Air Aces of World War One

Captain John Oliver Andrews – British Ace 1896 / 1989

  Andrews was a Manchester brewer’s son. He attended Dame Alice Owen’s School from 1908 to 1911, Followed by attendance at Manchester High School 1911/1912. He then joined The Royal Scots ( Lothian Regiment ) being commissioned a second lieutenant on 9th of October 1914.

After service in the Infantry, Andrews transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. His first aerial service was as an observer/gunner, originally, he was seconded to No.1 Squadron RFC at Netheravon on the 4th of November 1914. He was then re-assigned to observe on the Avro 504 in No. 5 Squadron RFC in June 1915. He qualified as a pilot on the 15th of June 1915, earning Royal Aero Club Certificate number 1924 at Le Crotoy, France. He was officially appointed a flying officer (observer). He was then assigned to the newly formed No.24 Squadron RFC as an Airco DH2 pilot. On 16th December 1915 he was appointed a flying officer.

On the 27th of April 1916, in one of his early flights in the DH2, He drove off German Ace Max Immelmann, holing his Eindekker in the process. a week later, Andrews was appointed a Flight Commander with concomitant promotion to temporary Captain. He went on to score his initial victory on 21st July 1916, destroying a Fokker Eindekker over Allaines. On that day he led a patrol attacking a German formation of five Roland CII’s and their five escorting Fokkers. His victory may have been against German ace Ltn Otto Parschau of FA32. although not proven.

(C) Damian Grange 2018