Archibald Buchanan

Who is Archibald Buchanan?

Lieutenant Archibald Buchanan was a World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.

Buchanan voyaged to England to join the Royal Naval Air Service. The RNAS and the Royal Flying Corps were amalgamated into the Royal Air Force before Buchanan earned his pilot's wings, but he was assigned to a former RNAS squadron, No. 210.

Buchanan began his victory string as a balloon buster on 30 June 1918, when he destroyed an enemy observation balloon northeast of Estaires. His second win, on 20 July, was shared with Captain Harold Mellings. Between 31 July and 29 September, he scored five more wins over enemy fighter planes; his final summary was victory over five Fokker D.VIIs, a Pfalz D.III, and a balloon.

On 17 October, he landed his Sopwith Camel at Ostend, Belgium, in the wake of the German retreat, only to be informed by locals that he was the first Allied soldier to come to the city after the Germans left.

On 30 October, Buchanan was shot down by Michael Hutterer of Jasta 23, and spent the rest of the war as a prisoner.