Group Captain Acheson Gosford Goulding (15 May 1893 – 27 April 1951) was a

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World War I

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credited with 21 aerial victories. After infantry service, he transferred to aviation and served in

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and the Balkans. After winning the Military Cross for courage, he returned to civilian life. He gave up a business career to return to service for World War II as a Group Captain. *aerial victories source: Manitoba Historical Society.

Early life

Goulding was born at Stony Mountain,

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, Canada, on 16 May 1893. Goulding was educated at St. John's College and the

University of Manitoba The University of Manitoba (U of M, UManitoba, or UM) is a Canadian public research university in the province of Manitoba.Winnipeg Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba in Canada. It is centred on the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, near the longitudinal centre of North America. , Winnipeg had a city population of 749,6 ...

. His enlistment form for World War I service still exists. On the form, he named Gwendolyn Marie Goulding as his next of kin, gave his civilian occupation as clerk, and his home of record as Winnipeg. His physical examination measured him as 5 feet 8 1/2 inches tall, and described him as having a medium complexion, with blue eyes and brown hair. He swore allegiance to

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and joined the 28th (Northwest) Battalion, CEF on 14 December 1914.

World War I

Goulding transferred from infantry to the

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and was posted to 17 Squadron. While he had enlisted as a

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with regimental number 74142 in 28th Battalion, he served as a

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with 17 Squadron, and as a

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after transfer to 150 Squadron. He was commissioned on 29 June 1916, and seconded to the RFC on 18 September 1916. His joining date for 17 Squadron was in February 1917; he was appointed a Flying Officer on 23 February 1917. Goulding's squadron was tasked with supporting British troops opposing

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n troops in Macedonia. In May 1917, he was one of two pilots who bombed a Bulgarian supply train of 26 wagons, stampeding the draught horses and smashing military supplies. Goulding was awarded the Military Cross on 26 October 1917; he had flown many ground support and reconnaissance missions, but had no success on combat patrols until 28 January 1918. After Goulding's first five victories, he became a Flight Commander in 150 Squadron with the temporary rank of captain on 26 April 1918. He scored four more wins in May and June 1918. On 21 September 1918, Goulding was awarded the French ''

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''.

List of aerial victories

Post World War I

On 1 January 1919, Goulding was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. On 9 April 1919, he gave up his Royal Air Force commission to return to army duty as an acting captain in the Nova Scotia Regiment. Goulding returned to Canada to run a construction firm in Winnipeg. He would serve his country again during World War II, joining the

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in May 1940. After service as a staff officer, he commanded No. 18 Flying Training Service School at Gimli, Manitoba while serving as a

group captain Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force, where it originated, as well as the air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. It is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank i ...

. Goulding died in Fort Garry, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, on 27 April 1951.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Goulding, Acheson 1893 births 1951 deaths People from Winnipeg Capital Region Canadian World War I flying aces Canadian recipients of the Military Cross Canadian Expeditionary Force soldiers Royal Air Force personnel of World War I Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)