The Aerodrome Home Page
Aces of WWI
Aircraft of WWI
Books and Videos
The Aerodrome Forum
Help
Medals & Decorations
Search The Aerodrome
Today in History



Name: Ronald Graham
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) with Bar
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Order of the Crown [Belgium]
Croix de Guerre [Belgium]
Ronald Graham
Country: Scotland
Rank: Major
Service: Royal Naval Air Service
Royal Air Force
Units: Seaplane Defence Flight, 13N (RNAS) 
213 (RAF)
Victories: 5
Born: 19 July 1896
Place of Birth: Yokohama, Japan
Died: 23 June 1967
Place of Death: Sannox, Isle of Arran, Scotland
 
 
The son of William Graham, Ronald Graham was educated at St. Joseph's College, Yokohama and Castle Douglas Academy in Scotland. He was commissioned a Temporary Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Navy on 25 May 1915 and promoted to Flight Sub-Lieutenant in September 1915. He received Royal Aero Club Certificate 2041 on a Grahame-White biplane at Grahame-White School, Hendon on 15 November 1915. Graham was posted to the Dover Seaplane Station in early 1916; to Seaplane Base, Dunquerque, 8 June 1916; O.C. Seaplane Defence Flight, Baby-St. Pol, 30 June 1917; and was commanding officer of 213 Squadron from May 1918 until the end of the war. He received a permanent commission in the Royal Air Force as Captain on 1 August 1919. Post-war, he remained in the R.A.F. and retired as Air Vice-Marshal on 29 June 1948.

Listed as Ronald Grahame in the London Gazette.
Great Britain, Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificates, 1910-1950
 
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
Flight Sub-Lieutenant Ronald Grahame, R.N.A.S.
   For exceptional gallantry in attacking and beating off four enemy seaplanes whilst on escort duty off the Belgian coast on the 22nd September, 1916.
 
 
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) Bar
Flt. Lieut. Ronald Grahame, D.S.C., R.N.A.S.
   For conspicuous gallantry during raids on the seaplane station at Zeebrugge. On one occasion he descended to 600 feet, and on another occasion to 300 feet, before releasing his bombs.
   (The award of the Distinguished Service Cross was announced in London Gazette dated 25th October, 1916.)
 
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Act. Flt. Cdr. Ronald Graham, D.S.C., R.N.A.S.
   For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in air fights and bombing raids. Since the award of a bar to the Distinguished Service Cross, Act. Flt. Cdr. Graham has carried out five night bombing raids, and attacked and brought down three enemy seaplanes. On one occasion he ascended at night for the purpose of attacking hostile machines, notwithstanding the fact that he had only returned a few hours previously from a successful action with hostile aircraft in superior numbers. He has always displayed remarkable skill and courage.
 
Victories
Date Time Unit Aircraft Opponent Location
1 19 Jun 1917 0530 St. Pol SDF Sopwith Baby (N1016) Seaplane (DES) 10 mi NNE of Nieuport
2 12 Aug 1917 1745 St. Pol SDF Sopwith Pup (N6478) Seaplane (DES) 1 off Ostend
3 15 Sep 1917 1910 13N Sopwith Camel (B3794) Seaplane (DESF) 2 12 mi NE of Nieuport
4 25 Sep 1917 1700 13N Sopwith Camel (B6240) Seaplane C (DES) near Ostend
5 19 Oct 1918 1520 213 Sopwith Camel (D8504) LVG C (DESF) Somergem

1 Shared with FSL Leonard Slatter, FLt P S Fisher (N6437)
2 Shared with FSL Leonard Slatter
 
Aces · Aircraft · Books · Forum · Help · Medals · Search · Today