Gavin L. Graham

Lieutenant Gavin Lynedoch Graham (18 October 1894—17 June 1963) DFC, LdH, CdG was a South African World War I flying ace credited with thirteen confirmed aerial victories. ^[1]

Gavin Lynedoch Graham
Born	(1894-10-18)October 18, 1894 Grahamstown, Cape Colony
Died	17 June 1963(1963-06-17) (aged 68)
Allegiance	Union of South Africa
Service / branch	Royal Flying Corps
Rank	Lieutenant
Unit	18th Hussars No. 70 Squadron RAF No. 73 Squadron RAF
Awards	Distinguished Flying Cross French Legion d'Honneur Croix de Guerre

Aerial service

Graham served with the 18th Hussars from April 1915 through August 1916 before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps. He put in 200 hours flight time as an observer in No. 70 Squadron RFC before being sent to pilot's training in March 1917. On 14 December, he was assigned to No. 73 Squadron RFC as a Sopwith Camel pilot. He scored his first win on 3 May 1918, scored steadily, and on 19 July he became an ace. His next victory, two days later, came during a squadron patrol that destroyed a Fokker Dr.I triplane, and was shared with Major Maurice Le Blanc-Smith, Lieutenant William Sidebottom, Lieutenant William Stephenson, Second Lieutenant Robert Chandler, and two other pilots, with every pilot credited with a win. He would not share a triumph again until his eleventh on 8 August; then he teamed with Chandler and Captain Emile John Lussier to destroy an enemy two-seater reconnaissance plane, for his sole win over a two-seater. On the 25th, he destroyed a Fokker D.VII and teamed with another British pilot to drive down another one out of control. Graham finished his war with over 250 flight hours as a pilot, nine destroyed enemy machines to his credit, three enemy fighters driven down out of control, and one enemy plane captured.^[1] On 2 November 1918, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross, being lauded as:^[2]

A bold and gallant officer, whose success in attacking troops and transport with bombs and machine guns has been marked. He has also proved himself a skilful fighter in the air, having destroyed eight enemy machines and driven down two others out of control.

Aerial victory list

See also: Aerial victory standards of World War I

No.	Date/time	Aircraft	Foe	Result	Location	Notes
1	3 May 1918 @ 1250 hours	Sopwith Camel	Albatros D.V	Driven down out of control	Ploegsteert
2	21 May 1918 @ 1830 hours	Sopwith Camel	Fokker Dr.1	Destroyed	Armentieres
3	10 June 1918 @ 1830 hours	Sopwith Camel	Albatros D.V	Destroyed	Mesnet
4	18 July 1918 @ 1500 hours	Sopwith Camel	Fokker D.VII	Destroyed	Oulchy-le-Château
5	19 July 1918 @ 0620 hours	Sopwith Camel	Fokker D.VII	Captured	Chateau-Verses-Freuille
6	21 July 1918 @ 2000 hours	Sopwith Camel	Fokker Dr.1	Destroyed	Northeast of Oulchy-le-Château	Victory shared with 7 other pilots.
7	22 July 1918 @ 1810 hours	Sopwith Camel	Fokker D.VII	Driven down out of control	Bazoches
8	22 July 1918 @ 1810 hours	Sopwith Camel	Fokker D.VII	Destroyed	Bazoches
9	25 July 1918 @ 1900 hours	Sopwith Camel	Fokker D.VII	Destroyed	East of Courmont
10	29 July 1918 @ 1900 hours	Sopwith Camel	Fokker D.VII	Set afire and destroyed	Northeast of Soissons
11	8 August 1918 @ 1720 hours	Sopwith Camel	Reconnaissance craft	Destroyed	Nesle	Shared with two other pilots
12	25 August 1918 @ 1125 hours	Sopwith Camel	Fokker D.VII	Destroyed	North of Bapaume
13	25 August 1918 @ 1130 hours	Sopwith Camel	Fokker D.VII	Driven down out of control	North of Bapaume	Victory shared with another pilot[1][3]