Albert Elazar 1903-1993 RAF (WW I?)

PFFF · 28 February 2005, 11:23 AM

In a bioography of Albert Elazar (1903-1993) by his son Daniel Elazar, there are
remarks that his father served 1917 to end of World War I with the RAF, flew Sopwith Camels, was shot and wounded over Syria and received the Victory Medal and King George V "Cross". Possibly part of 109th "RFC" (?). (Could he have served with Australian Air Forces ?)
Any commet?

MikeW · 28 February 2005, 12:35 PM

Well, he's not in the Air Force List for April 1918 which means he did not transfer from the RFC into the new Royal Air Force on All Fool's Day.

If he was born in 1903, and was alleged to be in the RFC in 1917, he would have joined up at the age of 14! Doesn't seem very likely to me.

So, if his year of birth is correct, he could not have joined the RFC in 1917 or 1918. He could not have joined the RAF between April and December 1918 either.

If his Year of Birth is incorrect, then he could have joined the RFC in 1917, but as stated above, he certainly was not transferred into the RAF on the 1st April 1918. If he joined the RAF after the 1st April 1918, I wonder if he would have had time to get through the training and be posted to an operational squadron before the end of the war.

I would suggest the biography is flawed and cannot be trusted.

Mike