[BEAUCHAMP-PROCTOR ANDREW]: (1894-1921) South African fighter ace of World War I, Victoria Cross winner for his ...

[BEAUCHAMP-PROCTOR ANDREW]: (1894-1921) South African fighter ace of World War I, Victoria Cross winner for his aerial actions between August - October 1918. Beauchamp-Proctor was South Africa's leading ace of World War I, credited with 54 aerial victories. DOUGLAS WILLIAM SHOLTO (1893-1969) British Marshal of the Royal Air Force who served in both World War I and World War II. D.S., W S Douglas, as Major, Commanding 84 Squadron, one page, 4to, n.p., 27th August 1918. The partially printed document, completed in typescript, is a Combat Report (headed Combats in the Air) relating to Beauchamp-Proctor's double aerial victory in the shooting down of two enemy Kite Balloons over Flaucourt and Mont Saint-Quentin, northern France, whilst serving with 84 Squadron, the narrative stating, in part, 'I was detailed to engage enemy balloons on the Australian Corps Front. On reaching the lines I observed an E.[nemy] Balloon about 2,000 feet over Flaucourt, but it was guarded by eight enemy aircraft. I kept my flight just beneath the clouds, and as soon as I saw my opportunity, dived across the lines and engaged the balloon…..After about 30 seconds the balloon went down in a flaming mass…..I now flew up and down the lines waiting for another balloon to be put up. After about an hour I noticed another balloon over Mt. St. Quentin, which I decided to engage. Waiting until the Fokker Biplanes saw me, I pretended to be going to cross the lines further South, and as soon as they followed me, I dived into a cloud and steered a compass course for the balloon. Coming out of the clouds, I found the balloon just below me, and at the same time I was subjected to very heavy anti-aircraft fire. Diving on balloon, which was only 300 feet up, I opened fire with both guns at 200 yards range, and zoomed over balloon when only a few yards distant. As I was then hit in the engine, I made for the lines, and on looking back observed the balloon in a mass of flames'. Signed by Douglas at the foot confirming the destruction of the two Kite Balloons. Several file holes to the left side of the document, a couple only very slightly affecting two words of text, and with small areas of paper loss to the left edge. About VG