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 7 people of interest from campaign

Service number 1681
Private
43rd Infantry Battalion
AIF WW1
Born 7 Oct 1895

Service number OFFICER
Lieutenant
Royal Flying Corps
British Forces (All Conflicts)
Born 20 Dec 1890

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

Service number SERVI...
Captain
No. 4 Squadron
Australian Flying Corps
AIF WW1
Born 30 Mar 1889

Service number W74516
Captain
11th (WA) Battalion VDC
Australian Military Forces (WW2)
Born 16 Dec 1895

Service number OFFIC...
Lieutenant
No. 4 Squadron
Australian Flying Corps
AIF WW1
Born 2 Mar 1890

Service number 128
Lieutenant
Australian Flying Corps (AFC)
AIF WW1
Born 16 Nov 1892

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