Ellis Vair Reid

DSC DSC may refer to: Academia * Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) * District Selection Committee, an entrance exam in India * Doctor of Surgical Chiropody, superseded in the 1960s by Doctor of Podiatric Medicine Educational institutions * Dalton State Col ...

(31 October 1889 – 28 July 1917) was a

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

flying ace A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace is varied, but is usually co ...

, officially credited with 19 victories. Reid spent his early years in Belleville, Ontario and moved to Toronto with his family at the turn of the century. After completing high school, Reid attended the University of Toronto School of Architecture, graduating in 1915. It was at this time that Reid's love of flying began to emerge. On 2 January 1916, Reid attested to Britain's Royal Naval Air Service and began training at the

Curtiss Flying School A Curtiss Jenny on a training flight Curtiss Flying School at North Beach California in 1911 The Curtiss Flying School was started by Glenn Curtiss to compete against the Wright Flying School of the Wright brothers. The first example was locate ...

in Toronto. He sailed to England from New York City and received his Royal Aero Club Aviator's certificate in July 1916. He was posted to No. 3 Wing after completing his training and in early 1917, was assigned to No. 10 (Naval) Squadron, where he flew alongside other Canadian aces in Black Flight, led by

Raymond Collishaw Raymond Collishaw, (22 November 1893 – 28 September 1976) was a distinguished Canadian fighter pilot, squadron leader, and commanding officer who served in the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) and later the Royal Air Force. He was the highest ...

, one of the greatest aces of the war. Reid's plane disappeared over

Ypres Ypres ( , ; nl, Ieper ; vls, Yper; german: Ypern ) is a Belgian city and municipality in the province of West Flanders. Though the Dutch name is the official one, the city's French name is most commonly used in English. The municipality co ...

on 28 July 1917 and his remains were never found. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Reid is commemorated on the Arras Flying Memorial.

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Distinguished Service Cross

"Flt. Sub-Lieut. Ellis Vair Reed, R.N.A.S. (since missing). In recognition of his services on the following occasions: On 6 June 1917, he attacked and drove down one of four hostile scouts. This machine dived nose first into the ground and was destroyed. On the afternoon of 15 June 1917, he was leading a patrol of three scouts and encountered a formation of ten enemy machines. During the combat which ensued he forced one machine down completely out of control. Next he attacked at a range of about 30 yards another hostile scout. The pilot of this machine was killed, and it went down completely out of control. This officer has at all times shown the greatest bravery and determination."

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1889 births 1910s missing person cases 1917 deaths Aerial disappearances of military personnel in action British military personnel killed in World War I Canadian aviators Canadian World War I flying aces Missing aviators Missing in action of World War I Missing person cases in Belgium Canadian recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) Royal Naval Air Service aviators Royal Naval Air Service personnel of World War I {{aviation-bio-stub

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Distinguished Service Cross

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