Stanley Stanger Captain Stanley Stanger was a World War I flying ace credited with 13 confirmed aerial victories scored on the Italian Front . He was also noted for his ingenious escape from being captured by the Austro - Hungarians . Entry into service . Stanley Stanger was an investment broker when he volunteered in Toronto for the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 21 March 1916 . He claimed a year ' s prior military service in the Westmount Rifles with the rank of Sergeant . His mother Mary was named as his next of kin . He was five feet six inches tall at time of enlistment . He had dark brown hair , brown eyes , and dark complexion . Aerial service . Stanger was commissioned on 10 May 1917 . He joined 66 Squadron in France as a Sopwith Camel pilot on 18 October 1917 . Shortly thereafter , the squadron relocated to Italy . At Ormelle on 14 December 1917 , Stanger forced down an Albatros D . V out of control for his first victory . He would score twice more with 66 Squadron , destroying two foes a month apart , on 18 March and 17 April 1918 . On 27 April 1918 , he transferred to 28 Squadron . He shot down opposing two - seater reconnaissance planes on 2 , 3 , and 13 May , becoming an ace in the process . He continued to score , and by the end of July , he was a double ace . On 23 August 1918 , he was wounded in action by anti - aircraft fire . His wounds grounded him until 20 September . On 26 September 1918 , he scored his eleventh win , sharing it with Clifford MacKay McEwen . Stanger then destroyed a pair of Albatros D . V s over the Tagliamento River on 4 October to finish his victories . He ended up with a record of three enemy planes set afire in midair , another nine destroyed while in flight , and one driven down out of control . Stanger fell ill while he was aloft on one of his October sorties . He landed on a handy airfield and shut down his plane ' s engine before realizing he had landed on an Austro - Hungarian strip . His only chance to escape any enemy soldiers investigating the racket of an untimely landing was to restart his engine and fly away . The customary method for starting an engine was for a ground crew member to yank the propeller as a lever to crank the engine , while a pilot sat at the controls . Stanger ' s solution was to remove his boots and chock the landing gear tires with the footwear . He then cranked the prop , started the engine , circled about the rotating blades , clambered into the cockpit , and departed . The fate of the boots is unknown . Post World War I . Stanger returned to the family business in Canada . He rose to President of that firm , Guardian Trust Company of Montreal , in 1939 , and remained in that position until a few months prior to his death . Honors and awards . Military Cross Lt . ( T . / Capt . ) Stanley Stanger , R . A . F . For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to ; duty in destroying six enemy aeroplanes . He did splendid service . Distinguished Flying Cross Lieut . ( A . / Capt . ) Stanley Stanger , M . C . ( ITALY ) A dashing and determined leader who has frequently engaged enemy formations . in superior numbers , inflicting heavy casualties . On 4 October he , in company with another machine , engaged six enemy aeroplanes ; three of these were destroyed , Captain Stanger accounting for two . In all he has destroyed five enemy machines , displaying on all occasions great courage and skill .