This is a list of fighter aces in the First World War from South Africa. Pilots were considered to be "aces" after they had shot down five or more enemy aircraft; 45 South Africans are believed to have achieved this feat, with the highest scorer being Andrew Beauchamp-Proctor, who is credited with 54 air victories.
During the war South African pilots served with the Royal Flying Corps (RFC), the South African Aviation Corps (SAAC) where they were engaged in German South West Africa and 26 Sqdn RFC in East Africa.
| Name | Kills | Squadrons | Awards | Notes |
|---|
| Amm, Edgar | 10 | No. 29 Squadron RAF | Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar | |
| Anderson, Gerald | 8 | No. 88 Squadron RAF | OBE, DFC | |
| Armstrong, D'Urban | 5 | No. 60 Squadron RFC, No. 44 Squadron RFC, No. 78 Squadron RFC, No. 151 Squadron RAF | Distinguished Flying Cross | [1] |
| Barton, Horace | 19 | No. 84 Squadron RFC, No. 24 Squadron RAF | Distinguished Flying Cross with Bar | [2] |
| Beauchamp-Proctor, Andrew | 54 | No. 84 Squadron RFC | Victoria Cross, Distinguished Service Order, Distinguished Flying Cross, Military Cross & Bar, Mentioned in Despatches | [3] |
| Blake, Arthur Winston | 5 | | | [4]: 79 |
| Burger, Malcolm | 5 | | | [4]: 2 |
| Charles Eddy | 5 | | | [5]: 85 |
| Graham, Gavin | 13 | | | [4]: 174 |
| Hall, Robert | 5 | | | [4]: 180 |
| Harrison, Thomas | 22 | | | [4]: 185 |
| Hayne, Edwin | 15 | | DSC, DFC | [4]: 189 |
| Hemming, Alfred | 8 | | | [4]: 191 |
| Howe, Percy | 5 | | | [4]: 200 |
| Bell, Douglas | 20 | | Military Cross and bar | [4]: 71 |
| Jordan, William | 39 | | | [6] |
| Kiddie, Andrew | | | | |
| Kinkead, Samuel | 33 | | | [7] |
| Lindup, Ernest | | | | |
| Lloyd, George | 8 | 20, 48 | Military Cross, Air Force Cross | [4]: 242 |
| Meintjes, Henry | 8 | 60, 56 | Military Cross, Air Force Cross | [4]: 279 |
| Pilditch, Gerald | 5 | | Military Cross | |
| Pithey, Croye | | | | |
| Reed, Arthur | | | | |
| Rolfes, Hans | | | | |
| Smuts, Neil | 5 | No. 3 Squadron RAF | Distinguished Flying Cross | [8] |
| Stead, Ian Oliver | 5 | | | [9][4]: 350 |
| Thompson, Cecil | 6 | | | [4]: 36 |
| Tudhope, John | 10 | 40 | Military Cross | [4]: 369 |
| Tudhope, Philip | 6 | 46 | Distinguished Flying Cross | [4]: 369 |
| Wilton, Frederick | | | | |
| Chalmers, Robert | 6 | | | [5] |
| Lawson, George | 6 | | | [4]: 234 |
| MacGregor, Andrew | 6 | | | [5] |
| Smith-Grant, John | 6 | | | |
| MacDonald, Hector Omdurman | 7 | 84 Squadron | | [4]: 247 [10] |
| Nel, William Joseph Baynes | 7 | 84 Squadron | | [4]: 290 |
| Benjamin, Maurice | 8 | No. 48 Squadron RFC | Military Cross | |
| Hind, Ivan Frank | 8 | | | [4]: 195 [11] |
| Sloley, Robert Hugh | 8 | | | [12][4]: 340 |
| Daniel, Hector | 9 | 43 Squadron | Military Cross | [4]: 133 |
| Moody, Basil Henry | 9 | 1 Squadron | | [4]: 284 |
| Quintin Brand | 12 | | | |
| Venter, Christoffel | 16 | | | |
| Bell, Douglas John | 20 | 27, 78, 3 | Military Cross | [4]: 71 |
| Ross, Charles Gordon | 20 | 29 | | [4]: 326 |
References