Scotch College

World War I fighter ace proudly flew cardinal, gold and blue

Words: GEOFF HUMPHRIES (’57)

Australia’s highest scoring fighting aircraft ace, Bob Little, proudly flew the cardinal, gold and blue colours of his old School while becoming one of the most celebrated fighting airmen of his day.

Little was born in Hawthorn in 1895, and after his education at Scotch College, he tried to join the Point Cook Military Flying School in 1915, but was rejected.

At his own expense he travelled to England, and gained his pilot’s licence at the Royal Aero Club at Hendon near London.

Accepted into the Royal Naval Air Service, he was posted to France. Flying Sopwith Pups with No.8 Naval Squadron, Little scored his early victories. The squadron was re-equipped with Sopwith triplanes in the spring of 1917, and in this aircraft Little and the Canadian ace Raymond Collishaw became the two greatest exponents of the ‘Tripes’ as they were called.

Little had married in England and now had a young son, whom he nicknamed ‘Blymp’: he had this name painted on his triplane.

An excellent shot on the ground and in the air, he was a determined individualist who never let go once onto an enemy aircraft.

Little began a well-earned rest on 30 July 1917, after scoring 38 victories. He returned to combat duties in March 1918 as a flight commander with 3 Naval, which on 1 April became 203 Squadron RAF.

Flying Sopwith Camel aircraft, Little’s score continued to mount, overall to 47. It was probably on his Camel aircraft that Bob fixed the School colours, either to the wing strut or to the tail, or to both.

But his demise came on the night of 27 May 1918. When he took off to intercept German Gotha bombers, both he and a Gotha were caught in a searchlight beam, and a bullet from either the bomber or ground fire passed through both of Little’s thighs. He crash-landed near Noeux and bled to death, his body and aircraft being found the next morning.

Bob Little was dead at 22, leaving a young widow and son. He is buried at Wavans British Cemetery in France. GS

Great Scot thanks Osprey Publishing of the UK for permission to use text by Norman Franks, taken from ‘ACE 62 – Sopwith Triplane Aces of World War 1’. The portrait of Bob Little is used by courtesy of author Norman Franks.