Reginald George Malcolm

Captain Reginald George Malcolm MC was a Canadian flying ace during World War I. He was credited with eight aerial victories scored during March, April, and May 1916.

Reginald George Malcolm
BornEither 14 January 1891, or 1890
Either Owen Sound, Canada or Manitoba, Canada
DiedAfter 16 December 1918
AllegianceGeorge V of the British Empire
Service/branchAviation
Years of service1917–1918
RankCaptain
UnitNo. 25 Squadron RFC
Commands heldAerial Fighting School No. 2
AwardsMilitary Cross

Early life

Reginald George Malcolm was a Canadian, though there are conflicting accounts of his birthplace and birth date. Some aviation historians state he was born in Manitoba, Canada in 1890.[1] The Canadian Great War Project, as well as the Aerodrome website, give his birthplace as Owen Sound, Ontario, and the date as 14 January 1891.[2][3] He was a bachelor working as a clerk in civil life before he joined the military.[2]

When he decided to join military service to fight in the First World War, he first learned to fly in the United States. He earned Aero Club of America Pilot's Certificate No. 440 from the Wright School in Augusta, Georgia on 29 March 1916.[4]

First World War service

Malcolm joined the Royal Flying Corps and was placed on the General List; on 24 February 1917 second lieutenant R. G. Malcolm was appointed a Flying Officer.[5] Eight days later, he scored his first aerial victory while teamed with Leonard Herbert Emsden in a pusher Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2d. Sometimes teamed with Emsden, sometimes with other gunners, Malcolm was already an ace when he and Emsden finished off their respective victory strings with three victories on 1 May 1917.[1]

The action that day was vividly described in public records:

On 1 May 1917, he was one of a formation of six which was attacked by 15 hostile scouts. He attacked one which he shot down and destroyed near Izel. A little later he was attacked by five scouts, one of which he drove down damaged. This machine was seen to land just west of Lens. Again, on the same patrol, he drove off two scouts which were attacking one of our artillery machines. Later in the same day, whilst on a bomb raid, he was attacked by a red scout, which damaged his engine. He immediately dived, and his observer shot down the hostile machine, which fell in flames in Bois-Bernard. 2nd Lieutenant Malcolm managed to land on our side of the lines.[3]

Emsden, his observer that day, was wounded in the hand during the fray.[6]

Malcolm was withdrawn from combat on 18 June 1917 and posted to Home Establishment in Britain.[3] On 18 July, his Military Cross award for courage was gazetted:[7]

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has shown exceptional skill and courage in aerial fighting. He has several times been attacked by superior numbers, and on each occasion has accounted for more than one of the hostile machines and effected a safe landing himself.[7]

On 1 July 1918, he was both promoted to captain and shipped home to Canada.[3] Once there, he commanded Aerial Fighting School No. 2 at Beamsville, Ontario, Canada[2] until he was transferred to staff duty at headquarters on 16 December 1918.[3]

List of aerial victories
No. Date/time Aircraft Foe Result Location Notes
1 4 March 1917 @ 1115 hours Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2d serial number 7693 LVG two-seater Destroyed Courrieres, France Gunner: Leonard Herbert Emsden; victory shared with William Drummond Matheson and gunner, two other air crews
2 17 March 1917 circa 1130 hours Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2d s/n A782 Albatros D.II Destroyed Between Oppy and Beaumont, France Gunner: C. W. Wilson
3 13 April 1917 @ 1930 hours Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2d s/n A6385 Albatros D.III Destroyed Hénin-Liétard, France Gunner: Leonard Herbert Emsden
4 14 April 1917 @ 1930 hours Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2d s/n A6383 Albatros D.III Destroyed Henin-Lietard, France Gunner: C.W. Weir; victory shared with another air crew
5 21 April 1917 @ 1845 hours Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2d s/n A8375 Captured Albatros D.III Between Thélus and Vimy, France Gunner: C.W. Weir; victory shared with Anthony Arnold RNAS
6 1 May 1917 @ 0620 hours Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2d s/n 7672 Albatros D.III Destroyed Izel-lès-Hameau, France Gunner: Leonard Herbert Emsden
7 1 May 1917 @ 0645 hours Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2d s/n 7672 Albatros D.III Captured West of Lens Gunner: Leonard Herbert Emsden
8 1 May 1917 @ 1800 hours Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2d s/n 7672 Albatros D.III Destroyed; set afire in midair Bois-Bernard, France Gunner: Leonard Herbert Emsden[1]

Post war

After Reginald George Malcolm was transferred to staff duty at headquarters on 16 December 1918,[3] he fades from history's view.

Notes
  1. Shores, Christopher; Franks, Norman; Guest, Russell (1990). Above the Trenches : A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces, 1915-1920. Grub Street. p. 253. ISBN 978-0919195110.
  2. "Captain Reginald George Malcolm". Canadian Great War Project. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  3. "Reginald Malcolm". The Aerodrome. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  4. "Unknown". Cross & Cockade Journal. Vol. 6. 1965. p. 55. Cite uses generic title (help)
  5. "No. 30163". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 July 1917. p. 6646.
  6. Above the War Fronts, p. 85.
  7. "No. 30188". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 July 1917. p. 7237.

References
  • Above the War Fronts: The British Two-seater Bomber Pilot and Observer Aces, The British Two-seater Fighter Observer Aces, And the Belgian, Italian, Austro-Hungarian and Russian Fighter Aces, 1914-1918: Volume 4 of Fighting Airmen of WWI Series: Volume 4 of Air Aces of WWI. Norman Franks, Russell Guest, Gregory Alegi. Grub Street, 1997. ISBN 1-898697-56-6, ISBN 978-1-898697-56-5.
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