Alfred William Saunders

Name:

Country:

Ireland

Rank:

Captain

Service:

Royal Flying Corps
Royal Air Force

Units:

Victories:

Born:

16 January 1888

Place of Birth:

Dublin, Ireland

Died:

22 May 1930

Place of Death:

Te Awamutu, Waikato, New Zealand

Cemetery:

Te Awamutu Cemetery, Te Awamutu, Waikato, New Zealand

Having served with the Royal Field Artillery at Gallipoli, 2nd Lieutenant Alfred William Saunders received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate 3283 on a Maurice Farman biplane at Military School, Catterick Bridge on 20 July 1916. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in September 1917. A month later, he was posted to 60 Squadron, eventually assuming command of A Flight and scoring 12 victories as an S.E.5a pilot. In 1930, Saunders died from injuries sustained in a flying accident.

Great Britain, Royal Aero Club Aviators’ Certificates, 1910-1950

British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920

Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Lt. Alfred William Saunders.
A gallant and determined officer whose fighting spirit and enthusiasm has been a splendid example to his squadron. On one occasion whilst leading his formation of six machines, he attacked six enemy aeroplanes. Diving from 11,000 to 3,000 feet, he singled out a group of three, and shot down one. He then engaged the other two, which in their endeavour to get away collided and crashed.

Supplement to the London Gazette, 3 August 1918 (30827/9203)

Victories

	Date	Time	Unit	Aircraft	Opponent	Location
1	10 May 1918	1735	60	S.E.5a (C5450)	Pfalz D.III (DES)	Bapaume-Péronne
2	16 May 1918	1615	60	S.E.5a (C5450)	Albatros D.V (DES)	Beaulencourt
3	23 May 1918	0550	60	S.E.5a (B137)	Albatros D.V (DES) ¹	Fricourt
4	09 Jun 1918	1045	60	S.E.5a (B137)	Hannover C (DESF) ¹	Arras
5	09 Jun 1918	1050	60	S.E.5a (B137)	Hannover C (OOC) ¹	Arras
6	02 Jul 1918	1045	60	S.E.5a (E1279)	Pfalz D.III (DES)	Villers-Brettoneaux
7	02 Jul 1918	1050	60	S.E.5a (E1279)	Pfalz D.III (DES)	Bois de Pierret
8	02 Jul 1918	1050	60	S.E.5a (E1279)	Pfalz D.III (DES)	Bois de Pierret
9	01 Aug 1918	2020	60	S.E.5a (E3916)	Fokker D.VII (OOC)	Bapaume
10	08 Aug 1918	1315	60	S.E.5a (E3916)	C (OOC)	Chaulnes
11	09 Aug 1918	1545	60	S.E.5a (E3916)	Fokker D.VII (DES)	Chaulnes
12	09 Aug 1918	1547	60	S.E.5a (E3916)	Fokker D.VII (DES)	Nesle

1	Shared with Capt James Belgrave

Books

Norman Franks. SE 5/5a Aces of World War I. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2007