Royal Air Force Capt. Gwilym H. Lewis and a couple of 40 Squadron mates wing their way into a magnificent French sky in May 1918. Lewis is at the controls of 'The Artful Dodger', his personal SE5a. The ace claimed four of his twelve victories in serial D3540, code letter "K". As the officer commanding 'B' Flight, his banner streams from the rudder.
Born August 5, 1897 in Birmingham, Lewis was posted to France with the RAF's 32 Squadron at the tender age of eighteen. Later, after a period as an instructor he was posted to 40 Sqdn as a flight leader flying the famous SE5a fighter. By the end of the war, Lewis had amassed a personal tally of 12 confirmed victories and had been awarded the prestigious Distinguished Flying Cross. After leaving the military he went into the insurance business, building a very successful career. He also penned "Wings Over the Somme 1916-1918", a memoir of his wartime experiences. Shortly before the outbreak of World War II, Lewis rejoined the RAF and became a member of Winston Churchill's Joint Planning Staff in the underground Central War Room. After the war was won, he resumed his insurance career and retired in 1974, remaining active in Great War historical societies. One of the last surviving World War I aces, Gwilym Lewis passed away at age 99 in December 1996.
Completed 2010
Private Collection
Royal Air Force Capt. Gwilym H. Lewis and a couple of 40 Squadron mates wing their way into a magnificent French sky in May 1918. Lewis is at the controls of 'The Artful Dodger', his personal SE5a. The ace claimed four of his twelve victories in serial D3540, code letter "K". As the officer commanding 'B' Flight, his banner streams from the rudder.
Born August 5, 1897 in Birmingham, Lewis was posted to France with the RAF's 32 Squadron at the tender age of eighteen. Later, after a period as an instructor he was posted to 40 Sqdn as a flight leader flying the famous SE5a fighter. By the end of the war, Lewis had amassed a personal tally of 12 confirmed victories and had been awarded the prestigious Distinguished Flying Cross. After leaving the military he went into the insurance business, building a very successful career. He also penned "Wings Over the Somme 1916-1918", a memoir of his wartime experiences. Shortly before the outbreak of World War II, Lewis rejoined the RAF and became a member of Winston Churchill's Joint Planning Staff in the underground Central War Room. After the war was won, he resumed his insurance career and retired in 1974, remaining active in Great War historical societies. One of the last surviving World War I aces, Gwilym Lewis passed away at age 99 in December 1996.