Birks, Gerald Alfred (Lieutenant)

Survived 1918-March

Male Head

Birth Date: 1894-October-30

Born: Montreal, Quebec

Parents: William Massey Birks & Miriam Gifford

Spouse: Margaret Ryrie, married August, 1924

Home: Toronto, Ontario

Enlistment: Montreal, Quebec: 73 Btn, CEF

Enlistment Date: 1915-August-31

Decorations: MC & Bar

Military Cross Bar

Service

RAF

Unit

66 (F) Sqn- Squadron (RFC)

Base

Italy

Rank

Lieutenant

Position

pilot

Service Numbers

Final Burial
Google MapMount Royal Cemetery
Birks joined 66Sqn in Italy in March 1918. Assigned to C Flight, he soon became a favorite wingman of Capt. William Barker, and the aggressive pair cut a wide swath, almost constantly flying air-air and air-ground sorties. On 24 May, in a large dogfight, Birks shot down the Berg flown by Josef Kiss, CO of Flik 55J. Birks, who genuinely mastered the Camel, also was credited with another Austro-Hungarian ace, Karl Patzelt, CO of Flik 68J. By late June Birks was credited with 12 confirmed victories (all destroyed or captured), with 10 positively identified and two more likely. Eight of his victories came in May alone.
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