Reginald H. Rusby

Who is Reginald H. Rusby?

Captain Reginald Howard Rusby was a World War I flying ace credited with ten aerial victories.

Rusby was appointed Second Lieutenant from Flying Officer Observer on 16 September 1916. However, his seniority dated from 29 September 1916. Although it would seem he was already serving as an observer/gunner in two-seater reonnaissance aircraft, Rusby was officially seconded for duty with the Royal Flying Corps on 21 January 1917. He was promoted to Lieutenant, dating from 30 April 1917, to remain seconded to RFC. He was then confirmed as Lieutenant 1 June 1917, but ordered to surrender his Temporary Captaincy. Then he was promoted Captain as of 4 July 1917.

He gained his first victory in a Nieuport single seat fighter on 16 December 1917, driving down a German Albatros D.V fighter in the vicinity of Roulers. He would score twice more with a Nieuport, on 18 February and 23 March; on the latter occasion, he set a German reconnaissance plane on fire.

He was appointed Flight Commander from Flying Officer on 26 March 1918. He also upgraded to a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a, which he used for six single victories in May 1918; one of these was a triumph shared with fellow aces Francis James Davies and Charles G. Ross. Rusby's final tally was five enemy planes destroyed, two driven down out of control, and one captured.