George McElroy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids George Edward Henry McElroy
Nickname(s)	"Deadeye", "Mac", "McIrish"
Born	(1893-05-14)14 May 1893 Donnybrook, Dublin, Ireland
Died	31 July 1918(1918-07-31) (aged 25) Laventie, France
Buried	Laventie Military Cemetery, La Gorgue, Nord, France (50°38′10″N 2°46′25″E / 50.63611°N 2.77361°E / 50.63611; 2.77361)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army Royal Flying Corps Royal Air Force
Years of service	1914–1918
Rank	Captain
Unit	Royal Engineers Royal Irish Regiment Royal Garrison Artillery No. 40 Squadron RFC/RAF No. 24 Squadron RFC/RAF
Awards	Military Cross & Two Bars Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar

Captain George Edward Henry McElroy was a brave Irish fighter pilot during World War I. He was known for his amazing flying skills. He earned several important awards for his bravery, including the Military Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He achieved 47 aerial victories, meaning he shot down 47 enemy aircraft or observation balloons.

Becoming a Pilot

George McElroy was born in Donnybrook, Dublin, Ireland, on May 14, 1893. When World War I began in August 1914, he quickly joined the army. He was sent to France just two months later.

He first served in the Royal Engineers, a part of the army that builds things. Later, he joined the Royal Irish Regiment. While serving, he was badly affected by mustard gas, a dangerous chemical weapon. He had to go home to recover.

In April 1916, while he was in Dublin, a rebellion called the Easter Rising happened. George was ordered to help stop it. However, he refused to fight against his own Irish people. Because of this, he was moved to a different army base far from his home.

In 1916, George decided to become a pilot. He joined the Royal Flying Corps, which was the air force at the time. He trained at the Central Flying School and became a flying officer in June 1917.

Joining the Fight in the Sky

On August 15, 1917, George joined No. 40 Squadron RFC. Here, he learned a lot from another famous pilot, Edward Mannock. George first flew a Nieuport 17 plane, but he didn't have much success. By the end of the year, he was flying S.E.5s, which were better planes. He got his first victory on December 28, 1917.

George was a very aggressive fighter pilot. He was not afraid to take on many enemy planes at once. His number of victories quickly grew. By February 1918, he had shot down 11 enemy aircraft. He was then promoted to captain and moved to No. 24 Squadron RFC. He kept winning battles, one or two at a time. By March 26, he had 18 victories and received his first Military Cross.

On April 1, 1918, the Royal Flying Corps joined with the Royal Naval Air Service to form the Royal Air Force. His squadron became No. 24 Squadron RAF. A few days later, on April 7, George was hurt in a landing accident. He hit a treetop while landing his plane. By then, he had 27 victories. While he was recovering, he received a bar to his Military Cross, meaning he had earned the award a second time.

After he recovered, George returned to No. 40 Squadron RAF in June. He scored three more victories that month, including two observation balloons. This brought his total to 30.

A Busy July and a Sad End

July was an incredibly successful month for George. He added 17 more victories, almost one every day! On July 20, his engine started vibrating, forcing him to land quickly. He got some scratches and bruises but was okay.

That same day, his friend "Mick" Mannock warned him about the dangers of flying too low after shooting down an enemy plane. Ground fire from soldiers on the ground could be very dangerous.

Sadly, on July 26, George's mentor and friend, Edward "Mick" Mannock, was killed by ground fire. On that very same day, George received a second bar to his Military Cross. This meant he had earned the award for a third time, a very rare achievement. Only ten airmen received this honor during the war.

George McElroy often seemed to ignore his own safety when flying and fighting. On July 31, 1918, he reported destroying a Hannover C plane, his 47th victory. He then went out on another flight. He never returned. It was later discovered that he had been killed by ground fire. He was only 25 years old.

George McElroy was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross after his death. This award recognized his 35 plane victories and three observation balloons. He later received a bar to this award for his brave low-level attacks. In total, he destroyed 27 enemy aircraft (four of them in flames) and three balloons. He also forced 16 enemy aircraft to crash or leave the fight.

George McElroy is buried in the Laventie Military Cemetery in France.

George McElroy's Victories

This table shows all of Captain George McElroy's aerial victories during World War I.