296:"A gallant and determined officer whose fighting spirit and enthusiasm has been a splendid example to his squadron. On one occasion whilst leading his formation of six machines, he attacked six enemy aeroplanes. Diving from 11,000 to 3,000 feet, he singled out a group of three, and shot down one. He then engaged the other two, which in their endeavour to get away collided and crashed."
647:
on 12 December. He eventually relinquished his commission in the Royal Field
Artillery on 1 April 1920. On 5 February 1923, he was transferred to the Reserve of Air Force Officers (Class "A"). On 16 December 1924, he then transferred to the "Class C" Reserves. On 5 February 1927, he relinquished his
262:
On 2 July 1918, Saunders fought his memorable action–one which would be cited as a reason for awarding him the DFC. He dived 8,000 feet, leading an attack by his flight of six upon six German fighters. Saunders shot one Pfalz D.III down, and two others collided while evading his assault.
1337:
1332:
212:
before being confirmed in his rank on 9 February 1916. He then transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, receiving Royal Aero Club
Aviator's Certificate No. 3283 after soloing a Maurice Farman biplane at Military School,
1342:
181:
220:
On 1 July 1917 he was promoted to lieutenant in the Royal Field
Artillery, but had to wait until 1 September until receiving the same step in the RFC. The following month he was posted to
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1193:
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1322:
1042:
1357:
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286:
168:
155:
1108:
113:
1312:
1327:
1035:
1317:
1307:
1125:
1103:
1075:
1188:
1241:
1236:
643:
Saunders was transferred to the RAF's unemployed list on 31 October 1919, but was granted a short service commission with the rank of
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1070:
1028:
730:
1213:
1065:
1198:
1003:
346:
225:
145:
1271:
1226:
1203:
270:
with the temporary rank of captain, taking command of "A" Flight. On 1 August, Saunders vanquished one of the new
450:
252:
1120:
1183:
1171:
1051:
656:
998:
205:
123:
1302:
1297:
1276:
1261:
831:
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221:
127:
921:
867:
813:
795:
777:
757:
278:. A week later, it was the turn of a German reconnaissance two-seater to fall out of control over
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209:
140:
365:
903:
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957:
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267:
939:
885:
663:
and crashed, killing his passenger instantly, while
Saunders died from his injuries later.
1176:
696:
259:, setting one afire and driving the other down out of control, and Saunders was an ace.
1130:
644:
429:
244:
193:
231:
Saunders did not gain his first aerial victory until 10 May 1918, destroying a German
1291:
214:
1140:
550:
395:
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271:
240:
236:
353:
232:
177:
993:
652:
173:
60:
725:
1020:
1085:
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423:
279:
248:
361:
275:
204:
Saunders was commissioned as a second lieutenant (on probation) in the
64:
282:. The next day, 9 August 1918, Saunders shot down two Fokker D.VIIs.
43:
217:, on 20 July 1916, and was appointed a flying officer on 25 August.
735:
628:
459:
256:
1338:
Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in New
Zealand
192:
Saunders was born in Dublin, the son of
Matthew J. Saunders, of
1024:
1333:
651:
On 22 May 1930 Saunders was giving passenger flights in
184:. He remained in the RAF post-war, serving until 1927.
1267:
Austro-Hungarian
Imperial and Royal Aviation Troops
1252:
1154:
1094:
1058:
151:
133:
119:
109:
101:
89:
81:
71:
50:
30:
23:
1343:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1930
247:in the destruction of another Albatros D.V over
838:(Supplement). 28 September 1917. p. 10134.
802:(Supplement). 19 September 1916. p. 9175.
691:
689:
687:
685:
683:
681:
679:
677:
675:
1036:
720:
718:
172:(16 January 1888 – 22 May 1930) was an Irish
8:
784:(Supplement). 8 February 1916. p. 1570.
243:, France. On 23 May, he shared with Captain
820:(Supplement). 31 August 1917. p. 9132.
738:, Western Australia. 29 May 1930. p. 4
251:. On 9 June, the two men accounted for two
1043:
1029:
1021:
1014:– via National Library of Australia.
874:(Supplement). 2 August 1918. p. 9203.
746:– via National Library of Australia.
20:
928:(Supplement). 18 June 1920. p. 6757.
76:Te Awamutu Cemetery, Waikato, New Zealand
1353:Irish officers of the Royal Flying Corps
1323:Royal Air Force personnel of World War I
766:(Supplement). 25 May 1915. p. 5093.
306:
671:
648:commission upon completion of service.
263:Saunders was credited for all three.
1358:Irish officers of the Royal Air Force
1348:Military personnel from Dublin (city)
285:On 3 August 1918, he was awarded the
235:fighter aircraft. Six days later, an
7:
464:Shared with Captain James Belgrave.
293:Lieutenant Alfred William Saunders.
1002:. Vol. XXVIII, no. 2972.
1242:Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service
1237:Imperial Japanese Army Air Service
910:. 12 December 1919. p. 15483.
14:
982:. 25 February 1927. p. 1257.
964:. 16 December 1924. p. 9156.
274:, sending it out of control over
1277:Bulgarian Army Aeroplane Section
734:. Vol. XLV, no. 2311.
946:. 6 February 1923. p. 912.
892:. 13 January 1920. p. 562.
266:On 29 July, he was appointed a
208:on 24 May 1915, serving in the
1313:Royal Field Artillery officers
1214:United States Army Air Service
1189:Canadian Air Force (1918–1920)
1081:Aircraft of the Central Powers
1076:Aircraft of the Entente Powers
856:. 9 August 1918. p. 9383.
1:
1328:Irish World War I flying aces
255:reconnaissance aircraft over
1199:Imperial Russian Air Service
1004:Katanning, Western Australia
1318:Royal Flying Corps officers
1308:Aviators from Dublin (city)
1262:Imperial German Air Service
1374:
1272:Ottoman Aviation Squadrons
287:Distinguished Flying Cross
156:Distinguished Flying Cross
697:"Alfred William Saunders"
600:
595:
516:
487:
482:
463:
458:
444:
439:
323:
318:
315:
188:Early life and background
1006:. 24 May 1930. p. 1
655:, New Zealand, when his
303:List of aerial victories
1204:Royal Italian Air Corps
1184:Australian Flying Corps
1172:Royal Naval Air Service
1052:Aviation in World War I
657:de Havilland Gipsy Moth
182:twelve aerial victories
165:Alfred William Saunders
25:Alfred William Saunders
1233:Japanese air services
239:fell to his guns over
228:single-seat fighter.
1163:British air services
1126:Aerial reconnaissance
999:Great Southern Herald
289:. His citation read:
224:in France to fly the
206:Royal Field Artillery
124:Royal Field Artillery
102:Years of service
428:Shared with Captain
1218:Greek air services
1059:People and aircraft
456:Destroyed in flames
309:
128:No. 60 Squadron RAF
1209:Romanian Air Corps
1194:French Air Service
1167:Royal Flying Corps
1136:Flight over Vienna
980:The London Gazette
962:The London Gazette
944:The London Gazette
926:The London Gazette
908:The London Gazette
890:The London Gazette
872:The London Gazette
854:The London Gazette
836:The London Gazette
818:The London Gazette
800:The London Gazette
782:The London Gazette
763:The London Gazette
500:Villers-Bretonneux
307:
210:Gallipoli campaign
144: •
141:Gallipoli campaign
139: •
1285:
1284:
1227:Naval Air Service
1121:Bombing of cities
1104:Strategic bombing
636:
635:
161:
160:
1365:
1222:Army Air Service
1045:
1038:
1031:
1022:
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726:"Family Notices"
722:
713:
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310:
268:flight commander
215:Catterick Bridge
180:, credited with
171:
91:
57:
40:
38:
21:
16:Irish flying ace
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1177:Royal Air Force
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994:"News in Brief"
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673:
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641:
639:Post-war career
602:
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546:
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517:Bois de Pierret
489:
484:
475:Out of control
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383:
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349:
342:
320:
305:
222:No. 60 Squadron
202:
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178:First World War
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97:Royal Air Force
96:
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59:
55:
42:
41:16 January 1888
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34:
26:
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11:
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1253:Central Powers
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1155:Entente Powers
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1131:Fokker Scourge
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645:flying officer
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581:Out of control
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430:James Belgrave
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308:Combat record
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245:James Belgrave
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194:County Wicklow
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85:United Kingdom
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58:(aged 42)
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827:
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770:
765:
764:
759:
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750:
737:
733:
732:
727:
721:
719:
715:
702:
701:The Aerodrome
698:
692:
690:
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686:
684:
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664:
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621:
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614:
611:
608:
605:
596:9 August 1918
592:
591:
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583:
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577:
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568:8 August 1918
567:
564:
563:
560:
557:
554:
552:
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540:1 August 1918
539:
536:
535:
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529:
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523:
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519:
513:
510:
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506:
503:
501:
498:
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479:
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471:
468:
467:
461:
455:
452:
449:
436:
435:
431:
427:
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411:
406:
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402:
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352:
348:
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340:
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332:
329:
326:
312:
311:
302:
295:
294:
292:
291:
290:
288:
283:
281:
277:
273:
272:Fokker D.VIIs
269:
264:
260:
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254:
250:
246:
242:
238:
234:
229:
227:
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218:
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207:
199:
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187:
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157:
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150:
147:
146:Western Front
142:
136:
132:
129:
125:
122:
118:
115:
112:
108:
104:
100:
94:
88:
84:
80:
74:
70:
67:, New Zealand
66:
62:
53:
49:
45:
33:
29:
22:
19:
1255:air services
1157:air services
1141:Bloody April
1008:. Retrieved
997:
988:
979:
970:
961:
952:
943:
934:
925:
916:
907:
898:
889:
880:
871:
862:
853:
844:
835:
826:
817:
808:
799:
790:
781:
772:
761:
752:
740:. Retrieved
731:Western Mail
729:
705:. Retrieved
700:
659:went into a
650:
642:
622:Fokker D.VII
606:Fokker D.VII
551:Fokker D.VII
417:Albatros D.V
396:Beaulencourt
388:Albatros D.V
284:
265:
261:
241:Beaulencourt
237:Albatros D.V
230:
219:
203:
191:
164:
162:
134:Battles/wars
95:British Army
56:(1930-05-22)
18:
1303:1930 deaths
1298:1888 births
1097:and battles
976:"No. 33251"
958:"No. 33002"
940:"No. 32793"
922:"No. 31947"
904:"No. 31685"
886:"No. 31730"
868:"No. 30827"
850:"No. 30836"
832:"No. 30315"
814:"No. 30266"
796:"No. 29756"
778:"No. 29468"
758:"No. 29174"
598:@ 1545–1547
527:Pfalz D.III
511:Pfalz D.III
493:Pfalz D.III
485:@ 1045–1050
483:2 July 1918
442:@ 1045–1050
440:9 June 1918
407:23 May 1918
377:16 May 1918
354:Pfalz D.III
341:10 May 1918
321:Serial No.
233:Pfalz D.III
200:World War I
137:World War I
54:22 May 1930
1292:Categories
1066:Commanders
667:References
653:Te Awamutu
472:Hannover C
316:Date/Time
174:flying ace
82:Allegiance
61:Te Awamutu
37:1888-01-16
1095:Campaigns
1086:Zeppelins
661:tail spin
625:Destroyed
609:Destroyed
530:Destroyed
514:Destroyed
496:Destroyed
420:Destroyed
392:Destroyed
358:Destroyed
330:Location
324:Opponent
319:Aircraft/
105:1915–1927
46:, Ireland
1114:Cuxhaven
612:Chaulnes
585:Chaulnes
451:Hannover
424:Fricourt
280:Chaulnes
253:Hannover
249:Fricourt
163:Captain
90:Service/
1146:Battles
603:(E3916)
575:(E3916)
558:Bapaume
547:(E3916)
490:(E1279)
384:(C5450)
366:Péronne
362:Bapaume
350:(C5450)
327:Result
276:Bapaume
176:of the
114:Captain
65:Waikato
1109:German
1010:26 May
742:26 May
707:26 May
703:. 2016
601:S.E.5a
573:S.E.5a
570:@ 1315
545:S.E.5a
542:@ 2020
488:S.E.5a
447:(B137)
445:S.E.5a
414:(B137)
412:S.E.5a
409:@ 0550
382:S.E.5a
379:@ 1615
347:S.E.5a
343:@ 1735
333:Notes
226:S.E.5a
152:Awards
92:branch
72:Buried
44:Dublin
736:Perth
629:Nesle
460:Arras
257:Arras
1071:Aces
1012:2016
744:2016
709:2016
313:No.
120:Unit
110:Rank
51:Died
31:Born
169:DFC
1294::
996:.
978:.
960:.
942:.
924:.
906:.
888:.
870:.
852:.
834:.
816:.
798:.
780:.
760:.
728:.
717:^
699:.
674:^
619:12
593:11
565:10
432:.
196:.
63:,
1044:e
1037:t
1030:v
711:.
578:C
537:9
524:8
508:7
480:6
469:5
453:C
437:4
404:3
374:2
364:—
338:1
39:)
35:(
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