Albert Gregory Waller
Major Albert Gregory Waller was an Irish flying ace of the First World War, credited with eleven aerial victories. He would return to Britain's military service during the Second World War.
Family background
Waller was born in Galway, Ireland. His family were descendants of Richard Waller, a lieutenant in Cromwell's New Model Army during the conquest of Ireland, who was awarded Castle Cully and its lands near Newport, County Tipperary in 1666. Richard Waller's great-grandson William Thomas Waller married Eliza Augusta Guinness, the granddaughter of Arthur Guinness. His eldest son George Arthur Waller became Guinness' Chief Brewer and engineer, while his fourth son Francis Albert Waller was the managing director of Banagher Maltings in Shannon Grove, County Galway, near Banagher, County Offaly. Francis Albert Waller married Frances Otway on 7 September 1872, and they had nine children, of whom Albert Gregory Waller was the youngest.World War I
Waller was commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant to serve in the Army Service Corps on 7 September 1914, alongside his brother William Hastings de Warrenne Waller He was promoted to lieutenant on 6 November 1914, and to captain on 5 September 1915. Waller transferred to the Royal Flying Corps to train as a pilot, being granted Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificate No. 4015 after soloing a Henri Farman biplane at the Military School, Joyce Green, on 3 December 1916. He was appointed a flying officer and transferred to the General List on 10 February 1917.Waller served in No. 55 Squadron RFC for three months before being posted to No. 18 Squadron RFC in early 1918, where he was appointed a flight commander on 12 February 1918. Flying an Airco DH.4 two-seater Waller was credited with eleven aerial victories between 6 March and 30 May 1918, though he shared three of those wins with other air crews that contained such luminaries as Herbert Gould and Alfred Atkey. Waller's final victorious sortie brought his observer, Basil Blackett, to acedom. Overall, Waller destroyed three enemy aircraft and drove down eight others down out of control while accomplishing his missions.
Waller was subsequently awarded the Military Cross, which was gazetted on 16 September 1918. His citation read:
On 23 October 1918, shortly before the armistice brought an end to hostilities, he was granted the acting rank of major. On 22 January 1919 Waller received a mention in despatches "in respect of the valuable services... rendered in connection with the war" while serving in the Air Ministry. He was transferred to the RAF's unemployed list on 3 February 1919.
List of aerial victories
| No. | Date/Time | Aircraft/ Serial No. | Opponent | Result | Location | Notes |
| 1 | 6 March 1918 @ 1125 | DH.4 | Albatros D.V | Out of control | Carvin | Observer: Sergeant M. B. Kilroy. |
| 2 | 10 March 1918 @ 1215 | DH.4 | Albatros D.V | Out of control | Carvin—Fromelles | Observer: Sergeant M. B. Kilroy. |
| 3 | 15 March 1918 @ 1245 | DH.4 | Pfalz D.III | Out of control | Avelin | Observer: Lieutenant J. M. Brisbane. |
| 4 | 12 April 1918 @ 1025 | D.H.4 | Pfalz D.III | Destroyed in flames | Estaires | Observer: Second Lieutenant J. Waugh. Shared with Lieutenant F. J. Morgan & Sergeant M. B. Kilroy, Second Lieutenant Herbert Gould & Captain M. S. E. Archibald and Lieutenant Alfred Atkey & Sergeant H. Hammond. |
| 5 | 12 April 1918 @ 1025 | D.H.4 | Pfalz D.III | Out of control | Estaires | Observer: Second Lieutenant J. Waugh. Shared with Lieutenant F. J. Morgan & Sergeant M. B. Kilroy, Second Lieutenant Herbert Gould & Captain M. S. E. Archibald and Lieutenant Alfred Atkey & Sergeant H. Hammond. |
| 6 | 14 May 1918 @ 1800 | DH.4 | Fokker D.VII | Destroyed | Merville | Observer: Captain F. T. R. Kempster. |
| 7 | 16 May 1918 @ 1350 | DH.4 | Fokker Dr.I | Out of control | Neuf-Berquin | Observer: Captain F. T. R. Kempster. |
| 8 | 19 May 1918 @ 1200 | DH.4 | Albatros D.V | Out of control | Douai | Observer: Second Lieutenant Ayres. Shared with Second Lieutenants A. Green & F. Loly and Second Lieutenant G. Darville & Lieutenant E. Collis. |
| 9 | 25 May 1918 @ 1130 | DH.4 | Albatros D.V | Out of control | Courrières | Observer: Second Lieutenant Ayres. |
| 10 | 30 May 1918 @ 2030–2050 | D.H.4 | Fokker D.VII | Destroyed in flames | Bac Saint-Maur | Observer: Second Lieutenant Basil Blackett. |
| 11 | 30 May 1918 @ 2030–2050 | D.H.4 | Fokker D.VII | Out of control | Bac Saint-Maur | Observer: Second Lieutenant Basil Blackett. |