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{{Short description|Irish World War I flying ace}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}

{{Infobox military person
| name = Oscar Aloysius Patrick Heron
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1896|9|17}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1933|8|5|1896|9|17}}
| birth_place = Banbrook, [[Armagh]], Ireland
| death_place = [[Phoenix Park]], [[Dublin]], Ireland
| placeofburial_label =
| placeofburial = [[Glasnevin Cemetery]], Dublin
| placeofburial_coordinates = {{coord|53|22|20|N|6|16|40|W|display=inline,title}}
| nickname =
| allegiance = United Kingdom Irish Free State
| branch = British Army Royal Air Force Irish Air Corps
| serviceyears = {{circa}}1914–1922 1922–1933
| rank = Captain
| unit = [[Connaught Rangers]] [[No. 70 Squadron RAF]] [[No. 3 Squadron RAF]]
| commands =
| battles =
{{tree list}}
* [[World War I]]
** [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]]
{{tree list/end}}
| awards = [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] ''[[Croix de guerre (Belgium)|Croix de guerre]]'' (Belgium)
| relations =
| laterwork =
}}
Captain '''Oscar Aloysius Patrick Heron''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|DFC}} (17 September 1896 – 5 August 1933) was an Irish World War I [[flying ace]] of the British Royal Air Force, credited with [[List of World War I aces credited with 11–14 victories|thirteen confirmed aerial victories]]. He later served in the Irish Air Corps, until killed in a flying accident.<ref name="theaerodrome">{{cite web |url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/ireland/heron.php |title=Oscar Aloysius Patrick Heron |work=The Aerodrome |year=2016 |access-date=20 May 2016}}</ref>

==Early life and background==
Heron was born in [[Armagh]], Ireland, the eldest of three sons born to Charles and Annie Heron.<ref name="Census">{{cite web |url=http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Armagh/Armagh_North_Urban/Banbrook_Hill/324446 |title=Census of Ireland 1911 |work=National Archives |year=2016 |access-date=20 May 2016}}</ref> His father was the [[Head teacher|principal]] of St. Patrick's Boys School, while his mother headed the girls' section.<ref name="Irish-Press">{{cite news |url=http://www.glasnevintrust.ie/site-files/images/visit-glasnevin/news/Irish-Press-1931-1995-7-August-1933.pdf |title=Air Pageant Costs Air Corps Three Lives |volume=III |number=187 |page=1 |newspaper=[[The Irish Press]] |date=7 August 1933 |access-date=20 May 2016}}</ref> The family lived in Banbrook Hill, and the 1911 census lists Oscar and his two brothers John and Charles, their parents, his mother's father Jeremiah McKenna, a cook, and two servant girls as residing there.<ref name="Census"/>

==World War I==
===Flying activities===
{{See also|Aerial victory standards of World War I}}

Heron served for a period in the [[Connaught Rangers]],<ref name="glasnevintrust">{{cite web |url= http://www.glasnevintrust.ie/visit-glasnevin/news/glasnevin-cemetery-film-o/glasnevins-ace-captain-os/ |title=Glasnevin's Ace, Captain Oscar Heron DFC |work=Glasnevin Cemetery Trust |year=2016 |access-date=20 May 2016}}</ref> before being commissioned from cadet to temporary second lieutenant (on probation) in the [[Royal Flying Corps]] on 13 December 1917.<ref>{{London Gazette |date=18 December 1917 |supp=y |issue=30438 |page=13326}}</ref> He was assigned to [[No. 70 Squadron RAF|No. 70 Squadron]] to fly the [[Sopwith Camel]] single-seat fighter in May 1918. On 30 June, he gained his first victories, driving down an [[Albatros D.V]] and setting another ablaze. It would not be until 19 August that he would win again, when he destroyed a [[Fokker D.VII]] on an evening patrol. Again, there would be over a month's lapse, until he destroyed another Fokker D.VII on 28 September. On 1 October, Heron became an ace by destroying the only two-seater on his list; on the 7th he accounted for two more D.VII's, and three more on the 9th. For one of these, Heron cooperated with Captain [[Sydney Liversedge]], Lieutenant [[Kenneth Bowman Watson|Kenneth Watson]] and two other pilots to force down and capture a Fokker.<ref name="theaerodrome"/> Heron was appointed a [[flight commander]] with the temporary rank of captain on 23 October,<ref>{{London Gazette |date=29 October 1918 |issue=30980 |page=12707 |nolink=yes}}</ref> going on to gain three more victories, two on 26 October, and his thirteenth and last on the 28th. In the end, besides the captured aircraft, Heron destroyed ten enemy machines and drove down two out of control.<ref name="theaerodrome"/>

Heron was subsequently awarded the [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)|Distinguished Flying Cross]], which was gazetted on 7 February 1919. His citation read:
:Second Lieutenant (Acting Captain) Oscar Alois{{sic}} Patrick Heron.
::"An officer conspicuous for his skill and daring in aerial combats. He has accounted for eight enemy aeroplanes. On 28th September he attacked, single-handed, three Fokkers; one of these he shot down. On another occasion he, in company with five other machines, engaged six Fokkers, all six being destroyed, 2nd Lt. Heron accounting for two."<ref>{{London Gazette |date=7 February 1919 |issue=31170 |page=2041 |nolink=yes}}</ref>

On 15 July 1919 Heron was granted permission to wear the ''[[Croix de guerre (Belgium)|Croix de guerre]]'' conferred by Belgium.<ref>{{London Gazette |date=11 July 1919 |supp=y |issue=31457 |page=8987 |nolink=yes}}</ref>

===List of aerial victories===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;"
|-
|+Combat record<ref name="theaerodrome"/>
|-
!No.
! width="130" |Date/Time
! width="130" |Aircraft/ Serial No.
! width="100" |Opponent
! width="130" |Result
! width="130" |Location
! Notes
|-
|1 || rowspan="2"| 30 June 1918 @ 2035–2040 || rowspan="2"| [[Sopwith Camel]] (D6492) || [[Albatros D.V]] || Out of control || rowspan="2"| East of Bray ||
|-
|2 || Albatros D.V || Destroyed in flames ||
|-
|3 || 19 August 1918 @ 1955 || Sopwith Camel (C3306) || [[Fokker D.VII]] || Destroyed || [[Comines-Warneton|Houthem]]–[[Hollebeke]] ||
|-
|4 || 28 September 1918 @ 1145 || Sopwith Camel (D6696) || Fokker D.VII || Destroyed || North-east of [[Passendale|Passchendaele]] ||
|-
|5 || 1 October 1918 @ 1630 || Sopwith Camel (E7201) || [[LVG]] C || Destroyed || South-west of [[Ardooie|Ardoye]] ||
|-
|6 || rowspan="2"| 7 October 1918 @ 0845 || rowspan="2"| Sopwith Camel (D6696) || Fokker D.VII || Destroyed in flames || rowspan="2"| [[Lichtervelde]] ||
|-
|7 || Fokker D.VII || Destroyed in flames
|-
|8 || rowspan="3"| 9 October 1918 @ 0940–0945 || rowspan="3"| Sopwith Camel (E7277) || Fokker D.VII || Destroyed || East of [[Roulers]] ||
|-
|9 || Fokker D.VII || Destroyed || Roulers ||
|-
|10 || Fokker D.VII || Captured || West of Mayerneine || Shared with Captain [[Sydney Liversedge]] and Lieutenants E. A. Copp, A. Webster & [[Kenneth Bowman Watson|Kenneth Watson]].
|-
|11 || rowspan="2"| 26 October 1918 @ 1515 || rowspan="2"| Sopwith Camel (C8201) || Fokker D.VII || Destroyed || South of Monchau ||
|-
|12 || Fokker D.VII || Out of control || Montroeul-au-Bois ||
|-
|13 || 28 October 1918 @ 1140 || Sopwith Camel (B7883) || Fokker D.VII || Destroyed in flames || Quatres ||
|-
|}

==Post-war career==
Heron was transferred to the RAF's unemployed list on 10 August 1919,<ref>{{London Gazette |date=5 September 1919 |issue=31539 |pages=11246–11247 |nolink=yes}}</ref> but was granted a short service commission with the rank of [[flying officer]] two months later on 24 October.<ref>{{London Gazette |date=24 October 1919 |issue=31616 |page=13034 |nolink=yes}}</ref> He served in [[No. 3 Squadron RAF]] based in [[Ambala]], India, from 1 April 1921.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rafweb.org/Members%20Pages/Unit%20Details/Squadrons/No%20003%20Sqn.htm |title=No. 3 Squadron: Personnel, aircraft and locations 1920–1939 |first=M. B. |last=Barrass |work=Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation |year=2015 |access-date=20 May 2016 |archive-date=17 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617145053/http://www.rafweb.org/Members%20Pages/Unit%20Details/Squadrons/No%20003%20Sqn.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 7 November 1922, on completion of his period of service, Heron was transferred to the Reserve of Air Force Officers.<ref>{{London Gazette |date=7 November 1922 |issue=32764 |page=7874 |nolink=yes}}</ref> He then returned to Ireland to join the [[National Army (Ireland)|National Army Air Service]], which became the [[Air Corps (Ireland)|Air Corps]] in 1924, and served as an instructor based at [[Baldonnel Airfield]]. He finally relinquished his RAF Reserve commission on 7 November 1926.<ref>{{London Gazette |date=9 November 1926 |supp=y |issue=33219 |page=7258 |nolink=yes}}</ref>

==Death==
Heron was killed on 5 August 1933 while taking part in a mock aerial combat over [[Phoenix Park]], Dublin, for Irish Aviation Day. Three days before, during practice flights, two aircraft collided, killing Lieutenant J. P. Twohig. Heron acted a pall-bearer at Twohig's funeral on the morning of the event. In the display Heron flew a [[Vickers Vespa]], fighting off an attack by three [[Avro Cadet]]s. At the end he made a low pass over the park, in front of a large crowd, including his wife, but span into the ground from a height of about {{convert|500|ft|spell=in}}. Heron and his air gunner were pulled from the wreckage, but he died almost immediately, while the air-gunner, Private Richard Tobin, died the following day.<ref name="Irish-Press"/><ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1933/1933%20-%200314.html |title=The Dublin Air Pageant |issue=1285 |volume=XXV |page=806 |journal=[[Flight International|Flight]] |date=10 August 1933 |access-date=20 May 2016}}</ref> Heron was buried with full military honours at [[Glasnevin Cemetery]] on 8 August.<ref name="glasnevintrust"/><ref>https://images.findagrave.com/photos/2016/309/150981819_1478380954.jpg Findagrave. Retrieved 19 November 2017. {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book |first1=Christopher F. |last1=Shores |first2=Norman |last2=Franks |authorlink2=Norman Franks |first3=Russell F. |last3=Guest |title=Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920 |location=London, UK |publisher=Grub Street |year=1990 |isbn=978-0-948817-19-9 |name-list-style=amp}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Heron, Oscar Aloysius Patrick}}
[[Category:1896 births]]
[[Category:1933 deaths]]
[[Category:Connaught Rangers soldiers]]
[[Category:Royal Flying Corps officers]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:Irish World War I flying aces]]
[[Category:Irish Air Corps personnel]]
[[Category:Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents]]
[[Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in Ireland]]
[[Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1933]]
[[Category:Burials at Glasnevin Cemetery]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Armagh (city)]]

Oscar Heron - Revision history

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wikipedia>Reviewer1830 at 11:37, 7 August 2024