William Duncan (aviator)

William James Arthur Duncan
Nickname(s)	"Art"
Allegiance	Canada
Service / branch	Infantry; aviation
Years of service	1916–1919
Rank	Captain
Unit	228th Battalion CEF, No. 60 Squadron RAF
Awards	Military Cross with Bar
Other work	Played and coached professional hockey

Captain William James Arthur Duncan was a Canadian professional hockey player and aviator. He interrupted his sports career to serve in World War I, and became a fighter ace credited with 11 official aerial victories.

Early life and service

Duncan debuted in professional hockey in the 1915 season.

Duncan's 1 October 1916 enlistment papers gave his birth date as 4 July 1891, and his birthplace as Saint Sault Marie, Ontario, Canada. He was an accountant. He listed his next of kin as his mother, Mrs. W. A. Duncan. He listed his home address as his mother's place in Toronto. He also claimed to be serving in the 34th Regiment of the militia, which may be the basis for his direct commissioning as an officer.

During the 1916 and 1917 hockey seasons, Duncan continued to play, as his battalion fielded a team in the National Hockey Association both years. His transfer to France cut off his sporting career.

World War I

Duncan first served with the 228th Battalion CEF in France as a lieutenant. On 1 August 1917, Lieutenant W. J. A. Duncan of the Canadian Railway Troops was appointed a Flying Officer in the Royal Flying Corps and seconded for duty with them. He was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and assigned to 60 Squadron in September 1917 as a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a pilot with a roving commission.

Duncan scored his first aerial victory on 6 November 1917, when he destroyed a German DFW reconnaissance plane northeast of Polygon Wood. He began to accumulate wins. On the day the RFC was consolidated into the Royal Air Force, 1 April 1918, he shared his seventh victory with American ace John Griffith. On 17 May 1918, he raised his tally to nine. The next day, he was promoted to temporary captain. He would score twice more after that, destroying an LVG on 3 June and busting a German observation balloon on 5 June 1918. He was returned to Home Establishment on 30 June 1918.

His combat exploits won him the award of the Military Cross, gazetted on 26 July 1918: For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On one occasion he attacked and shot down an enemy plane which had been engaged at firing on our infantry. He then led his patrol over the enemy's lines, dived down to an altitude of 100 feet, and attacked large numbers of hostile infantry with machinegun fire, causing the utmost panic amongst them and inflicting heavy casualties. His continuous gallantry and initiative have been most conspicuous.

An award of a Bar to the Military Cross in lieu of a second award followed on 16 September 1918: For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This officer sighted fifteen enemy scouts attacking eight of ours and immediately joined in, destroying one enemy aeroplane, which fell with a wing off. He then attacked and drove down three other machines, maintaining the fight until the eight had got back to their lines. He has also, with another officer, destroyed an Albatros scout, which he followed down to a height of 200 feet, in spite of heavy machine-gun fire from the ground.

Post World War I

On 31 March 1919, Duncan resigned his commission upon ceasing to be employed by the Royal Air Force.

He joined the Vancouver Millionaires of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association, and played on their teams that won league titles from 1921–1924. After the league's collapse, he played for the Detroit Falcons of the National Hockey League in 1926 and 1927 while coaching and captaining the team. He moved to the Toronto Maple Leafs, playing for them from 1927–1931, and coaching in the latter year.

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