William Ernest Shields
DFC & Bar (15 October 1892 – 1 August 1921) was a
Canadian First World War flying ace, officially credited with 24 victories.
Early life
William Ernest Shields was born on 15 October 1892 in
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the son of W. H. Shields. Not quite a year after the British declaration of war at the start of World War I dragged Canada into the war, the younger Shields joined the
Canadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) was the expeditionary field force of Canada during the First World War. It was formed following Britain’s declaration of war on Germany on 15 August 1914, with an initial strength of one infantry division ...
. As was customary for Canadians entering the military at that time, he filled out an Attestation Paper. The date he joined is filled in next to his signature of "W. E. Shields" below his oath of
allegiance to
King George V; it was 25 March 1915.
[http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/attestation/shields.php Shields' Attestation Paper.]
The reverse of the Attestation Paper shows that the examining
medical officer measured him as being five feet five inches tall, with an expanded chest measurement of 36 inches. He had a fair complexion, brown eyes, and light brown hair.
[
]
Aerial service in the First World War
Shields' military service details are unknown before he joined the Royal Flying Corps
"Through Adversity to the Stars"
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. His known history begins with his posting to No. 41 Squadron RAF on 20 March 1918. There he joined two other Canadian aces, William Claxton and Frederick McCall.[Shores et al 1990, pp. 336–337.]
Shields was assigned a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5
The Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 is a British biplane fighter aircraft of the First World War. It was developed at the Royal Aircraft Factory by a team consisting of Henry Folland, John Kenworthy and Major Frank Goodden. It was one of the fast ...
a to fly. With it, he began his victory list on 12 June 1918, driving a German Albatros D.V
The Albatros D.V is a fighter aircraft built by the Albatros Flugzeugwerke and used by the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' (Imperial German Air Service) during World War I. The D.V was the final development of the Albatros D.I family and the last Albatro ...
down out of control over Guerbigny
Guerbigny (; pcd, Guérbigny) is a commune in the Somme ''département'' in Hauts-de-France in northern France.
Geography
Guerbigny is situated on the D329 road by the banks of the river Avre, some southeast of Amiens
Amiens (English: ...
, France. It was the start of a victory tally that would make him an ace several times over; he also became proficient at the hazardous mission of balloon busting.[
By the time Shields scored his final victories on 4 November 1918, a week before war's end, they totaled 24. He was an ace on observation balloons alone, being credited with destroying five of them. He also destroyed 11 enemy fighter planes, and drove down eight out of control. His valour was rewarded with two awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross and the rank of captain.][
]
Post First World War
Shields returned to Canada. He married a Miss Nicholson on 22 June 1921 while living in Portage la Prairie. As he was employed by the Dominion's air patrol, he moved to High River
High River is a town within the Calgary Metropolitan Region of Alberta, Canada. It is approximately south of Calgary, at the junction of Alberta Highways 2 and 23. High River had a population of 14,324 in 2021.
History
The community take ...
, Alberta as the acting sub-station superintendent of this station. His flying duties there included the aerial spotting of forest fires over the eastern Rocky Mountains, including the Red Deer area.[http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/newspaper-articles/32836-air-patrol-pilot-dead%3B-plane-dives.html ''The Lethbridge Herald'', 1 August 1921.]
On 1 August 1921, he and wireless operator
A radio operator (also, formerly, wireless operator in British and Commonwealth English) is a person who is responsible for the operations of a radio system. The profession of radio operator has become largely obsolete with the automation of ra ...
G. H. Harding were going to fly west of Red Deer. Shields took off at 0737 hours. At an altitude of about 50 feet, the plane side-slipped into a nose-diving crash. Though Harding suffered only minor injuries, Shields died from a fracture to the back of his skull, dying a few minutes after being pulled from the wreckage.[
]
Text of award citations
Distinguished Flying Cross
"Lieut. William Ernest Shields. A gallant officer who inspires others by his courage and dash. In six weeks he destroyed six enemy aircraft and drove down three others out of control. On one occasion he, single-handed, engaged three scouts, driving down two of them."
Distinguished Flying Cross - Bar
"Lt. (A./Capt.) William Ernest Shields, D.F.C. (FRANCE) Bold in attack and skilful in manoeuvre, this officer is conspicuous for his success and daring in aerial combats. On 22 September, when on offensive patrol, he was attacked by fourteen Fokkers; he succeeded in shooting down one. On another occasion he was attacked by six scouts and destroyed one of these. In all, since 28 June, this officer has accounted for fourteen enemy aircraft."[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31170/pages/2033 ''The London Gazette'', 7 February 1919, p. 2033.]
Endnotes
References
* Christopher F. Shores, Norman Franks
Norman Leslie Robert Franks (born 1940) is an English militaria writer who specialises in aviation topics. He focuses on the pilots and squadrons of World Wars I and II.
Biography
He published his first book in 1976. He was an Organisation a ...
, Russell Guest. ''Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920.'' Grub Street, 1990. , .
Websites
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shields, William Ernest
Canadian aviators
Canadian World War I flying aces
Military personnel from Toronto
People from Old Toronto
1892 births
1921 deaths