Reginald George Malcolm

Captain Reginald George Malcolm was a Canadian flying ace during World War I. He was credited with eight aerial victories scored during March, April, and May 1916.

Early life

Reginald George Malcolm was a Canadian, though there are conflicting accounts of his birthplace and birth date. Some aviation historians state he was born in Manitoba, Canada in 1890.^[1] The Canadian Great War Project, as well as the Aerodrome website, give his birthplace as Owen Sound, Ontario, and the date as 14 January 1891.^[2][3] He was a bachelor working as a clerk in civil life before he joined the military.^[4]

When he decided to join military service to fight in the First World War, he first learned to fly in the United States. He earned Aero Club of America Pilot's Certificate No. 440 from the Wright School in Augusta, Georgia on 29 March 1916.^[5]

First World War service

Malcolm joined the Royal Flying Corps and was placed on the General List; on 24 February 1917 second lieutenant R. G. Malcolm was appointed a Flying Officer.^[6] Eight days later, he scored his first aerial victory while teamed with Leonard Herbert Emsden in a pusher Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2d. Sometimes teamed with Emsden, sometimes with other gunners, Malcolm was already an ace when he and Emsden finished off their respective victory strings with three victories on 1 May 1917.^[7]

The action that day was vividly described in public records:

On 1 May 1917, he was one of a formation of six which was attacked by 15 hostile scouts. He attacked one which he shot down and destroyed near Izel. A little later he was attacked by five scouts, one of which he drove down damaged. This machine was seen to land just west of Lens. Again, on the same patrol, he drove off two scouts which were attacking one of our artillery machines. Later in the same day, whilst on a bomb raid, he was attacked by a red scout, which damaged his engine. He immediately dived, and his observer shot down the hostile machine, which fell in flames in Bois-Bernard. 2nd Lieutenant Malcolm managed to land on our side of the lines.^[8]

Emsden, his observer that day, was wounded in the hand during the fray.^[9]

Malcolm was withdrawn from combat on 18 June 1917 and posted to Home Establishment in Britain.^[10] On 18 July, his Military Cross award for courage was gazetted:^[11]

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has shown exceptional skill and courage in aerial fighting. He has several times been attacked by superior numbers, and on each occasion has accounted for more than one of the hostile machines and effected a safe landing himself.^[12]

On 1 July 1918, he was both promoted to captain and shipped home to Canada.^[13] Once there, he commanded Aerial Fighting School No. 2 at Beamsville, Ontario, Canada^[14] until he was transferred to staff duty at headquarters on 16 December 1918.^[15]

List of aerial victories

See also Aerial victory standards of World War I

Post war

After Reginald George Malcolm was transferred to staff duty at headquarters on 16 December 1918,^[17] he fades from history's view.

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 Franks, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1990. ISBN 0-948817-19-4, ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.
• Above the War Fronts: The British Two-seater Bomber Pilot and Observer Aces, The British Two-seater Fighter Observer Aces, And the Belgian, Italian, Austro-Hungarian and Russian Fighter Aces, 1914-1918: Volume 4 of Fighting Airmen of WWI Series: Volume 4 of Air Aces of WWI. Norman Franks, Russell Guest, Gregory Alegi. Grub Street, 1997. ISBN 1-898697-56-6, ISBN 978-1-898697-56-5.
• Cross & Cockade Journal, Volume 6. Cross & Cockade, the Society of World War I Aero Historians, 1965.

Endnotes