Thomas Sinclair Harrison Major Thomas Sinclair Harrison DFC & Bar ( born 8 January 1898 in South Africa ) was a World War I fighter ace credited with 22 victories . He was a balloon buster , as he destroyed two enemy observation balloons . Military service . Harrison originally served with an artillery regiment in German East Africa . He then joined the Royal Flying Corps in April 1917 . In May 1918 , he was assigned to No . 29 Squadron RAF . His timing was impeccable ; the squadron was newly equipped with brand new RAF SE . 5a s . Beginning his victories the following month , he became the squadron ' s leading ace out of 26 . While his 22 triumphs did not make up an overpowering part of the squadron ' s 385 victories , he was a steady scorer . His first victory was on 27 June 1918 , when he flamed a Halberstadt C , using RAF SE . 5a serial 8859 to deadly effect . He destroyed a Hannover C on 1 July . On 4 July , he was flying a signals intelligence sortie of " wireless interception duty , " in SE . 5a serial 3915 . He destroyed the LVG carrying the airborne radio , and burned one of its pair of escort Pfalz D . III s . He was awarded his Distinguished Flying Cross for this mission . On 8 July , he became an ace . By the middle of August , he was a double ace , scoring his tenth win on 13 August 1918 . Two of these victories were over balloons . He ended August at an even dozen . By now , he had a favorite plane , serial number E5947 . He would run off a series of seven victories in it , with the last being his 13th win on 6 September 1917 . A squadron - mate then ruined it with a fast hard landing . Harrison then scored six times in October and three in November , in four different aircraft . His last triumph came on 10 November , the day before the war ended . His 22 victories tallied 13 enemy aircraft destroyed singlehanded , four of which burned ; two destroyed in conjunction with another pilot ; four planes driven down out of control ; two balloons destroyed singlehanded . World War II service . Harrison returned to service as a major , serving in intelligence for the South African Air Force . Honors and awards . Distinguished Flying Cross ( DFC ) Lieut . Thomas Sinclair Harrison . When on wireless interception duty this officer engaged three enemy machines , shooting down one in flames . He was then attacked by three scouts and a two - seater ; the latter he shot down . During the last few weeks he has further accounted for three hostile aeroplanes and a balloon , displaying vigour and gallantry in attack . Supplement to the London Gazette , 21 September 1918 ( 30913 / 11251 ) Distinguished Flying Cross ( DFC ) Bar Lieut . Thomas Sinclair Harrison . D . F . C . ( FRANCE . ) Bold in attack , skilful in manoeuvre , this officer never hesitates to engage the enemy , however superior in numbers . On 2 October he , with three other machines , took part in an engagement with eight Fokkers ; four of these were destroyed , Lieut . Harrison accounting for one . On another occasion he , in company with four others , engaged fa large formation of Fokkers ; three of these were destroyed , one by this officer . In all he has destroyed twenty enemy machines . Supplement to the London Gazette , 3 December 1918 ( 31046 / 14316 )