Roby Lewis Manuel, with Bar, (7 October 1895 – 18 October 1975) was an Australian

flying ace A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviation, military aviator credited with shooting down a certain minimum number of enemy aircraft during aerial combat; the exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ...

of the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

credited with 12 official aerial victories. He led the

Anzac Day Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia, New Zealand and Tonga that broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders "who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations" and "the contribution and ...

flyby in London in 1919. When World War II erupted, Manuel joined the

Royal Australian Air Force The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the principal Air force, aerial warfare force of Australia, a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Army. Constitutionally the Governor-Gener ...

and once again served his nation.

Early life

Roby Lewis Manuel was born in Kerang on 7 October 1895.Shores, et al, p. 258.

First World War

Manuel enlisted in the 43rd Battalion, Australian Imperial Force on 5 April 1916. He swore that he was a natural born British citizen, that he worked as a farmer, and that his uncle, Frederick George Jones, was his next of kin. Manuel claimed a year's prior militia experience. He transferred to the

Australian Flying Corps The Australian Flying Corps (AFC) was the branch of the Australian Army responsible for operating aircraft during World War I, and the forerunner of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The AFC was established in 1912, though it was not until ...

on 30 April 1917. He was posted to No. 2 Squadron AFC in France as a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a pilot on 6 February 1918. He scored his first aerial victory on 2 April 1918, in company with Captain Henry Garnet Forrest; they destroyed a German two-seater reconnaissance machine over Demuin. Two months later, on 2 June, he destroyed two Pfalz D.III fighter planes, then drove down a third one out of control within the half hour. Ten days later, on 12 June 1918, he became an ace by setting another Pfalz D.III afire north of Bussy. His exploits earned him the award of a Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) on 2 July 1918. Manuel was then promoted to captain as he was appointed a

Flight Commander A flight commander is the leader of a constituent portion of an aerial squadron in aerial operations, often into combat. That constituent portion is known as a flight, and usually contains six or fewer aircraft, with three or four being a common ...

.Hunt, p. 49. He switched airplanes. He had scored his first five wins in serial number B184; he would use number C1948 for his final seven victories. He began on 22 July 1918, driving down a Pfalz D.III and a Fokker D.VII, both out of control. On the 31st, he drove down an Albatros D.V. The destruction of a Fokker D.VII on an evening patrol on 14 August 1918 brought Manuel's total to nine wins. On 16 September, Manuel claimed two more Fokker D.VIIs in two separate dogfights. When the second Fokker went down near Droglandt, France, Manuel landed nearby. Unable to aid the German pilot he had wounded, Manuel could only watch him die, then help bury the dead German. This action won the doughty Australian a Bar for his DFC in lieu of a second award of the medal.''Supplement to the London Gazette'', 3 December 1918
Retrieved 1 February 2011. British military intelligence later exhumed this German pilot's body to examine the

parachute A parachute is a device designed to slow an object's descent through an atmosphere by creating Drag (physics), drag or aerodynamic Lift (force), lift. It is primarily used to safely support people exiting aircraft at height, but also serves va ...

he was wearing.

Post-war

Manuel led the flypast on

in London in 1919. Manuel returned to service in the

during the Second World War. He volunteered the use of his private airplane to his nation, and his services as a pilot. He was not accepted for flying duty because of his age; instead, he was assigned to administrative duties. Manuel returned once again to farming, and would continue to foster aviation in northern Australia; he flew until shortly before his death. In 1968, it was noted that he was still flying his own light aircraft. He died on 18 October 1975.

Honors and awards

* Text of citation for award of the Distinguished Flying Cross Lt. Roby Lewis Manuel (Australian Flying Corps) During the past month, whilst on an offensive patrol, his machine was badly damaged in an encounter with an enemy aeroplane which he brought down out of control. On his return home he saw another enemy machine below him. At great personal risk, owing to the state of his machine, he nevertheless attacked and brought it down. He is a most skilful pilot of great determination.''Supplement to the London Gazette'', 3 August 1918
Retrieved 1 February 2011. * Citation of text for award of Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross Lieut. (A./Capt.) Roby Lewis Manuel On many occasions this officer has led his patrol with exceptional ability and courage, notably on 16 September, when, with a patrol of eleven machines, he engaged fifteen hostile aircraft. By skilful manoeuvre he completely defeated the enemy in a combat that only lasted twenty minutes, at the expiration of which period only four hostile machines remained in the air, and these retired. Six of the enemy machines were seen to fall in a manner that would justify the supposition that they would crash. * Roby Lewis Manuel is also memorialized at Atkinson Park in his home town of Kerang.

Endnotes

References

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Manuel, Roby Lewis 1895 births 1975 deaths Australian Army soldiers Australian Flying Corps officers Australian recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) Australian World War I flying aces People from Kerang Royal Australian Air Force officers Royal Australian Air Force personnel of World War II