Virtual War Memorial

AFC / RFC operations Western Front / Middle East (World War 1, 1 April 1915 to 31 October 1918)

Australian pilots were few and far between in the early years of World War I. However by War's end they had certainly made their mark.

Numbers of Australian pilots served with RFC and later RAF units as well as in the Australian Flying Corps.

A significant number of these men went on to play key roles in civil and military aviation;

Sir Charles Kingsford Smith (/explore/people/176109), Charles Ulm , Sir Patrick Taylor, Sir Ross (/explore/people/344326) and Sir Keith Smith (/explore/people/378603) were just a few among many who shaped aviation in the 20th century and who had 'cut their teeth' in the skies of World War I.

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Showing 8 people of interest from campaign

Service number COMMI...
Lieutenant
Royal Flying Corps
British Army
Born 19 Feb 1897

Service number W74516
Captain
11th Battalion VDC (WA)
Army Reserve WW2
Born 16 Dec 1895

Service number OFFICER
Lieutenant
Royal Flying Corps
British Army
Born 20 Dec 1890

Service number 217
Captain
Australian Flying Corps (AFC)
AIF WW1
Born 4 Dec 1892

Service number COMMI...
Lieutenant
No. 4 Squadron
Australian Flying Corps
Australian Flying Corps
Born 4 Aug 1893

Service number OFFICER
Second Lieutenant
28th Infantry Battalion
AIF WW1
Born 26 Jul 1887

GODLEE, John

Service number 274
Second Lieutenant
Royal Flying Corps
British Army
Born 12 Aug 1891

Service number 3500
Private
5th Infantry Battalion
AIF WW1
Born 3 Jan 1891

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