Edwin Swale

Captain Edwin Swale was a World War I flying ace credited with 17 aerial victories. His victory list is notable because he scored 14 of his 17 wins against the premier German fighter of the war, the Fokker D.VII. He was the leading Sopwith Camel ace for 210 Squadron.

World War I service
Edwin Swale joined the Royal Naval Air Service in August 1917. He joined No. 10 Naval Squadron (soon to become No. 210 Squadron RAF) on 21 March 1918. His string of victories began on 30 May 1918 when he shot down a Pfalz D.III. He became a balloon buster on 5 June, when he destroyed an enemy observation balloon. His destruction of an Albatros D.V on 17 June was his last over a non-Fokker D.VII foe. Beginning on 20 July and extending to 8 October, he destroyed nine D.VIIs and drove five others down out of control. Swale flew any one of six different Sopwith Camels in these combats on the Western Front. He had become the A Flight Commander during his term of combat service; he was subsequently sent for a rest on 21 October 1918.

Between the wars
Postwar, Swale stayed in aviation by becoming a glider pilot and a gliding instructor with the Derbyshire and Lancashire Gliding Club. He set an altitude record of 7,000 feet. He also became very active in civic affairs in his home town of Chesterfield, eventually becoming Mayor in 1953.

World War II service
During World War II, Swale returned to service as a Wing Commander. He served with the "Ultra" cryptanalysts who cracked the strategically important German Enigma machine code. He also served with the RAF Second Tactical Air Force. He was Mentioned in Dispatches three times.

Post World War II
Edwin Swale continued gliding into the 1950s. In 1964, he was honored with the Order of the British Empire.

Honors and awards
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Lieut. Edwin Swale (Sea Patrol). A successful and skilful pilot who has destroyed three enemy machines and one kite balloon, and has, in addition, driven down four aeroplanes out of control. On the 15th of September he attacked one of five Fokker biplanes; this machine was driven down out of control, and, on attempting to land, crashed. Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) Bar

Lieut. (A./Capt.) Edwin Swale, D.F.C. (Sea Patrol, FLANDERS)

A gallant and determined officer. On 1 October Capt. Swale led his patrol to attack eleven Fokker biplanes; in the engagement that ensued he drove down the leader, which crashed and caused a second machine to fall out of control. In addition to the foregoing, this officer has destroyed nine hostile planes and driven down five out of control.