Victories: 61 (4th ranked allied pilot)
Born: 22 November 1893 Nanaimo, British Columbia
Died: 28 September 1976 West Vancouver, British Columbia

Notes

Fifteen year old Raymond Collishaw joined the Canadian Fisheries Protection Services in 1908. Over the next seven years he worked his way from cabin boy to first officer. In January 1916, he joined the Royal Naval Air Service as a probationary Flight Sub-Lieutenant. Eventually commanding the famous " Black Flight," he was the first pilot to claim 6 victories in one day and the highest scoring ace to fly the Sopwith Triplane. When the war ended, he remained in the Royal Air Force, rising to the rank of Air Vice-Marshal.
Collishaw was the brother-in-law of Canadian ace George Trapp.

Quotes

"While in the air you constantly turned your head, first to one side and then to the other, making sure that nothing was on your tail. This, by the way, was the reason for the traditional silk scarves worn by the fighter pilots." Raymond Collishaw

Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)

"In recognition of his services on various occasions, especially the following: On 1 June 1917, this officer shot down an Albatros scout in flames. On 3 June 1917, he shot down an Albatros scout in flames. On 5 June 1917, he shot down a two-seater Albatros in flames. On 6 June 1917, he shot down two Albatros scouts in flames and killed the pilot in a third machine. He has displayed great gallantry and skill in all his combats." DSC citation, London Gazette, 24 July 1917

Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

"For conspicuous bravery and skill in consistently leading attacks against hostile aircraft. Since 10 June 1917, Flight Lieutenant Collishaw has himself brought down four machines completely out of control and driven down two others with their planes shot away. Whilst on an offensive patrol on the morning of 15 June 1917, he forced down a hostile scout in a nose dive. Later, on the same day, he drove down one hostile two-seater machine completely out of control. On 24 June 1917, he engaged four enemy scouts, driving one down in a spin and another with two of its planes shot away; the latter machine was seen to crash." DSO citation, London Gazette, 11 August 1917

Distinguished Service Order (DSO) Bar

"A brilliant squadron leader of exceptional daring who has destroyed 51 enemy machines. Early one morning, he, with another pilot, attacked an enemy aerodrome. Seeing three machines brought out of a burning hangar, he dived five times, firing bursts at these from a very low altitude, and dropping bombs on the living quarters. He then saw an enemy aeroplane descending over the aerodrome; he attacked it and drove it down in flames. Later, when returning from a reconnaissance of the damaged hangars, he was attacked by three Albatros scouts who pursued him to our lines, when he turned and attacked one, which fell out of control and crashed." DSO Bar citation, London Gazette, 21 September 1918

Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

"This officer is an exceptionally capable and efficient squadron commander, under whose leadership the squadron has maintained a high place in the Army Wing. He has carried out numerous solo patrols and led many offensive patrols, on all occasions engaging the enemy with great bravery and fearlessness. Up to date he has accounted for forty seven enemy machines, twenty two in the last twelve months." DFC citation, London Gazette, 3 August 1918