Oscar Heron

Oscar Aloysius Patrick Heron
Born	1898 Banbrook, Armagh, Ireland
Died	5 August 1933 Dublin, Ireland
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Infantry; aviation
Rank	Captain
Unit	Connaught Rangers, No. 70 Squadron RAF
Awards	Distinguished Flying Cross, Belgian Croix de Guerre
Other work	Joined Irish Air Corps

Captain Oscar Aloysius Patrick Heron was an Irish World War I flying ace credited with thirteen confirmed aerial victories. ^[1]

World War I

Heron was assigned to 70 Squadron as a Sopwith Camel pilot in May 1918. On 30 June, he scored his first victories, driving down one Albatros D.V and setting another ablaze. It would not be until 19 August that he would win again, when he destroyed a Fokker D.VII on an evening patrol. Again, there would be over a month's lapse,until he destroyed another Fokker D.VII on 28 September. On 1 October, Heron became an ace by destroying the only two-seater on his list; during the remainder of October, he would score eight more times, all the wins being over the highly rated Fokker D.VII. For one of those wins, on 9 October, Heron cooperated with Lieutenant Kenneth Bowman Watson and three other pilots to force down and capture a Fokker. In the end, besides the captured plane, Heron destroyed ten enemy planes and drove down two out of control.

Postwar

Heron joined the Irish Air Corps in 1922. He was killed in a flying accident during the Irish Air Corps inaugural Air Pageant at Phoenix Park on 5 August 1933.^[2]

Honors and awards

Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

2nd Lt. (A./Capt.) Oscar Alois Patrick Heron. (FRANCE)

An officer conspicuous for his skill and daring in aerial combats. He has accounted for eight, enemy aeroplanes. On 28 September he attacked, single-handed, three Fokkers; one of these he shot down. On another occasion he, in company with five other machines, engaged six Fokkers, all six being destroyed, 2nd Lt. Heron accounting for two.^[3]

Sources of information

1. ^ Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. 
2. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/ireland/heron.php Retrieved on 18 June 2010.
3. ^ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 8 February 1919) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31170/pages/2041 Retrieved on 18 June 2010.

Reference

• 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, 9780948817199.

Persondata
Name	Heron, Oscar
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1898
Place of birth	Banbrook, Armagh, Ireland
Date of death	5 August 1933
Place of death	Dublin, Ireland