- Bulawayo-born D.G. "Tommy" Lewis It was in April 1918 that one of the most remarkable events involving a Rhodesian-born airman serving in the R.F.C. transpired. David Greswolde Lewis , Known as "Tommy" Lewis, born in Bulawayo in October 1898, became the last of the legendary Baron Von Richtofen's eighty victories. Lewis attended the R.F.C. School in April 1917, and was commissioned in June that year. He served with No 78 (Home Defence) Squadron before transferring to No. 3 Squadron in March 1918 . it was shortly thereafter that Lewis encountered the "Red Baron", the scourge of the western front. David Lewis took off on the 20th April 1918 on an offensive patrol led by Captain Douglas Bell of his flight (C Flight), although the Commanding Officer, Major Raymond Barker, accompanied them. When climbing above the clouds to avoid German anti-aircraft fire, Lewis' Flight lost touch with the rest and they continued the patrol only six strong. The flight was subsequently attacked and Lewis later related in a letter written on his farm "near Gwanda, in Southern Rhodesia" : "About four miles over the German lines, we met approximately fifteen German triplanes, which endeavoured to attack us from behind, but Bell frustrated this attempt by turning to meet them, so the flight started with the two patrols firing at each other head on." Lewis goes on to relate how "A few seconds after the fight began , Major Barker's petrol-tank was hit by an incendiary bullet which caused the tank to explode and shatter his machine." David Lewis continues: "I was attacking a bright blue machine , which was on a level with me, and was just about to finish this adversary off when I heard the rat-tat-tat of machine-guns coming from behind me and saw the splintering of struts just above my head." Lewis wheeled round and found himself face to face with "Le petit rouge" , the Bright Red Triplane, of Baron Von Richtofen. Lewis, flying a Sopwith Camel (No. B7393), "twisted and turned in the endeavour to avoid his line of fire, but he was too experienced a fighter , and only once did I manage to have him at a disadvantage, and then only for a few seconds, but in those few ticks of a clock I shot a number of bullets into his machine and thought I would have the honour of bringing him down, but in a trice the positions were reversed and he had set my emergency petrol-tank alight, and I was hurtling earthward in flames." Lewis goes on to relate how he hit the ground just north-east of Villers-Bretonneux "at a speed of sixty miles an hour" and was thrown clear of the wreckage, and except for minor burns was completely unhurt. Lewis's compass, his goggles, the elbow of his coat, and one trouser leg were hit by Richtofen's bullets, but it is truly miraculous how this young Rhodesian beat all odds to survive a duel with death incarnate. The rest of his flight had escaped complete annihilation through the timely arrival of a squadron of S.E.5s. Manfred Von Richtofen then commenced his pass, coming to within one hundred feet of the ground and waved to the Rhodesian, and a column of German Infantry. Taken prisoner, Lewis remained thus until the cessation of hostilities. He is mentioned in October 1918 as having received a food parcel on the 27 August that year, while incarcerated at Graudenz . Lewis later returned to Rhodesia and died at Salisbury in 1978. He was thereafter to be known as the Baron's last "Victory" and was invited to Germany in 1938 to attend the dedication of the new Richtofen Geschwader http://www.helium.com/items/772009-countries-involved-in-world-war-i?page=2.
I'm glad of your editorial expertise Gareth ! .... and although spelling is important ... I'm more concerned that the content is correct !! Though I must say ......... " constructive criticism " is always welcome ! ... and I'll try and do better next time ! Annie
