Roby Lewis Manuel

Roby Lewis Manuel, , (7 October 1895 – 18 October 1975) was an Australian flying ace of the First World War credited with 12 official aerial victories. He led the Anzac Day flyby in London in 1919. At the beginning of the Second World War, Manuel joined the Royal Australian Air Force and once again served his nation.

Early life Roby Lewis Manuel was born in Kerang on 7 October 1895.

First World War Manuel enlisted in the 43rd Battalion, Australian Imperial Force on 5 April 1916. He swore that he was a natural born British citizen, that he worked as a farmer, and that his uncle, Frederick George Jones, was his next of kin. Manuel claimed a year's prior militia experience.

He transferred to the Australian Flying Corps on 30 April 1917. He was posted to No. 2 Squadron AFC in France as a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a pilot on 6 February 1918. He scored his first aerial victory on 2 April 1918, in company with Captain Henry Garnet Forrest; they destroyed a German two-seater reconnaissance machine over Demuin. Two months later, on 2 June, he destroyed two Pfalz D.III fighter planes, then drove down a third one out of control within the half hour. Ten days later, on 12 June 1918, he became an ace by setting another Pfalz D.III afire north of Bussy. His exploits earned him the award of a Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) on 2 July 1918.

Manuel was then promoted to captain as he was appointed a Flight Commander. He switched airplanes. He had scored his first five wins in serial number B184; he would use number C1948 for his final seven victories. He began on 22 July 1918, driving down a Pfalz D.III and a Fokker D.VII, both out of control. On the 31st, he drove down an Albatros D.V. The destruction of a Fokker D.VII on an evening patrol on 14 August 1918 brought Manuel's total to nine wins. British military intelligence later exhumed this German pilot's body to examine the parachute he was wearing.

Post-war Manuel led the flypast on Anzac Day in London in 1919.

Manuel returned to service in the Royal Australian Air Force during the Second World War.

Text of the citation for Manuel's Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross:

Lieut. (A./Capt.) Roby Lewis Manuel

On many occasions this officer has led his patrol with exceptional ability and courage, notably on 16 September, when, with a patrol of eleven machines, he engaged fifteen hostile aircraft. By skilful manoeuvre he completely defeated the enemy in a combat that only lasted twenty minutes, at the expiration of which period only four hostile machines remained in the air, and these retired. Six of the enemy machines were seen to fall in a manner that would justify the supposition that they would crash.

Roby Lewis Manuel is also memorialized at Atkinson Park in his home town of Kerang.

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