William Otway Boger

William Otway Boger
Born 19 June 1895
Brandon, Manitoba, Canada
Died 10 August 1918
Arras Flying Services Memorial Pas de Calais, France
Allegiance King George V
Service/branch Cavalry, then flying services
Years of service 1915 - 1918
Rank Captain
Unit Lord Strathcona's Horse of the Canadian (Reserve) Cavalry Regiment, No. 11 Squadron RAF, No. 92 Squadron RAF, No. 56 Squadron RAF
Awards Distinguished Flying Cross

Captain William Otway Boger was a World War I flying ace credited with five victories.[1]

Boger served in Strathcona's Horse from August 1914 through September 1916. After transfer to the Royal Flying Corps, he served as an observer/gunner for No. 11 Squadron RAF in FE.2bs. He was wounded in combat two days before Christmas, 1917. He trained as a pilot and joined No. 56 Squadron, which was equipped with Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5as, on 24 May 1918. He scored his first victory on 13 June 1918, and rounded off his string with his fifth, on 8 August 1918.[2][3] He failed to return from patrol on 10 August 1918. German ace Josef Veltjens claimed a kill on a SE.5a at 1245 that same day,[4] and is usually considered the victor over Boger.[5]

Honors and awards

Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Lieut. (T./Capt.) William Otway Boger (Strathcona's Horse).

This officer has taken part in twenty-eight offensive patrols and twelve combats, accounting for four enemy aeroplanes—two destroyed in flames and two driven down out of control. As a leader he shows marked coolness and bravery, notably on a recent patrol when, as he was leading his four machines, he saw nine Pfalz scouts. Unable to rise to their height he led his patrol just beneath them in order to tempt them to attack. As the enemy did not respond he repeated the manoeuvre; the scouts then came down, and in the engagement one was shot down out of control. Reforming his patrol he met two more scouts, one of which, he destroyed in flames.

Supplement to the London Gazette, 2 November 1918 (30989/12962)

Sources of information

  1. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/boger.php Retrieved 3 February 2010.
  2. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/boger.php Retrieved 3 February 2010.
  3. ^ Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. p. 80. 
  4. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/veltjens.php Retrieved 3 February 2010.
  5. ^ Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. p. 80. 

References

Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. Christopher F. Shores, Norman L. R. Franks, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1990. ISBN 0-948817-19-4, 9780948817199.