Oscar Heron
| Oscar Aloysius Patrick Heron | |
|---|---|
| Born |
17 September 1896 Banbrook, Armagh, Ireland |
| Died | 5 August 1933 (aged 36) Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland |
| Buried at | Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin (53°22′20″N 6°16′40″W / 53.37222°N 6.27778°WCoordinates: 53°22′20″N 6°16′40″W / 53.37222°N 6.27778°W) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom Irish Free State |
| Service/branch | British Army Royal Air Force Irish Air Corps |
| Years of service |
c.1914–1922 1922–1933 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit |
Connaught Rangers No. 70 Squadron RAF No. 3 Squadron RAF |
| Battles/wars | World War I • Western Front |
| Awards |
Distinguished Flying Cross Croix de guerre (Belgium) |
Captain Oscar Aloysius Patrick Heron DFC (17 September 1896 – 5 August 1933) was an Irish World War I flying ace of the British Royal Air Force, credited with thirteen confirmed aerial victories. He later served in the Irish Air Corps, until killed in a flying accident.
Heron was born in Armagh, Ireland, the eldest of three sons born to Charles and Annie Heron. His father was the principal of St. Patrick's Boys School, while his mother headed the girls' section. The family lived in Banbrook Hill, and the 1911 census lists Oscar and his two brothers John and Charles, their parents, his mother's father Jeremiah McKenna, a cook, and two servant girls as residing there.
Heron served for a period in the Connaught Rangers, before being commissioned from cadet to temporary second lieutenant (on probation) in the Royal Flying Corps on 13 December 1917. He was assigned to No. 70 Squadron to fly the Sopwith Camel single-seat fighter in May 1918. On 30 June, he gained his first victories, driving down a Albatros D.V and setting another ablaze. It would not be until 19 August that he would win again, when he destroyed a Fokker D.VII on an evening patrol. Again, there would be over a month's lapse, until he destroyed another Fokker D.VII on 28 September. On 1 October, Heron became an ace by destroying the only two-seater on his list; on the 7th he accounted for two more D.VII's, and three more on the 9th. For one of these, Heron cooperated with Captain Sydney Liversedge, Lieutenant Kenneth Watson and two other pilots to force down and capture a Fokker. Heron was appointed a flight commander with the temporary rank of captain on 23 October, going on to gain three more victories, two on 26 October, and his thirteenth and last on the 28th. In the end, besides the captured aircraft, Heron destroyed ten enemy machines and drove down two out of control.
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