Richard Jeffries Dawes


Richard Jeffries Dawes DFC was a Canadian World War I flying ace credited with nine aerial victories.

Early liife

Richard Jeffries Dawes was born on 23 October 1897 in Lachine, Quebec, Canada. He joined the military for World War I, and ended up a Sopwith Camel pilot in the Royal Flying Corps.

World War I

By late 1917, Dawes was posted to 45 Squadron on the Western Front as a pilot. He scored his first aerial victory on the Western Front before 45 Squadron was transferred to Italy. He became an ace with the squadron. Then, at about the time the Royal Flying Corps was being consolidated into the Royal Air Force, Dawes was transferred for a short spell to 28 Squadron, which was also in Italy. He scored a victory with them before transferring back to 45 Squadron. He wrapped up his tally with a final three wins with the unit in June 1918. His courage earned him a Distinguished Flying Cross, which was gazetted on 21 September 1918:

List of aerial victories

See also Aerial victory standards of World War I
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No.Date/timeAircraftFoeResultLocationNotes
120 October 1917 @ 2040 hoursSopwith CamelAlbatros D.IIIDriven down out of controlKastelhoek
231 December 1917 @ 0945 hoursSopwith Camel serial number B6412Albatros D.IIIDriven down out of controlPieve de Soligo
314 January 1918 @ 1500 hoursSopwith Camel s/n B6412Albatros D.IIIDestroyedBorgo
427 January 1918 @ 1340 hoursSopwith Camel s/n B6412DFW reconnaissance planeDriven down out of controlConegliano
510 March 1918 @ 1130 hoursSopwith Camel s/n B6412DFW reconnaissance planeDestroyedSoutheast of SalgaradaVictory shared with Sidney Cottle
63 May 1918 @ 0915 hoursSopwith Camel s/n B7359Aviatik reconnaissance planeDestroyedMt. SantoOnly victory scored while with 28 Squadron
73 June 1918 @ 0905 hoursSopwith Camel s/n B6412Albatros D.VDriven down out of controlCampo
87 June 1918 @ 0930 hoursSopwith Camel s/n B6412Albatros D.IIIDestroyedPiovena
915 June 1918 @ 0745 hoursSopwith Camel s/n B6412Aviatik reconnaissance planeDestroyedBetween Mt. Campo and Poselaro

Post World War I

Richard Jeffries Dawes lived until 22 April 1983, though details of his postwar life are unknown. He died in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Endnotes