20
Hickey, CharlesCharles Hickey Captain 21 4N (RNAS); 204 (RAF)
Conn, Kenneth BurnsKenneth Burns Conn Lieutenant 20 88
Lagesse, CamilleCamille Lagesse Captain 20 29
Fairclough, Arthur BradfieldArthur Bradfield Fairclough Captain 19 19, 23
Reid, Ellis VairEllis Vair Reid Flight Sub Lieutenant 19 3W; 10N
MacKay, George ChisholmGeorge Chisholm MacKay Captain 18 13N (RNAS); 213 (RAF)
Carter, Alfred WilliamsAlfred Williams Carter Major 17 3N, 10N, 3W (RNAS); 210 (RAF)
Edwards, Stearne TigheStearne Tighe Edwards Captain 17 2N, 6N, 9N, 11N; 3W (RNAS); 209 (RAF)
Falkenberg, Carl FrederickCarl Frederick Falkenberg Captain 17 84
Bell, Gerald GordonGerald Gordon Bell Captain 16 17, 22, 47 (RFC); 150 (RAF)
Burden, Henry JohnHenry John Burden Captain 16 56, 72, 85
Glen, James AlpheusJames Alpheus Glen Captain 15 3N, 10N (RNAS); 203 (RAF)
Greene, John EdmundJohn Edmund Greene Captain 15 13N (RNAS); 213 (RAF)
Clement, Carleton MainCarleton Main Clement Captain 14 22
Godfrey, Albert EarlAlbert Earl Godfrey Captain 14 10, 25, 40, 44, 78
Sorsoleil, John VictorJohn Victor Sorsoleil Captain 14 84
Thomson, GeorgeGeorge Thomson Lieutenant 14 22
Wallace, Hazel LeRoyHazel LeRoy Wallace Captain 14 9N (RNAS); 3, 201 (RAF)
Williams, Thomas FredericThomas Frederic Williams Captain 14 28, 45 Founding member of RCAF; elected to Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame
Armstrong, Frederick CarrFrederick Carr Armstrong Flight Commander 13 3N; 3W (RNAS)
Curtis, Wilfred AustinWilfred Austin Curtis Flight Commander 13 6N, 10N Elected to Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame
Howsam, George RobertGeorge Robert Howsam Captain 13 43, 70 Retired as Air Vice-Marshal of RCAF
Hoy, Ernest CharlesErnest Charles Hoy Captain 13 29 Made the first airmail flight over the Canadian Rockies 7 August 1919
Hudson, Harold ByrnHarold Byrn Hudson Lieutenant 13 28, 45
Keirstead, Ronald McNeillRonald McNeill Keirstead Captain 13 4N (RNAS); 204 (RAF)
Manuel, John GeraldJohn Gerald Manuel Captain 13 10N, 12N (RNAS); 210 (RAF)
May, Wilfrid ReidWilfrid Reid May Captain 13 209
Stanger, StanleyStanley Stanger Captain 13 28, 66
Birks, Gerald AlfredGerald Alfred Birks Lieutenant 12 66
Bromley, Edwin ClaudeEdwin Claude Bromley Lieutenant 12 22
Harrison, William LeemingWilliam Leeming Harrison Captain 12 1, 40
Hubbard, William HenryWilliam Henry Hubbard Captain 12 5, 7, 73
Irving, Gordon BuddGordon Budd Irving Captain 12 19
Jenkins, William StanleyWilliam Stanley Jenkins Captain 12 210 (RAF)
Manzer, RoyRoy Manzer Captain 12 84
Douglas McGregor Captain 12 23
Rath, Henry CoyleHenry Coyle Rath Lieutenant 12 29
Shook, Alexander MacDonaldAlexander MacDonald Shook Major 12 4N (RNAS); 204 (RAF)
Stephenson, William SamuelWilliam Samuel Stephenson Captain 12 73 Head of British Intelligence in the Western Hemisphere during World War II
Waddington, Melville WellsMelville Wells Waddington Lieutenant 12 20
White, James ButlerJames Butler White Captain 12 8N (RNAS); 208 (RAF)
Banbury, Fred EverestFred Everest Banbury Captain 11 9N (RNAS)
Chadwick, Arnold JacquesArnold Jacques Chadwick Flight Commander 11 4N, 5W (RNAS)
Davison, Hiram FrankHiram Frank Davison Lieutenant 11 22
Duncan, William James ArthurWilliam James Arthur Duncan Captain 11 60
Green, Charles D. B.Charles D. B. Green Lieutenant 11 47 (RFC); 150 (RAF)
Irwin, William RoyWilliam Roy Irwin Captain 11 56
James, Mansell RichardMansell Richard James Captain 11 45
Johnson, George OwenGeorge Owen Johnson Captain 11 24, 84
Oaks, Harold AnthonyHarold Anthony Oaks Captain 11 48 Elected to Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame
Bell, Hilliard BrookeHilliard Brooke Bell Captain 10 66
Breadner, Lloyd SamuelLloyd Samuel Breadner Major 10 3W, 3N (RNAS); 204 (RAF) Air Chief Marshal Breadner achieved the highest rank ever awarded in the RCAF
Brown, Arthur RoyArthur Roy Brown Captain 10 4N, 9N, 11N (RNAS); 209 (RAF) Credited with shooting down Manfred von Richthofen (the Red Baron)
Brown, Frederick ElliottFrederick Elliott Brown Captain 10 2, 84
Dodds, RobertRobert Dodds Captain 10 48
Koch, Alfred MichaelAlfred Michael Koch Lieutenant 10 1, 6, 70
Malone, John JosephJohn Joseph Malone Flight Sub-Lieutenant 10 3N, 3W (RNAS)
McKay, Alfred EdwinAlfred Edwin McKay Captain 10 23, 24
Moore, Guy BorthwickGuy Borthwick Moore Captain 10 1
Taylor, Frank HaroldFrank Harold Taylor Lieutenant 10 41, 84
Tudhope, John HenryJohn Henry Tudhope Captain 10 40

Fewer than 10 victories

Name Rank Victories Unit(s) Notes
Beanlands, Bernard Paul GascoigneBernard Paul Gascoigne Beanlands Captain 9 24, 70
Brown, William HenryWilliam Henry Brown Lieutenant 9 84
Bulmer, George WilliamGeorge William Bulmer Captain 9 22
Christian, Leonard ArthurLeonard Arthur Christian Lieutenant 9 6N (RNAS); 206 (RAF)
Dawes, Richard JeffriesRichard Jeffries Dawes Captain 9 28, 45
Del'Haye, Roger AmedeeRoger Amedee Del'Haye Captain 9 13, 19
Dixon, George ClaphamGeorge Clapham Dixon Captain 9 40, 43, 85
Forman, James HenryJames Henry Forman Captain 9 1N, 6N (RNAS); 70, 201 (RAF)
Goulding, AchesonAcheson Goulding Captain 9 17 (RFC); 150 (RAF)
Kerby, Harold SpencerHarold Spencer Kerby Captain 9 3N, 9N, 3W (RNAS); Walmer HD
McGoun, David MacKayDavid MacKay McGoun Captain 9 20, 22
Rogers, William WendellWilliam Wendell Rogers Captain 9 1
Salter, Ernest JamesErnest James Salter Captain 9 54
Spence, Anthony George AllenAnthony George Allen Spence Lieutenant 9 1N (RNAS); 201 (RAF)
Thompson, Louis MarkLouis Mark Thompson Lieutenant 9 62
Watson, Kenneth BowmanKenneth Bowman Watson Lieutenant 9 28, 70
Craig, William BensonWilliam Benson Craig Lieutenant 8 4N (RNAS); 204 (RAF)
De Pencier, John DartnellJohn Dartnell De Pencier Captain 8 19 (RFC); 12 (RAF)
Durrand, Jr., WilliamWilliam Durrand, Jr. Lieutenant 8 20
Fleming, Austin LloydAustin Lloyd Fleming Captain 8 46, 111
Hilton, D'Arcy FowlisD'Arcy Fowlis Hilton Lieutenant 8 29
Joy, Ernest GrahamErnest Graham Joy Major 8 49, 57 (RFC); 205 (RAF)
Junor, Kenneth WilliamKenneth William Junor Captain 8 56
Knight, Arthur GeraldArthur Gerald Knight Captain 8 4, 24, 29 Manfred von Richthofen (the Red Baron)'s 13th victim.
MacDonald, William MyronWilliam Myron MacDonald Lieutenant 8 66
Malcolm, Reginald GeorgeReginald George Malcolm Captain 8 25
Marks, George Ivan DouglasGeorge Ivan Douglas Marks Lieutenant 8 23
McDonald, RoderickRoderick McDonald Captain 8 8N (RNAS); 208 (RAF)
Rutherford, William JacksonWilliam Jackson Rutherford Captain 8 60
Sharman, John EdwardJohn Edward Sharman Flight Commander 8 3W, 10N
Smith, John HenryJohn Henry Smith Lieutenant 8 46
Smith, Langley Frank WillardLangley Frank Willard Smith Flight Sub Lieutenant 8 4N (RNAS)
Wilson, Claude MelnotClaude Melnot Wilson Lieutenant 8 25, 29, 93
Bell-Irving, Alan DuncanAlan Duncan Bell-Irving Captain 7 7, 60
Birmingham, Thomas JamesThomas James Birmingham Lieutenant 7 22
Brock, Cecil GuelphCecil Guelph Brock Lieutenant 7 1N, 9N (RNAS); 3, 209 (RAF)
Burgess, David LutherDavid Luther Burgess Lieutenant 7 25
Campbell, LynnLynn Campbell Captain 7 62
Davis, Ernest Francis HartleyErnest Francis Hartley Davis Lieutenant 7 41
Dickins, Clennell HaggerstonClennell Haggerston Dickins 2nd Lieutenant 7 211 Named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1935, an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1968
Farrell, ConwayConway Farrell Captain 7 24, 56
Foster, George BuchananGeorge Buchanan Foster Lieutenant 7 24
Gilroy, Eric CharltonEric Charlton Gilroy Lieutenant 7 11
Hilborn, William CarrallWilliam Carrall Hilborn Captain 7 28, 45, 66
Home-Hay, Jeffery BattersJeffery Batters Home-Hay Captain 7 53, 104
Jarvis, ArthurArthur Jarvis Lieutenant 7 17 (RFC); 150 (RAF)
Jenks, Archie NathanielArchie Nathaniel Jenks Lieutenant 7 20
Joslyn, Harold WaddellHarold Waddell Joslyn Lieutenant 7 20
Leitch, Alfred AlexanderAlfred Alexander Leitch Captain 7 43, 65
MacLeod, Malcolm PlawMalcolm Plaw MacLeod Lieutenant 7 41
McConnell, Roy KirkwoodRoy Kirkwood McConnell Lieutenant 7 46
Morrow, Ernest ThomasErnest Thomas Morrow Captain 7 62
Page, John AlbertJohn Albert Page Flight Lieutenant 7 3N, 10N
Puffer, Stanley AsaStanley Asa Puffer Lieutenant 7 41
Ray, Lewis HectorLewis Hector Ray Lieutenant 7 19
Smith, EmersonEmerson Smith Lieutenant 7 45 Shot down by Joachim von Busse of Jasta 3 on 26 October 1917, captured.
Taylor, Merrill SamuelMerrill Samuel Taylor Lieutenant 7 9N (RNAS); 209 (RAF)
Appleby, Percival EwartPercival Ewart Appleby Lieutenant 6 104
Clappison, Henry GordonHenry Gordon Clappison Captain 6 4N (RNAS); 204 (RAF)
Corey, Irving BanfieldIrving Banfield Corey 2nd Lieutenant 6 103
Crabb, Earl FrederickEarl Frederick Crabb Lieutenant 6 92
Drummond, John ElmerJohn Elmer Drummond Captain 6 22, 48
Herbert Howard Snowden Fowler Lieutenant 6 8N, 12N (RNAS); 208 (RAF) Discharged from the RAF when it was determined that he was almost completely deaf.
Galbraith, Daniel Murray BayneDaniel Murray Bayne Galbraith Captain 6 8N, 1W
Kelly, Ernest Tilton SumpterErnest Tilton Sumpter Kelly 2nd Lieutenant 6 1
Meek, Earl StanleyEarl Stanley Meek Captain 6 29
Millman, Norman CraigNorman Craig Millman Captain 6 48
Nash, Gerald EwartGerald Ewart Nash Flight Lieutenant 6 10N Shot down by Karl Allmenröder of Jasta 11, captured
Parlee, Medley KingdonMedley Kingdon Parlee 2nd Lieutenant 6 22
Swayze, William KeithWilliam Keith Swayze Lieutenant 6 62
Symons, Harry LutzHarry Lutz Symons Captain 6 65
Trapp, George LeonardGeorge Leonard Trapp Flight Sub-Lieutenant 6 10N
Watson, Harry EllisHarry Ellis Watson Lieutenant 6 41
Wood, Harry AlisonHarry Alison Wood Major 6 24
Anderson, George BensonGeorge Benson Anderson Flight Lieutenant 5 3N, 3W (RNAS)
Bawlf, Louis DrummondLouis Drummond Bawlf Captain 5 3N (RNAS); 203 (RAF)
Blaiklock, George WalkerGeorge Walker Blaiklock Lieutenant 5 45
Boger, William OtwayWilliam Otway Boger Captain 5 11, 56, 92
Booth, Edward BorgfeldtEdward Borgfeldt Booth Lieutenant 5 70
Bottrill, William EricWilliam Eric Bottrill 2nd Lieutenant 5 104
Compton, Harry NevilleHarry Neville Compton Lieutenant 5 23
Crompton, John BonnicherJohn Bonnicher Crompton Captain 5 60
Cummings, LumsdenLumsden Cummings Captain 5 1
Duffus, Chester StairsChester Stairs Duffus Major 5 22, 25
Eaton, Edward CarterEdward Carter Eaton Lieutenant 5 65
Elliott, William BoydWilliam Boyd Elliott Captain 5 103 (RFC); 205 (RAF)
Ellis, Sydney EmersonSydney Emerson Ellis Flight Sub Lieutenant 5 4N (RNAS)
Gauld, George William GladstoneGeorge William Gladstone Gauld Lieutenant 5 74
Gillanders, John GordonJohn Gordon Gillanders Lieutenant 5 18, 103
Gillespie, William JohnWilliam John Gillespie Lieutenant 5 41
Grange, Edward RochfortEdward Rochfort Grange Flight Lieutenant 5 8N, 1W (RNAS); 208 (RAF)
Griffith, Hugh BradfordHugh Bradford Griffith Captain 5 11, 20, 48
Hales, John PlayfordJohn Playford Hales Captain 5 9N (RNAS); 203 (RAF)
Hallonquist, Joseph EskelJoseph Eskel Hallonquist Captain 5 28
Hand, Earl McNabbEarl McNabb Hand Captain 5 45, 71, 73 Shot down and captured on 1 June 1918
Lally, Conrad TolendalConrad Tolendal Lally Captain 5 25
Little, Robert HazenRobert Hazen Little Lieutenant 5 20, 48
MacDonald, Ross MorrisonRoss Morrison MacDonald Lieutenant 5 15, 87 Shot down and captured on 29 September 1918
MacRae, John Finlay NoelJohn Finlay Noel MacRae Lieutenant 5 23
Manley, Patrick SarsfieldPatrick Sarsfield Manley 2nd Lieutenant 5 62 Shot down and captured on 27 September 1918
Matheson, William DrummondWilliam Drummond Matheson Captain 5 25
McNeaney, John HarryJohn Harry McNeaney Captain 5 79 Only Canadian ace in 79 Squadron
McRae, Russell FernRussell Fern McRae Lieutenant 5 4 (AFC); 46 (RFC)
Molyneux, Harold Arthur SydneyHarold Arthur Sydney Molyneux Lieutenant 5 56, 60
Mott, Harold EdgarHarold Edgar Mott Captain 5 9N (RNAS)
Mulock, Redford HenryRedford Henry Mulock Colonel 5 3N, 1W, 82W First Canadian and first RNAS ace of the war
Pugh, John EdwardesJohn Edwardes Pugh Captain 5 25
Russell, John BernardJohn Bernard Russell 2nd Lieutenant 5 103
Smith, James RobertJames Robert Smith 2nd Lieutenant 5 18, 33, 51, 78
Welsh, George ArthurGeorge Arthur Welsh Lieutenant 5 210 (RAF)
Whitney, Robert KennethRobert Kenneth Whitney Lieutenant 5 60
See also: List of Canadian air aces

References

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