Oliver Bryson
| Oliver Campbell Bryson | |
|---|---|
| Born |
18 August 1896 Barnt Green, Worcestershire, England |
| Died | 27 March 1977 (aged 80) Surrey, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
British Army (1914–18) Royal Air Force (1918–43) |
| Years of service | 1914–1943 |
| Rank | Group Captain |
| Unit |
Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry No. 19 Squadron |
| Battles/wars |
First World War Russian Civil War North–West Frontier Second World War |
| Awards |
George Cross Military Cross Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar Mentioned in Despatches |
Oliver Campbell Bryson GC, MC, DFC & Bar (18 August 1896 – 27 March 1977) was a career Royal Air Force officer who served in both World Wars. He was a flying ace credited with 12 aerial victories during the First World War.
Bryson was born in Lickey, a village in the Bromsgrove district of Worcestershire in England, the son of George and Edith Bryson. His father was a hardware merchant. In the 1911 Census of Uppingham in Rutland he is listed as a student at the Uppingham School.
Bryson was educated at Bromsgrove School, and joined the Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry in 1914. Shortly thereafter, he was wounded in action. While serving in Egypt, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. On 15 March 1917, after a flaming crash, he rescued his fellow aircrew member. In July 1917, he was posted to fly a SPAD for 19 Squadron in France. His first aerial victory followed shortly; he drove down a German observation plane down out of control on 25 August. By the end of the year, Bryson's victory total had increased to 11.
In January 1918, the King presented him with the Albert Medal for his heroism in rescuing his fellow airman following a crash at Wye Aerodrome. On 8 March, having upgraded to a Sopwith Dolphin fighter plane, Bryson scored his final victory of the war, destroying a German Albatros D.V over Gheluvelt, Belgium. His final summary showed he had destroyed four enemy aircraft; two of these were shared victories, including one with Arthur Bradfield Fairclough. Bryson's other eight wins were of the out of control variety; three of them were shared with such other aces as Albert Desbrisay Carter.
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