2nd Lt Reginald Herbert Dilloway R.A.F

[ianw]

Can any aviation buffs shed any light on the circumstances of this 19 year olds death ?

[John_Hartley]

"The Sky their Battlefield" records Dilloway and Lt T H Broadley being on offensive patrol in Bristol F2b (No: E2525). Combat with 20 Fokker DV11s near Cambrai. At 4.30pm was last seen in a controlled descent). Originally posted as Missing in Action.

[ianw]

Thanks John. Which of these men was the pilot ?

[John_Hartley]

Ian

Sorry - should have included it earlier - Broadley was the pilot.

John

[Killratio]

Ian,

This occurred during a general engagement between the Bristols of 62 Squadron, the SE5a's of 1 Sqn and a mixture of Fokker DVII and Pfalz DXII aeroplanes including those from Jasta 23b. (The DVII and DXII being of broadly similar appearance).

Interestingly, no German claim appears to have been made for E2525, which could indicate that it was shot down by Paul Vogel in Pfalz DXII 2486/18 who himself became a victim of a joint claim by Cameron of 1 Sqn and Staton of 62 Sqn. One would have thought someone would have laid claim to a Bristol EOL.

Vogel's aeroplane came down WOL and was allocated G/HQ/6.

regards

Darryl

[aliecoco]

Hi,

Just to add on a bit extra.

I had a look at Reginald's service record at the PRO today. Not much of it, but there is a letter written by him to apply for an 'Officer Observer' position on 7 May 1918. On the 17 May 1918 his name was put forward to be considered for training, and on the 22 May 1918 along with two other cadets, 92509 Pritchard and 117741 Thompson, were asked to report to No 1 School of Aeronautics in Reading. There they were instructed on aerial observation! Reginald was appointed a temporary commission as a 2/Lt Observer Officer from 26 August 1918. He died less than three weeks later.

He started as a rifleman for the Queens Westminster Rifles, 16th Reserve Battalion. On his form (MT393A), filled out in 1917, his first choice was to be in the Royal Flying Corp!

Alie.