Henry Evans (RFC officer)

Second Lieutenant Henry Cope Evans was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories, all while flying the Airco DH.2.

Evans emigrated from England to Canada in his youth to become an orchardist. He served in the Canadian Artillery during the Second Boer War. After that, he was a cowboy, rancher, and polo player in Alberta, Canada. In 1914, the day after war was declared, he returned to service in the 19th Alberta Dragoons. He served with the dragoons in France from February through September 1915, and was badly wounded by poison gas. On 23 September, at the age of 36, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in the rank of sergeant. On 13 December 1915, he became an observer. He was sent back to England to pilot's training on 26 January 1916. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on 15 May 1916. He was assigned to 24 Squadron on 4 July 1916 to fly Airco DH.2s. He drove down a Roland C.II on 20 July. The next day, he started a string of four enemy planes destroyed, with the fifth one falling on 9 August. On 3 September, he was killed in action by ground fire.

Honors and awards citations
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

Temp. 2nd Lt. Henry Cope Evans, Gen. List, attd. R.F.C.

For conspicuous gallantry and skill on many occasions in attacking hostile aircraft, frequently against large odds. In one fortnight he brought down 4 enemy machines, returning on one occasion with his machine badly damaged. Supplement to the London Gazette, 22 September 1916 (29760/9268)