Arthur Reed (RAF officer)

Lieutenant Arthur Eden Reed DFC & bar (22 August 1898 – 29 June 1937) was a South African World War I flying ace accredited with 19 aerial victories according to the Aerial victory standards of World War I. He is one of the flying aces listed on List of World War I flying aces from the British Empire and is included and on the List of World War I aces credited with 15–19 victories.[1] "World War I Aces of South Africa". The Aerodrome. Retrieved 17 October 2013.

Arthur Eden Reed

DFC & bar
Born(1898-08-22)22 August 1898
Pretoria, South Africa
Died29 June 1937(1937-06-29) (aged 38)
Durban, South Africa
Allegiance Union of South Africa
Service/branchRoyal Flying Corps
RankLieutenant
UnitNo. 29 Squadron RAF
Battles/warsWorld War I
AwardsDistinguished Flying Cross and bar
Spouse(s)Beryl Vilinda Reed (Marquiss)

Early years

Childhood and education

Reed was born on 22 August 1898 in Pretoria, South Africa, son of Charles James Bowler Reed, and his wife Maria Pauline Voigt. Brother to Charles Bolingbroke Reed, the eldest of five children, and his three sisters Ethel, Edna and Phyllis. Reed attended Pretoria Boys High School, along with his brother Charles, where he matriculated in December 1914. In an extract from a piece titled "1914 - The First World War in Retrospect - Seventy years later in 1984" The P.B.H.S. Magazine, The Pretorian, of 1984 makes the following mention about Arthur Reed and a strafing event he received commendation for:

Lieut. A.E. Reed was awarded the D.F.C. and Bar while serving in the R.F.C. Reed had matriculated in December 1914...Reed, when out machine gunning the Germans near Armetiers, spotted a German staff car. He swooped down to close quarters and managed to pick off each of the occupants including a German general and other high ranking staff officers. The wrecked car with its occupants was found the next day during the British advance. Reed received a personal letter from General Plumer (Herbert Plumer), himself, granting him an immediate award of the D.F.C. Reed subsequently won a bar to the D.F.C.[2]

Military career

He began his service with the army in German East Africa between June 1915 and August 1916. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in April 1917.[3] He was posted to duty to fly RAF SE.5as with 29 Squadron in March 1918. His first victory came on 28 May 1918, when he drove a Pfalz D.III down out of control. He scored steadily, including a triple win on 18 August, with his last victory coming on 13 September 1918.[4] He tended to shoot down enemy two-seaters, especially trench strafers; his final victory list included 11 two-seaters, including six ground attack aircraft.[3]

No. 29 Squadron RAF

Lieutenant Reed joined the 29th Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps in April 1917. He was posted to 29 Squadron in March 1918. Among his compatriots in this squadron were South African Air Aces Thomas Sinclair Harrison, Christoffel Venter. Charles G. Ross (SAAF officer) and Edgar O. Amm. His friends here would call him "Pud". Of his 19 victories, 18 were aircraft and 1 kite balloon, all of which he destroyed between May and September 1918. Eleven aircraft were two-seaters and six of these were trench-staffing Halberstadt CL.II and Hannovers (Hannover CL.II or Hannover CL.III) of the Schutzstaffeln (Protection flights). Reed flew the SE 5/5a aircraft manufactured by Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 and claimed at his last seven victories in E4000, which was lost on 20 September 1918, after being passed on to Capt. G. C. Ross when Capt. Reed had been sent back to the U.K. to rest. At least five more victories where with his SE 5a machine C1942. He returned to the squadron in 1919, when the squadron was based in Bickendorf, Germany.

Aerial victories

Between 29 May 1918 and 13 September 1918 Lieutenant Reed had nineteen aerial victories accredited to him. A list of these is detailed on The Aerodrome, a website dedicated to the Aces and Aircraft of World War I[4]

Honors and awards
Lt. Arthur Eden Reed

On a recent occasion, when on wireless interception duty, this officer attacked two Albatross two-seaters, both of which were destroyed, Lt. Reed shooting down one and his observer the other. On another occasion he attacked two enemy machines, destroying one; the second fled. A bold and skilful airman.[5]

Lt. Arthur Eden Reed. (FRANCE)

A bold and skilful scout pilot of undaunted courage who has destroyed eleven enemy aircraft. On August 31st he, singlehanded, attacked five Fokkers shooting one down. And this is only one instance of several where he has successfully engaged the enemy in superior numbers. (D.F.C. gazetted 2nd November, 1918.)[6]

Death

Reed died young of broncho pneumonia after a seven-day illness, at the Railwaymens' Nursing Home in Entabeni, Durban, South Africa. In some references his birth date is reflected as 1898. His death certificate cites his age as 37 years and 10 months which would suggest his birth year as 1899.[7]

References
  1. http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/safrica/reed1.php Retrieved 21 December 2009.
  2. "The Pretorian 1984: 1914 - The First World War in Retrospect".
  3. https://books.google.com/books?id=Y86wEhmaLT0C&pg=PA94&dq=se5a+aces+of+world+war+I&lr=&as_brr=0&cd=2#v=onepage&q=Reed&f=false Retrieved 21 December 2009.
  4. http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/safrica/reed1.php
  5. "London Gazette, 1 November 1918 (30989/12971)".
  6. "London Gazette, 29 November 1918 (31046/14317)".
  7. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP7T-9MY4

Citations

Bibliography
  • Franks, Norman (2007). SE 5/5a Aces of World War I. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-180-9.
  • Robinson, Bruce (1959). SE Air Aces of the 1914-1918 War. Letchworth: Harleyford Publications Ltd. ISBN 978-0-81686-350-1.
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