Capt. Adrian William Edmund Reeves, July 12, 1899 – Feb. 4, 1933 Notes by his son, Desmond Reeves (ADR):
My father was born at “Willowdene”, 13, Marlborough Crescent, Bedford Park, Acton, England. My wife Rita and I visited this house on Saturday, November 28, 1992 while in London on holiday. We met the current owners who were kind enough to invite us into the house and offered us a glass of wine! They gave me a brochure on Bedford Park, which was the first garden suburb in England. I took several pictures of the outside of the house. While Bedford Park is technically in Acton, it is physically close to Chiswick. We walked through the business area and bought a book on the history of Bedford Park at an old book store.
During World War I, my father served in the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) until it merged with the Royal Flying Corps to become the Royal Air Force. He attained the rank of Captain. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) personally, by His Majesty, King George V in a private audience. The citation which appeared in the London Gazette of December 3, 1918 reads:
“His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to confer the undermentioned Rewards on Officers and other ranks of the Royal Air Force in recognition of gallantry in flying operations against the enemy:
Lieut. (A/Capt.) Adrian William Edmund Reeves (Sea Patrol, FLANDERS)
This officer has done continuous good work during the past 4 1/2 months, notably in the recent advance, when, between September 28th and October 5th, he carried out thirteen raids on enemy railway junctions. A bold and determined fighter, he has taken part in sixty-four raids, his observer and himself shooting down four enemy aeroplanes.”
Daddy died shortly before 6 am on Saturday, February 4, 1933 at his home in Farmington, a suburb of Detroit, Michigan. News of his death were reported in the Detroit papers and the New York Times. The Times obituary read “CAPTAIN ADRIAN REEVES British World War Aviator Was Shot Down Six Times”.
DETROIT, Feb. 4 (AP) Captain Adrian Reeves who was shot down six times as a World War aviator, suffering nothing worse than a sprained ankle, died here today of influenza at the age of 33. Captain Reeves, who was vice president of the National Air service, Inc. of Detroit, was born in Belfast, Ireland, (Note: This is incorrect My father was actually born in England but would never admit this. No official document, including his marriage license, my and my sister’s birth certificates, his pilot’s license and driver’s license shows any city other than Belfast as his birthplace.) and joined the Royal Naval Air Service in 1915, when he was 15. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross for leading thirteen successful bombing raids over the German lines within a few days. He was credited officially with bringing down four planes. The Captain came to Detroit in 1926, (Note: This, also, is incorrect. He arrived in the US in 1922 or 1923)(Note JR – Arrived May 1922) a year after leaving England. He is survived by a widow, a son and a daughter.
Detroit papers (names unknown) carried the following accounts of Daddy’s death:
1. (probably the Detroit News, the article also included a picture with the caption “Airman in World War; Leader in Aviation) “VETERAN FLYER IS DEAD AT 33” Decorated by British for Daring Air raids On Germans. Capt. Adrian W. Reeves, veteran of numerous World War aerial encounters in the course of which was shot down six times and escaped with nothing more serious than a sprained ankle, died shortly before 6 a.m. today of influenza and a throat infection. He was 33 years old.
Born in Belfast, Ireland Capt. Reeves at 15 enlisted in the Royal Naval Air Service . That was in 1915 and in two years he was a captain, commanding a bombing group.
DECORATED BY BRITISH He received the Distinguished Flying Cross for leading 13 successful bombing raids over the German lines within a few days. In his encounters with enemy fliers, Capt. Reeves brought down and was credited officially with four planes. His ankle was sprained when a machine gun bullet struck his shoe.
AN AIR MAIL FLIER After the war, Capt. Reeves flew the air mail between London and Cologne and between London and Berlin. He left England for Canada in 1925 (ADR Note: This is incorrect. It was 1922) and shortly thereafter came to Detroit. He has made his home here since that time. His first work in Detroit was as a draftsman. Later he was a co-pilot in the Stout Air lines; served as an instructor with the Triangle Flying Service, Inc.; served in a similar capacity with the National Airways and then, in 1931, joined National Air Service, Inc., Plymouth and Middle Belt roads.
SERVED AS INSTRUCTOR He was vice-president of the organization and an instructor as well at the time of his death. Friends of Capt. Reeves estimate that since coming to Detroit he has taught several hundred students to fly. Capt. Reeves, stricken with influenza shortly before Christmas, apparently had recovered and last Saturday went to the flying field. He suffered a relapse in the evening and an infection developed. He died in his home in Coventry Gardens, near Farmington.
He leaves his wife, Mrs. Helen Reeves; a son, Desmond, 9 years old; a daughter Joyce, 5; his mother, who is in Belfast and a sister, a teacher in India” (ADR Note: I don’t know who this is. Daddy had two sisters, neither of whom to my knowledge was a teacher in India! Daddy’s brother Eric, who also lived in Detroit, was not even mentioned.)
2. “REEVES, AIR LINE OFFICIAL, IS DEAD Capt. Adrian Reeves, one of the operators of National Air Service and for years a popular figure in Detroit air circles, died Saturday at his home near Farmington. He had been ill for six weeks. Pneumonia set in after a heavy cold and his death was the result of a severe throat infection. Enlisting in the Royal Air Force in 1916, Reeves saw service on the Western Front and in Mesopotamia. He was one of the original bomber pilots and s a pursuit flier shot down four German planes. He was made a Captain at the age of 19. (ADR Note: This is a very garbled story. !! I have no idea where they got Mesopotamia !)
After the war, Reeves flew on the first mail line between London and Cologne. He came here in 1922 and has been prominent as an instructor and operator since that time A widow, Helen and two children, Desmond 5 and Joyce, 3. survive.” (ADR Note: These ages are, of course, incorrect.)
3. “CAPT. A. W. REEVES’ FUNERAL MONDAY Famous Flier Was Victim of Influenza. Funeral services for Capt. Adrian W. Reeves, veteran military and commercial flier, are to be held at the Heeney Chapel, 23720 Farmington Road, Monday at 2 p.m. Capt. Reeves died Saturday of Influenza and a throat infection. Gerald Black and Harold H. Strickland, associates of Reeves in the operation of National Air Service, Inc. plan to fly two planes over the chapel in an “element” formation, leaving the position normally occupied by the third plane vacant, to signal the loss of a comrade. Pall bearers will be pilots whom Reeves taught to fly or with whom he was associated. Capt. Reeves was one of the outstanding flying instructors in the Detroit area. He came here from England eight years ago, following distinguished service with the British Royal Flying Corps in the world war. He led successfully 13 bombing raids over German territory, for which he was decorated.”
I wonder why dad’s dad wanted to be Irish so much do that he put incorrect info on official documents?
I unfortunately don’t think we’ll ever know the answer.