Another Rhodesian-born airman to be found flying with the R.F.C. is Captain (Acting-Major) George Lawrence "Zulu" Lloyd , who initially served with the Staffordshire Yeomanry before transferring to the R.F.C.. He Joined No. 60 Squadron, R.F.C. in April 1917 (the period known as "Bloody April" to the Allies; the R.F.C. suffering immense losses) and flew Nieuports. Lloyd accounted for four German aircraft before transferring to No. 40 squadron. Major Lloyd finished the War having been awarded the Military Cross and was officially accredited with eight victories. Major Lloyd was also the Twelfth highest-scoring "South African" air-ace of the First World War. http://www.helium.com/items/772009-countries-involved-in-world-war-i?page=2 Rhodesia lasted but an inkling, just ninety-odd years, but in that short period of time, that wonderful country (The Breadbasket of Africa) was to produce a number of distinguished men and women. One of these was a daring fighter-pilot of the First World War, Major George Lawrence “Zulu” Lloyd. This dashing “flyboy” would not only serve “King and Empire” with distinction, earning the Military Cross (MC) and the Air Force Cross (AFC), but would also end World War One as the first Rhodesian-born fighter ace, with a tally of eight victories. George Lawrence “Zulu” Lloyd was born in Rhodesia on the 1 October 1892. Rhodesia was at the time of his birth but two years old, a beautiful, wild and rugged land. Upon the commencement of the greatest conflagration the world had yet seen, Lloyd enlisted in the Staffordshire Yeomanry before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps (RFC). He joined No. 60 Squadron in April 1917. 60 Squadron had been formed at Gosport, a seaport and borough of Hampshire, on the 30 April 1916, promptly departing for France the very next month. 60 Squadron were initially equipped with Moranes, which soon proved to be rather obsolete and inadequate, whereupon No. 60 Squadron then received the French-manufactured Nieuport 17s, which would serve with many French and British units until mid-1917. The Nieuport was one of the classic designs to emerge from the “Great War”, and being light, powerful and wonderfully nimble, she had no equal until the advent of the German Albatros D. III.. No. 60 Squadron would end the war as one of the Royal Air Force’s foremost fighter squadrons, and could number among its ranks men like Albert Ball, who notched-up 44 victories, before he himself was killed, and the Canadian, Billy Bishop, who was awarded the Victoria Cross while serving with No 60 Squadron. It is very likely that Lloyd knew Billy Bishop or was at least aware of him, as their period of service with No. 60 Squadron coincide. http://peek-01.livejournal.com/tag/Rhodesia’s First Air-Ace http://jpgleize.club.fr/aces/ww1afs.htm
