In WWI, a US-born pilot became the highest-scoring ace of a Royal Air Force (RAF) squadron. Born on March 23, 1892, in Missouri, Oren John Rose joined the Royal Flying Corps in 1917 and became part of No. 92 Squadron RAF in early 1918. He flew an S.E.5a aircraft in this unit. His first victory came on July 30, 1918, followed by another one the next day. After scoring two more victories on August 14, Oren John Rose became an ace on August 25. Further, he scored four victories in September, six in October, and his last on November 4, bringing his WWI score to 16 and making him his squadron’s highest-scoring ace.
Ace Journey of Oren John Rose
Out of his 16 victories, nine were Fokker D.VIIs, two each were Halberstadt C and DFW C aircraft, and one each was a two-seater, Pfalz D.III, and Hannover CL aircraft. He destroyed 14 enemy airplanes, including one with James Victor Gascoyne, and two that he forced to crash. For his WWI achievements, Oren John Rose was awarded the British Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) Bar. His DFC citation said, “A very gallant officer who has accounted for nine enemy aeroplanes. On September 29, he observed an enemy scout attacking some of our machines; engaging it, he drove it down from 15,000 feet to 6,000 feet, when it fell in flames. On his return journey, he attacked and destroyed an enemy two-seater.”
The Legacy
While the Bar added, “A brilliant and fearless leader who, since October 9, has destroyed seven enemy aeroplanes. His personal example of skill and determination in aerial combats and in attacking troops and transport on the ground is of the greatest value in maintaining the high standard of efficiency in his squadron.” After the war, Oren John Rose fought in Russia before coming back to the United States to start a business. He became a car dealer in Marysville, Ohio. During WWII, Rose joined the US Army Air Corps as an operations and training officer in Kentucky. He later led a squadron in Louisiana during 1943 and 1944. By the time Oren John Rose was discharged in 1946, he was the commander of the Aircraft Assignment Base at Wright Field. He returned to his car business and retired in the 1960s. He died on June 21, 1971, in Santa Clara, California, USA. In the Aces series, Oren John Rose was a brave soldier and talented pilot, as evidenced by his 16 victories in less than 4 months at the front. Read stories about more Aces HERE.
