Alfred Alexander Leitch

Alfred Alexander Leitch
Nickname(s)	"Ack Ack"
Born	5 February 1894 Killarney, Manitoba, Canada
Died	31 December 1954 High River, Alberta, Canada
Plot 274C, Range J, Highwood Cemetery	High River, Alberta, Canada
Allegiance	Canada
Service/branch	Aviation
Rank	Captain
Awards	Military Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross
Other work	Served in Royal Canadian Air Force until 1938

Alfred Alexander Leitch was born on 5 February 1894 in Killarney, Manitoba, Canada. He grew into a tall young man. He enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 15 May 1917 as an unmarried student. Upon his enlistment, he designated his next of kin as Mary J. Leitch of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He was accepted for military service despite having a deformed foot.

He was married to Evelyn Rachel Leitch. He died on 31 December 1954; she survived him by almost 45 years, until 22 December 1999. They are buried in Plot 274C, Range J, Highwood Cemetery, High River, Alberta, Canada.

See also Aerial victory standards of World War I

After training as a pilot, he was appointed as a Flying Officer in the Royal Flying Corps in the rank of second lieutenant on 2 October 1917. He was then posted to No. 43 Squadron RFC from 28 December 1917 to 3 January 1918. He then transferred to No. 65 Squadron RFC to serve as a Sopwith Camel pilot. He scored his first aerial victory shortly after his transfer, driving down an Albatros D.V over Dadizeele on 5 February 1918.

He did not score again until 19:50 hours on 9 May, when he drove down a Pfalz D.III over Wiencourt-l'Équipée, France. Six days later, on an evening patrol, he destroyed a Fokker Triplane southeast of Albert, France. On 20 May 1918, he was promoted to the rank of captain while employed as a flight commander. Five days later, he drove down and captured an Albatros D.V at Senlis, France. He finished off May by becoming an ace, destroying another Albatros D.V southwest of Albert, France on 29 May.

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