Ernest James Salter

Ernest James Salter
Born(1897-11-09)9 November 1897
Greenbank, Ontario, Canada
Died23 March 1959(1959-03-23) (aged 61)
Oakville, Ontario, Canada
AllegianceCanada
Service / branchRoyal Flying Corps
RankCaptain
UnitNo. 54 Squadron RAF
AwardsFrench Legion d'honneur and Croix de Guerre
Other workServed as bombing instructor in World War II

Captain Ernest James Salter was a Canadian World War I flying ace credited with nine aerial victories. He returned to service during World War II.

Early life

Ernest James Salter was born in Greenbank, Ontario, Canada on 9 November 1897. He was the son of Mary Helen Coultis and Theophilus L. Salter.[1] Ernest was living in Mimico when he enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps on 3 June 1917.[2][3]

World War I

Salter trained as a pilot and was awarded Royal Aero Club Pilot's Certificate No. 7211 on 27 August 1917.[4] He was commissioned as a probationary temporary second lieutenant on 13 October 1917.[5] He then sailed from Canada on 29 October 1917. He was appointed a Flying Officer on 26 February 1918, and arrived in France on 15 March 1918. He joined 54 Squadron from 19 March to 12 April 1918, when he was hospitalized. He rejoined the squadron on 19 May 1918. He was promoted to captain on 9 August 1918; such promotions were given to those appointed as Flight Commander. On 2 September 1918, Salter was wounded in action. He was invalided back to England on 7 September 1918.[4] Although he won no British awards, Salter was honoured by the French with the Legion d'Honneur on 30 November 1918[6] as well as the Croix de guerre avec Palme.[2][7]

List of aerial victories

No. Date/time Aircraft Foe Result Location Notes
1 9 June 1918 @ 0715 hours Sopwith Camel serial number B7171 German reconnaissance plane Driven down out of control East of Zandvoorde
2 4 July 1918 @ 1430 hours Sopwith Camel s/n D1948 Hannover reconnaissance plane Driven down out of control Herleville
3 5 July 1918 @ 1050 hours Sopwith Camel s/n D1948 Albatros D.V Driven down out of control Northeast of Lamotte
4 21 July 1918 @ 1555 hours Sopwith Camel s/n D1946 Halberstadt reconnaissance plane Destroyed East of Dravegny
5 21 July 1918 @ 1600 hours Sopwith Camel s/n D1946 Halberstadt reconnaissance plane Destroyed Half a mile east of Chery
6 21 July 1918 @ 1915 hours Sopwith Camel D9497 Fokker D.VII Set afire; destroyed Fère en Tardenois
7 22 August 1918 @ 1745 hours Sopwith Camel s/n D1946 Albatros reconnaissance plane Destroyed 200 yards west of Grévillers Victory shared with three other pilots
8 25 August 1918 @ 1045 hours Sopwith Camel s/n D1946 Fokker D.VII Driven down out of control Combles
9 30 August 1918 @ 0645 hours Sopwith Camel s/n E5168 Fokker D.VII Driven down out of control Southeast of Riencourt [1][8]

Post World War I

Salter was repatriated on 29 March 1919. He reputedly flew as a bush pilot for three years afterwards. He returned to duty in World War II, serving as a bombing instructor.[4]

Ernest James Salter died in Oakville, Ontario, Canada on 26 March 1959.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b "Ernest Salter". The Aerodrome. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Captain Ernest James Salter :: CGWP Record Detail". canadiangreatwarproject.com. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  3. ^ mimicosoldiers.blogspot.com http://mimicosoldiers.blogspot.com/. Retrieved 9 September 2011. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)[title missing]
  4. ^ a b c d http://airforce.ca/uploads/airforce/2009/07/gong-8s-t.html Archived 2012-03-31 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  5. ^ "No. 30403". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 November 1917. p. 12459.
  6. ^ "No. 31042". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 November 1918. p. 14204.
  7. ^ "No. 13476". The Edinburgh Gazette. 22 July 1919. p. 2456.
  8. ^ Shores, Christopher; Franks, Norman; Guest, Russell (1990). Above the Trenches : A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces, 1915-1920. Grub Street. p. 329. ISBN 978-0919195110.