Early Life
Alan McLeod grew up in Stonewall, Manitoba, the son of a doctor. He enrolled in The 34th Fort Garry Horse in 1913 at age 14. When the war started in 1914 Alan was sent home, as under age. He then tried several times to enlist in the army in Winnipeg, and in the cadet wing of the Royal Flying Corps in Toronto. As he turned 18 he successfully enrolled in the RFC. He trained as a pilot at Long Branch near Toronto, and soloed after only 3 hours flight time. He graduated with 50 hours of flying experience. On 20 August 1917 he was shipped overseas to France.
He was originally posted to No. 82 Squadron flying scouts, but when his Commanding Officer found he was 18 he had McLeod posted to 51 Squadron on Home Defence duties flying the B.E. 12 at night. He was then posted to No. 2 Squadron, a Corps Squadron working near Hesdigneul in northern France, flying his first operation in December 1917. With Lt. Comber as his gunner, he claimed a Fokker Dr.I destroyed in January and on 14 January flamed an observation balloon near Beauvin. He was mentioned in dispatches for this exploit.
Read more about this topic: Alan Arnett McLeod
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