Ernest Morrow


Captain Ernest Morrow was a Canadian flying ace during World War I. He was credited with seven aerial victories while flying a Bristol F.2 Fighter. His military career was cut short by a severe wounding that cost him his left lower leg, while earning him a Distinguished Flying Cross for valour.

Early life

Ernest Morrow was born on 21 January 1897 in Waubaushene, Canada. the son of Elizabeth Ward and Joseph Morrow. He was living in Toronto and working as an accountant at the time of his enlistment into military service.

World War I

Morrow enlisted during May 1917. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps on 22 September 1917. He was then posted to No. 62 Squadron RFC on 30 October 1917, and shipped out to France with this unit. The haste with which he was commissioned and posted indicates that he took at least some of his aviation training during the Summer of 1917.
He scored his first aerial victory on 26 March 1918. After scoring three wins, he was hospitalized for a short while beginning 29 June 1918. He returned to winning form on 10 August 1918, driving down two German Pfalz D.III fighters to become an ace.
Morrow's final sortie is vividly described in the award citation for his Distinguished Flying Cross:
Having crashlanded near Ficheux, France with bullet wounds to the leg, Morrow was dragged from the flaming wreckage by his observer, Louis Mark Thompson. Morrow's left lower leg was subsequently amputated.
Both Thompson and Morrow were recommended for the Distinguished Flying Cross. The latter's award was gazetted on 2 November 1918, well after his 5 September medical evacuation to England.

List of aerial victories

See also Aerial victory standards of World War I
No.Date/timeAircraftFoeResultLocationNotes
126 March 1918Bristol F.2 FighterGerman aircraftDestroyedEast of Nurlu, FranceObserver/gunner: Horace Merritt
23 May 1918 @ 1120 hoursBristol F.2 Fighter serial number C796Albatros D.VDestroyedSouth of Armentières, FranceObserver/gunner: Horace Merritt
33 May 1918 @ 1120 hoursBristol F.2 Fighter serial number C796Albatros D.VDriven down out of controlSouth of Armentières, FranceObserver/gunner: Horace Merritt
410 August 1918Bristol F.2 FighterGerman aircraftDriven down out of controlSouthwest of Péronne, FranceObserver/gunner: Louis Mark Thompson
510 August 1918Bristol F.2 FighterGerman aircraftDriven down out of controlSouthwest of Péronne, FranceObserver/gunner: Louis Mark Thompson
622 August 1918 @ 0745 hoursBristol F.2 Fighter s/n C895Fokker D.VIIDriven down out of controlPronville, FranceObserver/gunner: Louis Mark Thompson
722 August 1918 @ 0745 hoursBristol F.2 Fighter s/n C895Fokker D.VIISet afire in midair; destroyedPronville, FranceObserver/gunner: Louis Mark Thompson

Post World War I

Ernest Morrow gave up his commission because of ill health caused by wounds, retaining the honorary rank of captain, on 8 January 1919. He would live until 20 July 1949, dying in his hometown of Waubaushene.

Endnotes