Stanley Stanger

Last updated
Stanley Stanger
Nickname(s)Stan
Born10 July 1894
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Died10 September 1967
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Allegiance King George V of the British Empire
Service/branch Canadian Expeditionary Force
Royal Flying Corps
RankCaptain
Unit No. 66 Squadron RFC, No. 28 Squadron RAF
Awards Military Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross

Captain Stanley Stanger was a World War I flying ace credited with 13 confirmed aerial victories scored on the Italian Front. He was also noted for his ingenious escape from being captured by the Austro-Hungarians.

Contents

Entry into service

Stanley Stanger was an investment broker when he volunteered in Toronto for the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 21 March 1916. He claimed a year's prior military service in the Westmount Rifles with the rank of Sergeant. His mother Mary was named as his next of kin. He was five feet six inches tall at time of enlistment. He had dark brown hair, brown eyes, and dark complexion. [1]

Aerial service

Stanger was commissioned on 10 May 1917. He joined 66 Squadron in France as a Sopwith Camel pilot on 18 October 1917. Shortly thereafter, the squadron relocated to Italy. At Ormelle on 14 December 1917, Stanger forced down an Albatros D.V out of control for his first victory. He would score twice more with 66 Squadron, destroying two foes a month apart, on 18 March and 17 April 1918. On 27 April 1918, he transferred to 28 Squadron. He shot down opposing two-seater reconnaissance planes on 2, 3, and 13 May, becoming an ace in the process. He continued to score, and by the end of July, he was a double ace. On 23 August 1918, he was wounded in action by anti-aircraft fire. His wounds grounded him until 20 September. On 26 September 1918, he scored his eleventh win, sharing it with Clifford MacKay McEwen. Stanger then destroyed a pair of Albatros D.Vs over the Tagliamento River on 4 October to finish his victories. He ended up with a record of three enemy planes set afire in midair, another nine destroyed while in flight, and one driven down out of control. [2]

Stanger fell ill while he was aloft on one of his October sorties. He landed on a handy airfield and shut down his plane's engine before realizing he had landed on an Austro-Hungarian strip. His only chance to escape any enemy soldiers investigating the racket of an untimely landing was to restart his engine and fly away. The customary method for starting an engine was for a ground crew member to yank the propeller as a lever to crank the engine, while a pilot sat at the controls. Stanger's solution was to remove his boots and chock the landing gear tires with the footwear. He then cranked the prop, started the engine, circled about the rotating blades, clambered into the cockpit, and departed. The fate of the boots is unknown. [3]

Post World War I

Stanger returned to the family business in Canada. He rose to President of that firm, Guardian Trust Company of Montreal, in 1939, and remained in that position until a few months prior to his death. [4]

Honors and awards

Military Cross

Lt. (T./Capt.) Stanley Stanger, R.A.F. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to; duty in destroying six enemy aeroplanes. He did splendid service. [5]

Distinguished Flying Cross

Lieut. (A./Capt.) Stanley Stanger, M.C. (ITALY)

A dashing and determined leader who has frequently engaged enemy formations .in superior numbers, inflicting heavy casualties. On 4 October he, in company with another machine, engaged six enemy aeroplanes; three of these were destroyed, Captain Stanger accounting for two. In all he has destroyed five enemy machines, displaying on all occasions great courage and skill. (M.C. gazetted 16 September 1918.) [6]

Endnotes

  1. ↑ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/attestation/stanger.php Note that Canadian enlistees swore allegiance to the British king. Retrieved on 30 September 2010.
  2. ↑ Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. p. 349.
  3. ↑ Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. p. 349.
  4. ↑ Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. p. 349.
  5. ↑ ((Supplement to the London Gazette, 16 September 1918) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31046/supplements/14325 Retrieved on 30 September 2010.
  6. ↑ ((Supplement to the London Gazette, 3 December 1918) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31046/supplements/14325 Retrieved on 30 September 2010.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Granger Quigley</span> Canadian flying ace

Francis Granger Quigley, was a Canadian aviator and flying ace of the First World War, who was credited with 33 aerial victories. He was notable for scoring the majority of his victories against German fighter planes.

Captain Thomas Frederic Williams MC was a Canadian First World War flying ace, officially credited with 14 victories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George R. Howsam</span> Canadian First World War flying ace

Air Vice Marshal George Roberts Howsam, CB, MC was a Canadian First World War flying ace, officially credited with 13 victories. Serving in the newly formed Royal Canadian Air Force in the inter-war years, Howsam served as the RCAF's Director of Training during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ernest Charles Hoy</span> Canadian fighter pilot (1895–1982)

Captain Ernest Charles Hoy DFC was a Canadian First World War flying ace, officially credited with 13 victories. He later pioneered airmail flight over the Canadian Rockies.

Lieutenant Harold Byrn Hudson MC was a Canadian First World War flying ace, officially credited with 13 victories. As wingman to William George Barker, he scored a record five victories over observation balloons in a single day.

Captain Ronald McNeill Keirstead DSC was a Canadian First World War flying ace, officially credited with 13 victories.

Captain Hazel LeRoy Wallace DFC was a Canadian First World War flying ace, officially credited with 14 victories. His record shows him to have been a notable team player in squadron tactics.

Captain Robert Norwood Hall was a South African World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.

Lieutenant Harold Arthur Sydney Molyneux was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories. During World War II, he returned to service in the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Lieutenant Alfred John Haines was a British World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.

Captain Thomas Sydney Sharpe was a British World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.

Captain Ronald Sykes (1899-1977) was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.

Brigadier Charles Gordon Ross was a career soldier who served in both the Royal Air Force and the South African Air Force. He was a quadruple ace, being credited with 20 victories during World War I.

Lieutenant D'Arcy Fowlis Hilton was a Canadian-born American World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.

Lieutenant Claude Melnot Wilson DFC was a Canadian World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.

Captain James Dennis Payne was a World War I flying ace credited with fourteen aerial victories.

Captain Frank Clifton Gorringe was a British World War I flying ace credited with 14 aerial victories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenneth Russell Unger</span>

Lieutenant Kenneth Russell Unger was an American World War I flying ace credited with fourteen aerial victories. His candidacy rejected by his own nation, Unger applied to the British Royal Flying Corps for military pilot training in June 1917. Once trained, he was assigned to the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). As the RNAS was merged into the Royal Air Force, Unger scored his aerial victories between 26 June and 1 November 1918. In later life, Unger remained involved in aviation and served again during World War II. He also joined the U.S. Navy Reserves, rising to the rank of rear admiral.

Captain Reginald Carey Brenton Brading was a British World War I flying ace credited with thirteen confirmed aerial victories.

Squadron Leader Walter Macfarlane Carlaw was a Scottish flying ace who served during World War I, and was credited with 12 confirmed aerial victories. He returned to RAF service during World War II.

References


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.