Earl Hand
| Earl McNabb Hand | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Handie |
| Born |
10 March 1897 Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada |
| Died |
19 March 1954 (aged 57) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Allegiance | George V of the British Empire |
| Service/branch | Flying service |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | No. 71 Squadron RFC, No. 73 Squadron RFC, No. 45 Squadron RAF, |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross, French Croix de Guerre |
Captain Earl McNabb Hand DFC (10 March 1897 – 19 March 1954) was a Canadian World War I flying ace credited with five confirmed aerial victories and two unconfirmed ones.[1]
Biography
Early life
Hand was born in Saint Ste. Marie,[2] the son of Thomas A. Hand and Hannah Jane Hand.[1]
Military service
Hand joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force on April 7, 1916. Soon, he was sent to France's Western Front.[2]
Hand began his victory roll while flying a Sopwith Camel for 45 Squadron. He tallied his first win when he drove an Albatros D.V down out of control at Langemark-Poelkapelle, Belgium on 15 November 1917. After 45 Squadron shifted from the Western Front to Italy, Hand had a couple of unconfirmed claims on 11 January 1918; he then scored four times between 30 January and 9 May 1918. A summary of his victories shows four destroyed enemy airplanes, one confirmed and two unconfirmed driven down out of control. On 1 June 1918, Hand was shot down by Austro-Hungarian ace Frank Linke-Crawford. Linke-Crawford hit the gas tank of Hand's Camel and set it afire; somehow, Hand survived both the flames and the impact of the crash. However, he was badly burned and taken prisoner.[3]
Later life
Hand was repatriated in 1919 and returned to Canada. He became a magistrate. He also helped found the Toronto Flying Club.[3]
Sources of information
References
Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. Christopher F. Shores, Norman L. R. Franks, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1990. ISBN 0-948817-19-4, ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.