Euan Dickson, DSC & Bar,DFC (31 March 1892 – 10 March 1980) was a British-born New Zealander bomber pilot and flying ace in the First World War. Serving with the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) and subsequently the Royal Air Force (RAF), he flew over 150 missions flying the D.H.4 aircraft. As well as flying so many bombing missions he, and his observer, was also credited with shooting down 14 enemy aircraft. After the war he returned to New Zealand and was the first person to fly across the Cook Strait.
Dickson was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England where his family lived at 12 Harland Road (off Ecclesall Road) on 31 March 1882 and emigrated to New Zealand about 1912, taking a job with an engineering firm in Thames on the North Island.[1]
First World WarEdit
In 1916 Dickson decided to return to Britain to enlist for the war. Joining the Royal Navy he was commissioned as a flight sub-lieutenant in July 1916 and was awarded his pilot's licence, number 3966, on 12 December 1916 by the Royal Aero Club.[2]
Dickson was posted to 10 Squadron RNAS in March 1917 but in April was transferred to No. 5 Squadron RNAS. This squadron was a bomber squadron flying the Airco D.H. 4 two-seater biplane aircraft and it was in this type that Dickson flew all his combat missions. On 18 December 1917 Dickson was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for his part in a bombing mission. The citation for his award reads:
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in a bombing raid on Thourout Railway Station and Varsennaere Aerodrome on 25 October 1917. These officers volunteered for the expedition in spite of extremely unfavourable weather conditions. They have all previously taken part in many bombing raids.[3]
An early production version of the DH.4 similar to the type flown by Dickson.
Promoted to temporary flight lieutenant in December 1917,[4] a Bar to the DSC was won in March 1918 for coming to the aid of another aircraft which was under attack. His citation reads:
For conspicuous gallantry in attacking enemy aircraft and in carrying out bombing raids. On 16 March 1918, he went to the assistance of a machine of his formation which was being attacked at close quarters by twelve enemy scouts. Despite the fact that all the guns on his machine, were useless owing to lack of ammunition, he turned and charged the hostile formation, splitting it up and diverting their attention from the other machine, thus undoubtedly saving it. On other occasions he has brought down enemy machines and taken part in many daylight bombing raids, at all times showing utter fearlessness and great determination.[5]
Since 17 April 1918, this officer has led eighty-four successful bombing raids. His leadership has been conspicuous for remarkable bravery, skill, and determination. On one raid directed, against a town in occupation by the enemy he obtained seven direct hits on the railway station and four on a dump outside. Thrice on a prior date he led his flight to attack enemy billets and horse lines, descending to low altitudes and engaging enemy troops on the ground.[6]
The Croix de Guerre was also awarded to Dickson by the French Army. On leaving No. 205 Squadron, he was posted to a Home Establishment in the United Kingdom until his discharge from the RAF in November 1919.[1]
Combat victoriesEdit
Dickson and the observers he flew with were credited with 14 air combat victories, two of them shared with other crews.[7]
In 1920 Dickson returned to New Zealand and on 25 August 1920 became the first person to fly the Cook Strait between North Island and South Island. Working for Canterbury Aviation he was the inaugural pilot of the first daily air mail service in New Zealand in 1921, a service between Auckland and Timaru.[8] In later life he became chairman of the Eden Motor Company before retirement in 1964.
ReferencesEdit
^ abBrodie, Ian. "Captain Euan Dickson". New Zealand Fighter Pilots Museum. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
^"Aviators' Certificates Index Cards". Royal Aero Club: 3966. December 1916.
^ ab"Euan Dickson". The Aeordrome. theaerodrome.com/. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
^"ANA and New England Airways". New Zealand stamp images. nzstamps.org.uk. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
September 01, 2023
euan, dickson, march, 1892, march, 1980, british, born, zealander, bomber, pilot, flying, first, world, serving, with, royal, naval, service, rnas, subsequently, royal, force, flew, over, missions, flying, aircraft, well, flying, many, bombing, missions, obser. Euan Dickson DSC amp Bar DFC 31 March 1892 10 March 1980 was a British born New Zealander bomber pilot and flying ace in the First World War Serving with the Royal Naval Air Service RNAS and subsequently the Royal Air Force RAF he flew over 150 missions flying the D H 4 aircraft As well as flying so many bombing missions he and his observer was also credited with shooting down 14 enemy aircraft After the war he returned to New Zealand and was the first person to fly across the Cook Strait Euan DicksonFlight Sub Lieutenant Euan Dickson RNBorn 1892 03 31 31 March 1892Sheffield EnglandDied10 March 1980 1980 03 10 aged 87 Auckland New ZealandAllegianceUnited KingdomService wbr branchRoyal Naval Air ServiceRoyal Air ForceYears of service1916 1919RankCaptainUnit10 Squadron RNASNo 5 Squadron RNAS 205 Squadron RAFBattles warsFirst World WarAwardsDistinguished Service Cross amp BarDistinguished Flying CrossCroix de Guerre France Contents 1 Early life 2 First World War 2 1 Combat victories 3 Later life 4 ReferencesEarly life EditDickson was born in Sheffield Yorkshire England where his family lived at 12 Harland Road off Ecclesall Road on 31 March 1882 and emigrated to New Zealand about 1912 taking a job with an engineering firm in Thames on the North Island 1 First World War EditIn 1916 Dickson decided to return to Britain to enlist for the war Joining the Royal Navy he was commissioned as a flight sub lieutenant in July 1916 and was awarded his pilot s licence number 3966 on 12 December 1916 by the Royal Aero Club 2 Dickson was posted to 10 Squadron RNAS in March 1917 but in April was transferred to No 5 Squadron RNAS This squadron was a bomber squadron flying the Airco D H 4 two seater biplane aircraft and it was in this type that Dickson flew all his combat missions On 18 December 1917 Dickson was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross DSC for his part in a bombing mission The citation for his award reads For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in a bombing raid on Thourout Railway Station and Varsennaere Aerodrome on 25 October 1917 These officers volunteered for the expedition in spite of extremely unfavourable weather conditions They have all previously taken part in many bombing raids 3 nbsp An early production version of the DH 4 similar to the type flown by Dickson Promoted to temporary flight lieutenant in December 1917 4 a Bar to the DSC was won in March 1918 for coming to the aid of another aircraft which was under attack His citation reads For conspicuous gallantry in attacking enemy aircraft and in carrying out bombing raids On 16 March 1918 he went to the assistance of a machine of his formation which was being attacked at close quarters by twelve enemy scouts Despite the fact that all the guns on his machine were useless owing to lack of ammunition he turned and charged the hostile formation splitting it up and diverting their attention from the other machine thus undoubtedly saving it On other occasions he has brought down enemy machines and taken part in many daylight bombing raids at all times showing utter fearlessness and great determination 5 In April 1918 the Royal Flying Corps and the RNAS were merged to form the Royal Air Force and No 5 Squadron RNAS became No 205 Squadron RAF Dickson continued to fly with the squadron until August 1918 earning a Distinguished Flying Cross for his leadership with the citation reading Since 17 April 1918 this officer has led eighty four successful bombing raids His leadership has been conspicuous for remarkable bravery skill and determination On one raid directed against a town in occupation by the enemy he obtained seven direct hits on the railway station and four on a dump outside Thrice on a prior date he led his flight to attack enemy billets and horse lines descending to low altitudes and engaging enemy troops on the ground 6 The Croix de Guerre was also awarded to Dickson by the French Army On leaving No 205 Squadron he was posted to a Home Establishment in the United Kingdom until his discharge from the RAF in November 1919 1 Combat victories Edit Dickson and the observers he flew with were credited with 14 air combat victories two of them shared with other crews 7 Combat victories 7 Number Date Observer Opponent Location1 8 December 1917 Air Mechanic Shaw Albatros D V Aertrycke Airfield2 17 February 1918 Air Mechanic 1st Grade Walter Naylor DSM Albatros D V Ostend3 18 February 1918 Air Mechanic 1st Grade Walter Naylor DSM Albatros D V St Pierre Capelle4 16 March 1918 Flight Sub Lieutenant Walter Scott Albatros D V Bohain Le Catelet5 18 March 1918 Flight Sub Lieutenant Walter Scott Albatros D V Beaurevoir6 27 March 1918 Flight Sub Lieutenant Stewart Albatros D V Rainecourt7 28 March 1918 Flight Sub Lieutenant Stewart Pfalz D III Foucaucourt8 6 April 1918 Serjeant Charles V Robinson DFM Pfalz D III Abancourt9 22 April 1918 Serjeant Charles V Robinson DFM Fokker Dr I Chaulnes10 23 April 1918 Serjeant Charles V Robinson DFM Fokker Dr I Chaulnes11 3 May 1918 Serjeant Charles V Robinson DFM Pfalz D III Chaulnes Rosieres12 3 May 1918 Serjeant Charles V Robinson DFM Pfalz D III Chaulnes Rosieres13 nb 1 3 May 1918 Serjeant Charles V Robinson DFM Pfalz D III Chaulnes Rosieres14 nb 1 18 May 1918 Serjeant Charles V Robinson DFM Albatros D V Chaulnes a b Shared victoryLater life EditIn 1920 Dickson returned to New Zealand and on 25 August 1920 became the first person to fly the Cook Strait between North Island and South Island Working for Canterbury Aviation he was the inaugural pilot of the first daily air mail service in New Zealand in 1921 a service between Auckland and Timaru 8 In later life he became chairman of the Eden Motor Company before retirement in 1964 References Edit a b Brodie Ian Captain Euan Dickson New Zealand Fighter Pilots Museum Retrieved 18 May 2010 Aviators Certificates Index Cards Royal Aero Club 3966 December 1916 No 30437 The London Gazette Supplement 18 December 1917 p 13318 No 30451 The London Gazette Supplement 28 December 1917 p 88 No 30654 The London Gazette Supplement 23 April 1918 p 5060 No 30913 The London Gazette Supplement 20 September 1918 p 11250 a b Euan Dickson The Aeordrome theaerodrome com Retrieved 18 May 2010 ANA and New England Airways New Zealand stamp images nzstamps org uk Retrieved 18 May 2010 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Euan Dickson amp oldid 1170956881, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
