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Name: William Benson Craig
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) William Craig
Country: Canada
Rank: Lieutenant
Service: Royal Naval Air Service
Royal Air Force
Units: 4N (RNAS)
204 (RAF)
Victories: 8
Born: 02 August 1895
Place of Birth: Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada
Killed In Action: 26 September 1918 Killed In Action
Place of Death: Near Blankenberge, Belgium
Cemetery: Blankenberge Town Cemetery, Blankenberge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
 
 
After serving with the Canadian Field Artillery, William Benson Craig transferred to the Royal Naval Air Service in October 1917. On 26 May 1918, he joined 204 Squadron as a Sopwith Camel pilot. Before he was killed in action, shot down by Chrisitan Kairies, Craig shot down seven Fokker D.VIIs and one Fokker DR.I during August and September of 1918.
 
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
2nd Lt. (T./Lt.) William Benson Craig, Sea Patrol (Can. F. Art.).
   Whilst acting temporarily as flight leader on one day last month he personally destroyed three enemy machines, and the remainder of his flight accounted for three more. Lt. Craig has been engaged in numerous air battles, and always displays fine spirit, ability and determination in carrying out his duties. He has personally brought down two enemy machines completely out of control, in addition to those referred to above.
Supplement to the London Gazette, 2 November 1918 (30989/12964)
 
Victories
Date Time Unit Aircraft Opponent Location
1 15 Aug 1918 0825 204 Sopwith Camel (D9268) Fokker D.VII (DESF) E of Ypres
2 15 Aug 1918 0825 204 Sopwith Camel (D9268) Fokker D.VII (DES) E of Ypres
3 16 Sep 1918 1905 204 Sopwith Camel (D3374) Fokker D.VII (DES) Blankenberghe
4 16 Sep 1918 1907 204 Sopwith Camel (D3374) Fokker D.VII (OOC) Blankenberghe
5 16 Sep 1918 1910 204 Sopwith Camel (D3374) Fokker D.VII (OOC) Blankenberghe
6 20 Sep 1918 1025 204 Sopwith Camel (D3374) Fokker D.VII (OOC) NE of Dixmude
7 20 Sep 1918 1030 204 Sopwith Camel (D3374) Fokker D.VII (OOC) SW of Ostend
8 24 Sep 1918 1845 204 Sopwith Camel (D3374) Fokker DR.I (DESF) Dixmude
 
Books
Sopwith Camel Aces of World War 1
Norman Franks / Softcover / Osprey Publishing (March 25, 2003)
 
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