Ernest Norton

Who was Ernest Norton?

Air Commodore Ernest William Norton DSC began his military career as a World War I flying ace credited with nine aerial victories.

On 20 October 1916, while still a Flight Lieutenant, Norton won a Distinguished Service Cross for destroying an enemy kite balloon on observation duty. Norton flew for 1 Wing and used a Nieuport armed with Le Prieur rockets. He later switched to 6 Naval Squadron as a Flight Commander. On 8 February 1917, he drove down an enemy reconnaissance plane out of control. The remainder of his victories, all against Albatros fighters, followed in April 1917; doubles on the 5th and 9th, a triple on the 29th. His final tally was a balloon and three enemy fighter planes destroyed and five enemy planes driven down out of control. He survived a crash landing on 9 April that burnt out his plane.