Joseph Stewart Temple Fall
|
Joseph Fall DSC** AFC |
|
|---|---|
| Born | 17 November 1895 Hillbank, British Columbia |
| Died | 1 December 1988 (aged 93) Duncan, British Columbia |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
Royal Naval Air Service Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1915-1945 |
| Rank | Group Captain |
| Unit | 3N, 9N (RNAS) |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Cross & Two Bars Air Force Cross |
Joseph Stewart Temple Fall DSC & 2 Bars AFC (17 November 1895 – 1 December 1988) was a Canadian World War I flying ace with 36 credited victories.
Fall was born into a farming family on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. He tried to enlist in the army but was rejected because he had suffered a head injury when he was a child. However, he was accepted as a candidate for the Royal Naval Air Service on 23 August 1915.
The Canadian government would not support a flying school, so Fall went to England for training. He left Canada on 12 November 1915, and was in England in January 1916.
He flew a Sopwith Pup for some time in 3 Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service before he achieved his first success on 6 April 1917. A Halberstadt D.II dived on him with a frontal attack; Fall half-looped onto the German plane's tail and fired 50 rounds to down him. Fall would score 10 more victories before changing planes to the Sopwith Camel. The 11 victories with the Sopwith Pup made Jo Fall the highest scoring Pup Ace. He would score 2 more shoot-downs with 3 RNAS, using the Camel.
On 30 August 1917, he was transferred to 9 Squadron, RNAS as a flight commander, still flying Camels. He claimed another 23 victories with 9 Naval, with the final one occurring on 22 December 1917.
Falls' claims tally consisted of 11 (and 12 shared) aircraft destroyed, 10 (and 3 shared) 'out of control'.
Fall stayed in the Royal Air Force from its inception on 1 April 1918. He was promoted to squadron leader on 17 July 1929 and placed on half-pay from 1 June 1930 to 8 January 1931. He was promoted to wing commander on 1 January 1936 and to temporary group captain on 1 July 1940. He retired as a Group Captain in 1945 and died in 1988.
Sopwith Pup Aces of World War 1 (page 83)
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