Chester Stairs Duffus

Chester Stairs Duffus
Born	(1891-03-01)1 March 1891 Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Died	23 February 1981(1981-02-23) (aged 89)
Allegiance	Canada United Kingdom
Service / branch	Royal Flying Corps Royal Air Force
Years of service	1915–1919
Rank	Major
Unit	No. 22 Squadron RFC
Commands	No. 25 Squadron RAF
Awards	Order of the British Empire, Military Cross

Major Chester Stairs Duffus OBE MC (1 March 1891 – 23 February 1981) was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.[1]

World War I service

Duffus joined the Royal Flying Corps in 1915,[1] and flew Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2b pusher two-seaters for No. 22 Squadron during 1916;[2] one of his observer gunners was fellow ace Corporal Frank Johnson.[1] He scored five victories between 17 August and 11 December 1916. He survived a forced landing after his fourth win on 4 December, landing near Bapaume.[2] His last triumph was shared with fellow aces Captain Selden Long and another pilot.[1]

Duffus went on to command No. 25 Squadron.[1][2]

Post World War I

Duffus married Evelyn Giles at New Market on 21 June 1919; the union would produce a daughter, born the following year.[3]

Chester Stairs Duffus died on 23 February 1981.[4]

Honors and awards

Military Cross (MC)

2nd Lt. Chester Stairs Duffus, R.F.C., Spec. Res.

For conspicuous skill and gallantry in fights with hostile aircraft. On one occasion, after hard fighting, he brought down a hostile machine in flames on our side of the line. [1][5]

Sources of information

1. "Chester Stairs Duffus". www.theaerodrome.com. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
2. Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. p. 145.
3. "Wlliam Duffus of Banff Tree". www.duffus.com. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
4. "Supplement to the London Gazette". 14 November 1916. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
5. Supplement to the London Gazette, 14 November 1916 (29824/11051)

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 L. R. Franks, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1990. ISBN 0-948817-19-4, ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.