Euan Dickson

Euan Dickson
Flight Sub-Lieutenant Euan Dickson RN
Born	(1892-03-31)31 March 1892 Sheffield, England
Died	10 March 1980(1980-03-10) (aged 87) Auckland, New Zealand
Allegiance
Service/branch	Royal Naval Air Service, later Royal Air Force
Years of service	1916–1919
Rank	Captain
Unit	10 Squadron RNAS, No. 5 Squadron RNAS/205 Squadron RAF
Battles/wars	World War I
Awards	DSC and bar DFC Croix de Guerre

Euan Dickson DSC and bar, DFC (31 March 1892 – 10 March 1980) was a British born New Zealander bomber pilot in the First World War. Serving with the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) and subsequently the Royal Air Force (RAF) he flew over 150 missions flying the D.H.4 aircraft. As well as flying so many bombing missions he, and his observer, was also credited with shooting down 14 enemy aircraft. After the war he returned to New Zealand and was the first person to fly across the Cook Strait.

Dickson was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire in 1882 and emigrated to New Zealand about 1912 taking a job with an engineering firm in Thames on the North Island.

In 1916 Dickson decided to return to Britain to enlist for the war. Joining the Royal Navy he was commissioned as a Flight Sub-Lieutenant in July 1916 and was awarded his pilot's licence, number 3966, on 12 December 1916 by the Royal Aero Club.

Dickson was posted to 10 Squadron RNAS in March 1917 but in April was transferred to 5 Squadron RNAS. This squadron was a bomber squadron flying the Airco D.H. 4 two-seater biplane aircraft and it was in this type that Dickson flew all his combat missions. On 18 December 1917 Dickson was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for his part in a bombing mission.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in a bombing raid on Thourout Railway Station and Varsennaere Aerodrome on 25 October 1917. These officers volunteered for the expedition in spite of extremely unfavourable weather conditions. They have all previously taken part in many bombing raids.