Andrew Edward McKeever Andrew Edward McKeever DSO , MC & Bar , DFC ( 21 August 1894 – 25 December 1919 ) was a Canadian World War I two - seater flying ace who , in conjunction with his gunners , was credited with 31 victories . He was the highest scoring two seater fighter pilot in the Royal Flying Corps or Royal Air Force . Early life . McKeever was born in Listowel , Ontario , Canada , to Bella Henderson and William McKeever , a grocer and butcher . After attending Toronto ’ s Central Technical School , McKeever worked as a teller until 1916 . Military service . McKeever joined the Queen ' s Own Rifles of Canada , a militia unit , as a private . He remained with them until November , 1916 , when he was accepted into the Royal Flying Corps . He sailed for England for training on 25 November 1916 . He was commissioned a probationary lieutenant on 5 December . Following training , he was assigned on 28 May 1917 to No . 11 Squadron , which was flying obsolete F . E . 2 s . They re - equipped shortly thereafter with Bristol F . 2A fighters , sometimes referred to as the Brisfit . Among McKeever ' s tasks were photographic reconnaissance , with his observer wielding a hand - held camera and taking the photos . Although the Brisfit could do this job well , it was as fast as the Fokkers that opposed it , as well as maneuverable enough to be flown like a single - seater . McKeever began his career as an ace by destroying a D . V on 26 June 1917 and sending down another out of control . On 7 July , he and Powell knocked down three more , with one destroyed and two falling uncontrollably out of the battle . McKeever would repeat this feat of triple victories on three more occasions , on 5 August , 23 September , and 31 October 1917 . On 3 October , when his score reached 20 , Lieutenant McKeever was awarded a Bar to the Military Cross he had gained a month prior . On 30 November 1917 , while flying Brisfit A7288 , he ended his career by attacking two German two - seaters protected by a flight of seven Albatros D . V s . The D . Vs paid dearly for their protective role , as McKeever and Powell destroyed four of them , one of which burned . When Powell ' s gun failed , McKeever feigned being shot down and dived out the battle . He leveled off at only 25 feet altitude and , hidden from enemy planes by a shield of fog , hightailed for home . The remaining Germans broke off contact . This epic battle earned the Distinguished Service Order for Captain McKeever . McKeever would score all 31 of his victories while flying the two - seater fighter , becoming the RFC / RAF ' s leading two - seater fighter pilot ace . All but two of those triumphs were over German Albatros D . V fighters . Seven different gunners / observers shared his victories . One of these , Lieutenant Leslie Powell , became an ace in his own right , with 19 successes , 18 of which were in tandem with McKeever . Mckeever and his gunners ' s 31 - claim tally consisted of 18 destroyed and 13 ' out of control ' . On 25 January 1918 , both pilot and observer were withdrawn from combat and shipped home . Major McKeever joined fellow aces William Bishop and Raymond Collishaw in establishing the Canadian Air Force . McKeever organized No 1 Squadron of the new air force . The war ended before the new squadron could take its Sopwith Dolphin s to battle . Canada ' s government then dissolved the fledgling air force . With war ' s end , McKeever accepted a job managing an airfield at Mineola , New York . Before he could start work , he was involved in an auto accident in his home town of Listowel . He broke his leg , complications set in , and he died of cerebral thrombosis on Christmas Day , 1919 . Text of citations . Military Cross . " 2nd Lt Andrew Edward McKeever , R . F . C . , Spec . Res . For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty , particularly when on offensive patrol . He attacked eight enemy aircraft single - handed at close range , and by his splendid dash and determination destroyed one and drove five down completely out of control . He had previously shown exceptional fearlessness in attacking the enemy when in superior numbers , and in the space of three weeks he destroyed eight hostile machines , setting a very fine example to his squadron . " Bar to Military Cross . " Lt . Andrew Edward McKeever , M . C . , R . F . C . , Spec . Res . For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in aerial combats . He has recently destroyed five enemy aeroplanes and driven down six out of control . On one occasion he encountered five enemy scouts , and drove down two out of control . Later , while leading a patrol , he engaged nine enemy scouts . He destroyed two , drove down one out of control , and dispersed the remainder . His dash and determination have been a fine example to his squadron . " Distinguished Service Order . " 2nd Lt . ( T . / Capt . ) Andrew Edward McKeever , M . C . , R . F . C . , Spec . Res . For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty . While on patrol by himself over the enemy ' s lines in very bad weather he encountered two enemy two - seater machines and seven scouts . By skilful maneuvering he engaged one and destroyed it . As he turned to get back to the lines five of the enemy dived on his tail and his observer engaged and destroyed two of them . After an indecisive combat with two others he attacked and destroyed one of the enemy which had overshot him . He continued the fight with the remainder until he was within twenty feet of the ground , when the enemy machines climbed and left him . He has recently destroyed ten enemy machines and has shown great courage and initiative . "