Anthony Herbert William Wall | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1888-06-17)17 June 1888 London, England |
| Died | December 1989 (aged 101) Newton Abbot, Devon, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army Royal Air Force |
| Service years | c.1914–1919 1940–1945 |
| Rank | Squadron Leader |
| Unit | Middlesex Regiment No. 48 Squadron RFC |
| Conflicts | World War I • Western Front World War II |
| Awards | Military Cross& Bar Order of the British Empire |
Squadron LeaderAnthony Herbert William WallOBE MC* (17 June 1888 – December 1989) was a British World War Iflying ace credited withsixteen aerial victories.[1] He returned to serve in the Royal Air Force in World War II.
Wall first served in the17th Battalion of theMiddlesex Regiment before transferring to theRoyal Flying Corps to serve inNo. 48 Squadron as an observer/gunner in aBristol F.2 Fighter.[1]
Paired with Australian ace LieutenantFred Holliday as pilot, Wall gained his first victory on 6 April 1917, and then scored twice on 23 and 24 April to become an ace. On 9 May, he destroyed a GermanLVG reconnaissance aircraft, and later drove down threeAlbatros D.III fighters. He accounted for two more fighters on 11 May, and four more in June, finally closing out his tally with his 16th victory on 3 July 1917.[1]
On 18 July 1917 he was awarded theMilitary Cross. His citation read:
Wall receiveda bar to his Military Cross on 25 August 1917.
Wall was elected to membership of theRoyal Aero Club on 18 April 1918.[4] On 30 September 1918 he was appointed to theacting rank of major in the Royal Air Force's Administrative Branch.[5] He was appointed an Officer of theOrder of the British Empire in the1919 New Year Honours, "in recognition of valuable services rendered in connection with the War."[6] Wall was finally transferred to the RAF unemployed list on 18 October 1919.[7]
| No. | Date/Time | Aircraft/ Serial No. | Opponent | Result | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 April 1917 | Bristol F.2a | Enemy aircraft | Out of control | North-east ofArras | |
| 2 | 23 April 1917 | Bristol F.2a | Albatros D.III | Destroyed | Vimy | |
| 3 | Albatros D.III | Out of control | Shared with Lieutenants William Winkler,Roger Hay &Maurice Benjamin, and Second Lieutenants Ernest Moore &William Price. | |||
| 4 | 24 April 1917 | Bristol F.2a | Two-seater | Destroyed | South-east of Arras | |
| 5 | Albatros D.III | Out of control | Cagnicourt | Shared with Lieutenants William Winkler & Roger Hay, and Second Lieutenant Ernest Moore. | ||
| 6 | 9 May 1917 @ 0820 | Bristol F.2b (A7108) | LVG C | Destroyed | Vitry –Noyelles | Shared with Second Lieutenants William Price & Ernest Moore. |
| 7 | 9 May 1917 @ 1725–1735 | Bristol F.2b (A7108) | Albatros D.III | Out of control | East of Vitry | |
| 8 | Albatros D.III | Out of control | ||||
| 9 | Albatros D.III | Out of control | ||||
| 10 | 11 May 1917 @ 1605 | Bristol F.2b (A7108) | Albatros D.III | Destroyed | Fresnes | |
| 11 | Albatros D.III | Out of control | South-west ofIzel-lès-Équerchin | |||
| 12 | 3 June 1917 @ 1920 | Bristol F.2b (A7108) | Albatros D.III | Destroyed | Plouvain | |
| 13 | 14 June 1917 @ 2015–2020 | Bristol F.2b (A7108) | Albatros D.III | Destroyed | Arleux | |
| 14 | Albatros D.III | Out of control | ||||
| 15 | 15 June 1917 @ 1945 | Bristol F.2b (A7108) | Albatros D.III | Out of control | Étaing | |
| 16 | 3 July 1917 @ 1840 | Bristol F.2b (A7108) | Albatros D.V | Out of control | Haucourt |
Wall returned to military service during the Second World War being appointed apilot officer on probation in the Administrative and Special Duties Branch of theRoyal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on 3 March 1940.[8] He was promoted toflying officer on 28 October 1940,[9] and toflight lieutenant on 19 June 1943.[10] Wall remained on the RAFVR Emergency List post-war until finally relinquishing his commission on 10 February 1954, and was permitted to retain the rank ofsquadron leader.[11]