David Stewart ( RAF officer ) Captain David Arthur Stewart MC & Bar DFC AFC ( 8 March 1890 – 24 December 1924 ) was a World War I flying ace credited with 16 aerial victories . Remarkably , they were all scored while he was flying bombers instead of fighters . World War I flying service . He scored his first two victories over German fighters on 1 and 3 August 1916 while assigned to No . 20 Squadron as an Air Mechanic 2nd Class observer in the back seat of a F . E . 2b . He did not score again for another 16 months ; he resumed his victory skein on 6 January 1918 while piloting an Airco DH . 4 for No . 18 Squadron . On 6 March 1918 , he destroyed a Pfalz D . III and drove three other German fighters down out of control . He continued to win through 27 March , when he achieved his eleventh win . After a two month lapse , he closed out his tally with a victory on 28 May and double victories on 30 May and 11 June 1918 . Fifteen of his triumphs were over enemy fighters ; he destroyed eight and drove seven down out of control . He also destroyed an enemy two - seater . Among his observer gunners were fellow aces Reginald Maxwell , Harry Mackay , Lewis Collins , and William Miller . He was awarded the Military Cross on 22 April 1918 , a Bar in lieu of a second award exactly two months later , and a Distinguished Flying Cross on 2 November 1918 . Post World War I service . David Arthur Stewart was promoted to Flight Lieutenant on 1 July 1921 . He was awarded the Air Force Cross on 5 January 1922 . He was elected for membership in the Royal Aero Club on 14 November 1923 . He was killed piloting a civilian airliner on 24 December 1924 . Honours and awards . Military Cross ( MC ) " T . / 2nd Lt . David Arthur Stewart , Gen . List , and R . F . C . For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty . On one occasion , when returning from bombing an enemy dump , he was intercepted by a formation of thirty hostile machines . He attacked the leader and shot his machine down out of control , whilst his observer shot down another enemy scout . He then fired a burst at another large scout , which dived down vertically out of control . On his observer being hit whilst engaged with another four machines , he spun down 4 , 000 feet and dived for our lines . Later , when on photographic duty , he was attacked by five enemy scouts , three of which were accounted for by his observer and himself . In the face of heavy odds , his courage , skill and fine tighting spirit have been most conspicuous . " Military Cross ( MC ) Bar " T . / 2nd Lt . ( T . / Capt . ) David Arthur Stewart , M . C . , Gen . List , and R . F . C . For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty . During the past month , when engaged with superior numbers of enemy aircraft , he has destroyed four hostile machines , all of which were seen to crash by other observers . He has in addition carried out nine successful reconnaissances , as a result of which he has returned with information of the greatest value . He has displayed the greatest courage and determination at all times on his many low flying and bombing attacks on hostile troops and transport . Distinguished Flying Cross ( DFC ) " Lieut . ( T . / Capt . ) David Arthur Stewart , M . C . An able leader , conspicuous for initiative and dash . He has destroyed three enemy machines , and has , in addition , taken part in numerous bombing raids , reconnaissances and photographic flights . In the majority of these he has been leader , and frequently in order to obtain accurate information he has led his flight at very low altitudes . "