Ernest Masters

Lieutenant Ernest Harold Masters was a British First World War flying ace credited with eight aerial victories. ^[1]

Ernest Harold Masters
Born	1899 Oldbury, Worcestershire, England
Died	24 December 1918 (aged 18–19) France
Buried	Duisans British Cemetery, Étrun, Pas-de-Calais, France 50°18′58″N 2°40′22″E
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army Royal Air Force
Years of service	1917–1918
Rank	Lieutenant
Unit	No. 45 Squadron RAF
Battles / wars	World War I Italian Front Western Front
Awards	Croix de Guerre (France)

Military service

Masters was born in Oldbury, Worcestershire, the son of George and Fanny Masters.^[1] He joined the Royal Flying Corps as a cadet, and was commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant (on probation) on the General List on 26 September 1917.^[2] He was appointed a flying officer on 29 December 1917.^[3]

Masters was posted to No. 45 Squadron RFC, based in northern Italy, in early 1918, flying the Sopwith Camel. His first victories came early on the morning of 13 May 1918 when he and Lieutenant Francis Stephen Bowles shared in the destruction an Albatros D.III over Costa, and then Masters destroyed a LVG C by himself over Frison shortly afterwards. Masters gained another double victory on 19 June, destroying and driving down two Albatros D.Vs over Monte Meatta—Asiago. On 14 July he destroyed a Type D over Monte Cismon, on 10 August a LVG C over Foclatti, and on 20 August another Type C south of Asiago. In September 1918 his squadron was moved to France, where on 23 October 1918 Masters drove down a Rumpler C over Coincourt.^[1]

On 2 November 1918 he was awarded the Croix de Guerre avec Palme by France.^[4]

Masters was killed in a flying accident on 24 December 1918,^[5] and is buried in the Duisans British Cemetery at Étrun.^[6]