Sydney A. Oades

Sydney Arthur Oades was a British World War I flying ace credited with 11 official aerial victories.

World War I
Sydney Arthur Oades originally served as a sapper with the Royal Engineers.

On 15 May 1917, Oades was commissioned a temporary second lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps. He was confirmed in his rank on 22 June 1917.

By late 1917, he was posted to 22 Squadron as a Bristol F.2 Fighter pilot. On 27 October 1917, he and his observer drove a German Rumpler reconnaissance craft down out of control for Oades' first aerial victory. He then teamed with John Jones for his next two wins; on both 5 and 6 December 1917, they destroyed German reconnaissance planes. With a different observer manning the rear guns, he drove down an Albatros D.V north of Roulers, Belgium on 6 January 1918. Oades then crewed up with Stanton Bunting; the new pair began a run of seven successes on 30 January 1918 by driving down a German recon plane to make Oades an ace. On 17 February, they destroyed an Albatros D.V; the next day, they drove down another out of control. On the 26th, in two separate engagements, they burned an Albatros D.V and drove a second one down. On 5 March 1918, they destroyed two more German enemies in an action that saw both RFC crewmen wounded. By now, Bunting was also an ace, though an undecorated one. Oades, on the other hand, would receive a Military Cross for his exploits.

Oades was injured in an aircraft crash on 13 March 1918; he would not score another victory.

Post World War I
Sydney Arthur Oades was restored to active duty in the RAF as a Flying Officer on 9 April 1921.

World War II and beyond
On 22 July 1940, Sydney Oades was appointed a Pilot Officer on probation for duration of hostilities. However, he was forced to surrender his commission on 12 December 1941 because of health issues.

He retired from the profession of retail costumier. He died upon 13 January 1961 while residing in Kingston upon Thames in Surrey.

Honors and awards
Military Cross

T./2nd Lt. Sydney Arthur Oades, Gen. List and R.F.C.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On six different occasions during four months he has driven down three enemy machines which crashed on reaching the ground, and has destroyed two others, causing them to descend in flames. A sixth machine, after he had fired eighty rounds into it, turned over and went down spinning out of control, but owing to bad visibility it was not observed to crash. In addition to these he has brought down another three hostile machines out of control, and has always shown the most magnificent dash, gallantry, and determination.