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| Name: |
Alexander Augustus Norman Dudley "Jerry" Pentland |
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| Country: |
Australia |
| Rank: |
Captain |
| Service: |
Royal Flying Corps
Royal Air Force |
| Units: |
16, 19, 29, 87 |
| Victories: |
23 |
| Born: |
05 August 1894 |
| Place of Birth: |
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Maitland, New South Wales |
| Died: |
1983 |
| Place of Death: |
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New South Wales |
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Alexander Augustus Norman Dudley Pentland, of Terrigal, New South Wales, joined the Australian Imperial Force in March 1915. He served as a machine gunner with the 12th Light Horse Regiment at Gallipoli but contracted enteric fever in September 1915. A hospital ship took him to England where he was discharged in February 1916. When he recovered he joined the Royal Flying Corps. He scored his first victory as a two-seater pilot in June 1916. Posted to 19 Squadron, flying SPADs, he scored 9 victories in 1917. In 1918, with 87 Squadron, he scored 13 victories flying the Sopwith Dolphin. Post-war, he returned to home and served with the Royal Australian Air Force for two years before leaving to pursue a career in civil aviation. In 1940, he rejoined the R.A.A.F as a squadron leader and served as an instructor and commanding officer of 1 Rescue and Communication Flight, earning the Air Force Cross.
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| Military Cross (MC) |
T./2nd Lt. Alexander Augustus Norman Pentland, Gen. List and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On a recent occasion he flew to an aerodrome fifteen miles behind the enemy lines, descended to within twenty feet of the ground, and fired into eight hostile machines. On his return journey he attacked a train with considerable effect from a low altitude. He has in addition brought down several enemy machines, and has always set a splendid example of fearlessness and devotion to duty in attacking enemy balloons and troops on the ground.
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| Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) |
Lt. (T./Capt.) Alexander Augustus Norman Pentland, M.C.
A gallant flight commander, who in the last three months has destroyed two enemy machines and driven down four out of control. Recently, whilst on special patrol, he, single-handed, attacked four enemy aeroplanes; having driven down one out of control, he engaged the leader, damaged his engine, and compelled him to glide to his lines. One of the remaining machines followed the leader, but he attacked the other and drove it down in a steep dive.
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| Victories |
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Date |
Time |
Unit |
Aircraft |
Opponent |
Location |
| 1 |
09 Jun 1916 |
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16 |
B.E.2c (4077) 1 |
Fokker E (DES) |
Habourdin |
| 2 |
20 Jul 1917 |
0625 |
19 |
SPAD |
Albatros C (DES) 2 |
Houthoulst Forest |
| 3 |
12 Aug 1917 |
1500 |
19 |
SPAD (B1660) |
Albatros D.III (OOC) |
Menin |
| 4 |
20 Aug 1917 |
0625 |
19 |
SPAD (B3620) |
Albatros C (OOC) 3 |
SE of Houthoulst Forest |
| 5 |
26 Aug 1917 |
0540 |
19 |
SPAD (B3620) |
DFW C (DES) 4 |
Moorseele |
| 6 |
31 Aug 1917 |
1810 |
19 |
SPAD (B3620) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) |
E of Moorslede |
| 7 |
11 Sep 1917 |
1315 |
19 |
SPAD (B3520) |
Rumpler C (DES) |
S of Bousbecque |
| 8 |
15 Sep 1917 |
1225 |
19 |
SPAD (B3620) |
Rumpler C (OOC) |
SW of Zillebeke Lake |
| 9 |
16 Sep 1917 |
1610 |
19 |
SPAD (B3620) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) |
Wervicq-Quesnoy |
| 10 |
23 Sep 1917 |
1200 |
19 |
SPAD (B3620) |
Scout (OOC) |
Passchendaele |
| 11 |
07 May 1918 |
1740 |
87 |
Sopwith Dolphin (C4157) |
Rumpler C (OOC) 5 |
Gheluvelt |
| 12 |
30 May 1918 |
1210 |
87 |
Sopwith Dolphin (C3827) |
C (DES) |
Achiet le Petit |
| 13 |
06 Jun 1918 |
0950 |
87 |
Sopwith Dolphin (C3827) |
Rumpler C (OOC) |
Amiens-Clery |
| 14 |
18 Jun 1918 |
0840 |
87 |
Sopwith Dolphin (C3827) |
Rumpler C (OOC) |
Donville |
| 15 |
18 Jun 1918 |
0840 |
87 |
Sopwith Dolphin (C3827) |
Rumpler C (OOC) |
SSW of Arras |
| 16 |
28 Jun 1918 |
0915 |
87 |
Sopwith Dolphin (D3718) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) |
N of Bapaume |
| 17 |
01 Jul 1918 |
1025 |
87 |
Sopwith Dolphin (D3718) |
Rumpler C (DES) |
Loupart Wood |
| 18 |
09 Aug 1918 |
1800 |
87 |
Sopwith Dolphin (C4162) |
Fokker D.VII (DES) |
Dernicourt |
| 19 |
10 Aug 1918 |
0930 |
87 |
Sopwith Dolphin (C4162) |
Fokker D.VII (DES) |
Miséry |
| 20 |
12 Aug 1918 |
1135 |
87 |
Sopwith Dolphin (D3718) |
Rumpler C (DES) |
Arras-Thelus |
| 21 |
14 Aug 1918 |
0840 |
87 |
Sopwith Dolphin (C4158) |
Rumpler C (OOC) 6 |
Aveluy Wood |
| 22 |
25 Aug 1918 |
0900 |
87 |
Sopwith Dolphin (D3718) |
DFW C (DES) |
Le Sars |
| 23 |
25 Aug 1918 |
0925 |
87 |
Sopwith Dolphin (D3718) |
Fokker D.VII (DES) |
S of Guedecourt |
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| 1 |
Observer Capt W H Walker |
| 2 |
Shared with Capt Frederick Sowrey |
| 3 |
Shared with Lt H C Ainger (B3564), Capt Frederick Sowrey |
| 4 |
Shared with Lt H C Ainger (B3616), Lt A E Boeree (B3520), Lt R L Graham (B3618), Lt John Candy |
| 5 |
Shared with Lt L Murray-Stewart (C4156), Lt C K Oliver (C4163) |
| 6 |
Shared with Lt D C Mangan (C8109) |
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| Books |
- Australian Air Ace
- The Exploits of " Jerry" Pentland, MC, DFC, AFC; Charles Schaedel / Rigby
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