1918 Royal Air Force RAF / RFC Combat Report for Shooting Down German Plane

This is a very scarce original WWI RAF Ace, original combat report (1 page) dated 13th May 1918. Describing details of an attack by Captain Napier MC flying an S.E.5a D/213 on a D.F.W. (Rumpler(?)) while on an early morning patrol. The report bears the original signature of Captain Napier MC who was credited with a total of 12 victories. His Squadron commander – Major R.S. Dallas DSO, DSC and Bar, who comments and signs the report, was also an Ace with 37 confirmed victories.

The report details in 3 short paragraphs observing the enemy aircraft (EA) appraoching British lines at 2/3,000 feet and firing 250 rounds in bursts chasing him down to 1,000 feet before turning away heavily engaged by enemy A.A.guns. The result is “1 E.A. crashed”. The report is originally signed by Capt Napier MC and a further comment originally signed by the C.O. 40 Squadron – Major Dallas DSO, DSC and Bar, stating that the attack and crash was witnessed by an A.W. of No. 2 Squadron. The E.A. crashed near LACOUTURE.

– Captain Ian Patrick Robert Napier MC. Legion d’Honneur, was commissioned in the 9th Battalion Agyll and Sutherland Highlanders in September 1914 transferring to the RFC in August 1916. He scored his first victory in April 1917 and went on to be credited with 12 victories.

– Major Roderic Stanley Dallas DSO, DSC and Bar, C de G, was an Australian fighter ace of WWI with 37 confirmed victories before he was listed missing on 1st June 1918, later it was learned he enagaged 3 Fokkers and was shot down over Lievin. He was promoted Major and given command of 40 Squadron in April 1918 when the RFC and RNAS were merged into the RAF. He was further promoted Lieut Col and given command of a Wing on 1 June 1918 and ordered to cease flying but he did not live to receive this message.

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