Elwyn King
| Elwyn Roy King | |
|---|---|
Elwyn Roy King, c. 1917–18
|
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| Nickname(s) | "Bo", "Beau", "Bow" |
| Born | 13 May 1894 Bathurst, New South Wales |
| Died | 28 November 1941 (aged 47) Point Cook, Victoria |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Service/branch |
Australian Imperial Force Australian Flying Corps Royal Australian Air Force |
| Years of service | 1915–19 1939–41 |
| Rank | Group Captain |
| Unit | No. 4 Squadron AFC (1917–19) |
| Commands held |
No. 3 EFTS (1940) No. 5 EFTS (1940–41) No. 1 SFTS (1941) RAAF Station Point Cook (1941) |
| Battles/wars |
World War I World War II |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Order Distinguished Flying Cross Mentioned in Despatches |
| Other work | Businessman |
World War I
Elwyn Roy King, DSO, DFC (13 May 1894 – 28 November 1941) was a fighter ace in the Australian Flying Corps (AFC) during World War I. He achieved twenty-six victories in aerial combat, making him the fourth highest-scoring Australian pilot of the war, and second only to Harry Cobby in the AFC. A civil pilot and engineer between the wars, he served in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) from 1939 until his death.
Born in Bathurst, New South Wales, King initially saw service as a lighthorseman in Egypt in 1916. He transferred to the AFC as a mechanic in January 1917, and was subsequently commissioned as a pilot. Posted to No. 4 Squadron, he saw action on the Western Front flying Sopwith Camels and Snipes. He scored seven of his "kills" in the latter type, more than any other pilot. His exploits earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Distinguished Service Order, and a mention in despatches. Returning to Australia in 1919, King spent some years in civil aviation before co-founding a successful engineering business. He joined the RAAF following the outbreak of World War II and held several training commands, rising to the rank of group captain shortly before his sudden death in November 1941 at the age of forty-seven.
Roy King was born on 13 May 1894 at The Grove, near Bathurst, New South Wales. He was the son of English-born Elizabeth Mary (Miller) King and Richard King, an Australian labourer. The youth attended public school, and further educated himself in mechanical engineering via correspondence. Having been employed repairing bicycles, automobiles, and farming equipment, he was living in Forbes and working as a motor mechanic when he joined the Australian Imperial Force under the name Roy King on 20 July 1915.
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