George McElroy

Captain George Edward Henry McElroy MC and Two Bars, DFC and Bar (b. 14 May 1893 — d. 31 July 1918) was a leading ace fighter pilot of the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force during World War I. He was credited with 47 aerial victories. McElroy was born at Donnybrook, County Dublin, Ireland to Samuel and Ellen McElroy. He joined the Royal Irish Regiment promptly at the start of World War I, in August, 1914, and was shipped out to France two months later. For a time, he was a motorcycle courier. He was commissioned in May 1915 but was severely wounded by mustard gas while serving in France, and sent home to recuperate. He was in Dublin in April 1916, when the Easter Uprising erupted. Because he was still in the military, he was...