Reginald H. Rusby

Captain Reginald Howard Rusby (4 September 1896 – December 1946) was a World War I flying ace credited with ten aerial victories.

Rusby was appointed Second Lieutenant from Flying Officer Observer on 16 September 1916. However, his seniority dated from 29 September 1916. Although it would seem he was already serving as an observer/gunner in two-seater reonnaissance aircraft, Rusby was officially seconded for duty with the Royal Flying Corps on 21 January 1917. He was promoted to Lieutenant (Temporary Captain), dating from 30 April 1917, to remain seconded to RFC. He was then confirmed as Lieutenant 1 June 1917, but ordered to surrender his Temporary Captaincy. Then he was promoted Captain as of 4 July 1917.

He gained his first victory in a Nieuport single seat fighter on 16 December 1917, driving down a German Albatros D.V fighter in the vicinity of Roulers. He would score twice more with a Nieuport, on 18 February and 23 March; on the latter occasion, he set a German reconnaissance plane on fire.

He was appointed Flight Commander from Flying Officer on 26 March 1918. He also upgraded to a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a, which he used for six single victories in May 1918; one of these was a triumph shared with fellow aces Francis James Davies and Charles G. Ross. Rusby's final tally was five enemy planes destroyed (three of which he set afire), two driven down out of control, and one captured.

Rusby was honored with a Distinguished Flying Cross on 3 August 1918.

Honors and awards
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

"Capt. Reginald Howard Rusby. A patrol leader of great enterprise and courage. During the last six weeks he has destroyed five enemy machines, and previously he has destroyed an enemy kite balloon and a two-seater aeroplane." (Supplement to the London Gazette, 3 August 1918)