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...
Second Lieutenant
Born 24 Jan 1898

Service number O251334
Air Commodore
Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
Born 26 Aug 1894

Service number OFFICER
Lieutenant
Royal Flying Corps
British Forces (All Conflicts)
Born 1 Aug 1893

Service number 251051
Squadron Leader
RAAF Headquarters (Melbourne / Brisbane)
Royal Australian Air Force
Born 22 Oct 1878

Service number COMMI...
Lieutenant
No. 4 Squadron
Australian Flying Corps
AIF WW1
Born 4 Aug 1893

Service number COMMI...
Lieutenant
Royal Flying Corps
British Forces (All Conflicts)
Born 15 Jan 1892

Service number COMMI...
Lieutenant
Australian Flying Corps (AFC)
AIF WW1

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

View all 42 names

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1919