Ronald Bannerman

Air Commodore Ronald Burns Bannerman was a flying ace during World War I, as well as serving as a high level administrator for his native New Zealand's air force during World War II.

Early life and training Ronald Burns Bannerman was born on 21 September 1890 in Invercargill, the youngest of three children of accountant William D. D. Bannerman (1859–1942) and Agnes Gibson McEwen (circa 1858–1931). Both of his brothers, Hugh and Wilfred Bannerman played first-class cricket before World War I. The younger Bannerman's education took him from Otago Boys' High School onward to study law at Otago University. He was living at 35 Neidpath Road, Mornington in Dunedin when he enlisted for service in New Zealand's Armed Forces. By 1916 he had risen to the rank of sergeant-major in the 4th Otago Regiment.

He enrolled in March 1916 at the New Zealand Flying School which was located at Mission Bay in Auckland. One of 12 pupils at the school, he was the last of them to qualify, obtained his flying certificate (with only four flying hours in his logbook) in a Curtiss Flying Boat on 16 December 1916.

After a voyage to England, he joined the Royal Flying Corps on 29 March 1917 and undertook further training, amassing 53 hours solo flight time. During his training in England Bannerman was nearly killed while sitting in his Avro aircraft when another aircraft accidentally landed on top of his, reducing it in Bannerman's words to matchwood.

War service He was posted to France in February 1918 joining the freshly formed No. 79 Squadron RAF.

He flew a Sopwith Dolphin, scoring his initial victory on 4 August 1918 by destroying a Fokker D.VII.

During August and September he shot down 12 aircraft and a balloon before a period on leave. Upon his return to the front he added more victories to bring his total to 17, with his last triumph coming on 4 November 1918, a week before war's end. His first 15 wins were achieved flying Sopwith Dolphin #C3879; his last two were scored from Dolphin #E4716. His final tally included 16 enemy airplanes destroyed and 22 driven down out of control. He was also a balloon buster, having downed a Drachen on 24 August for his fourth victory. Also 79 Squadron was tasked for ground attack work; none of his victories were scored above 5,000 feet altitude.

Bannerman ended the war a Captain with two awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross.

List of victories Victory nº Date Hour Bannerman's unit Bannerman's aircraft Opponent/s aircraft Location 1 4 August 1918 0840 79 Sopwith Dolphin (C3879) Fokker D.VII Neuve Eglise 2 20 Aug 1918 1845 79 Sopwith Dolphin (C3879) LVG C Estaires 3 22 Aug 1918 0945 79 Sopwith Dolphin (D8075) DFW C West of Bailleul 4 24 Aug 1918 1305 79 Sopwith Dolphin (C3879) Balloon West of Armentières 5 29 Aug 1918 1740 79 Sopwith Dolphin (C3879) Hannover C East of Estaires 6 31 Aug 1918 1915 79 Sopwith Dolphin (C3879) LVG C Northeast of Estaires 7 07 Sep 1918 1100 79 Sopwith Dolphin (C3879) LVG C NE of Ploegsteert 8 16 Sep 1918 1145 79 Sopwith Dolphin (C3879) LVG C N of Hollebeke 9 16 Sep 1918 1200 79 Sopwith Dolphin (C3879) LVG C Hooge 10 19 Sep 1918 0735 79 Sopwith Dolphin (C3879) Fokker D.VII East of Houthoulst Wood 11 21 Sep 1918 1015 79 Sopwith Dolphin (C3879) LVG C Southwest of Hollebeke 12 28 Sep 1918 1235 79 Sopwith Dolphin (C3879) Fokker D.VII Southwest of Comines 13 29 Sep 1918 1740 79 Sopwith Dolphin (C3879) Hannover Estaires 14 27 Oct 1918 0815 79 Sopwith Dolphin (C3879) Halberstadt C East of Avelghem 15 01 Nov 1918 1500 79 Sopwith Dolphin (C3879) Fokker D.VII Audenarde 16 02 Nov 1918 1000 79 Sopwith Dolphin (E4716) Halberstadt C Salsique 17 04 Nov 1918 1245 79 Sopwith Dolphin (E4716) LVG C or DFW BaeggemSources:

Return to civilian life He continued flying and other duties after the armistice, including serving in the Army of Occupation in Belgium and as an instructor of fighter tactics and aerobatics in Britain. By the time he closed his pilot's log for good in June 1919, he had more than 500 hours flying time. He was transferred to the RAF's Unemployed List on 16 August 1919.

By September 1919 he had returned home, where he begin a distinguished long career as a lawyer first in Dunedin and then at Gore where he entered into partnership with Edmund Robert Bowler (1866–1927), who had served as a Lieutenant-Colonel at Gallipoli. The firm was initially known as Bowler & Bannerman until Bowler's retirement in February 1927.

Bannerman remained a member of the Otago Regiment and then with the Southland Regiment until May 1924. He transferred to the Territorial Air Force, where he remained until he retired in June 1930 with the rank of flight lieutenant. He then had little to do with aviation for the next decade.

World War II After the outbreak of World War II he rejoined the RNZAF in September 1940.

Later life He resumed his legal career after World War II.

Together with Keith Caldwell and Leonard Isitt he was instrumental in establishing the New Zealand 1914–1918 Airmen's Association in 1960.

In the 1960s he initiated negotiations with landowners and the council to establish and develop a reserve of seven hectares on the site of the original Gore Cemetery. In honour of his efforts the resulting park was named Bannerman Park in 1977.

He died at his home in Gore, New Zealand on 2 August 1978.

Citations for military honours Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Lieut. Ronald Burns Bannerman.

"During recent operations this officer has done gallant service. While on an offensive patrol with two other machines he was attacked by several Fokker biplanes, and, in the engagement, he shot down one. In addition, he has destroyed four other enemy machines."

Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) Bar

Lieut. (A./Capt.) Ronald Burns Bannerman, D.F.C. (FRANCE)

"A leader whose ability inspires confidence in those who serve with him. During the operations in September he accounted for six enemy machines, displaying marked courage and judgment."