Eric Douglas Cummings
- April 13, 1896
- October 27, 1979
- 83 years
About Eric Douglas Cummings
Eric Douglas Cummings, 83, Australian flying ace.
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Full Biography
|Captain Eric Douglas Cummings (13 April 1896 – 27 October 1979) was an Australian World War I flying ace credited with nine aerial victories while flying for the Australian Flying Corps. Postwar, he was an integral part of fund-raising campaigns to care for his fellow Australian military veterans. He then served in the Royal Air Force reserves until reactivated for service during World War II.
Early life
Cummings was born to Doctor and Mrs. H. L. Cummings in Franklin, Tasmania, Australia on 13 April 1896. He had a brother, Roy, who would serve in the Australian Flying Corps with him.
Cummings (serial number 1026) enlisted in the 2nd Signal Company, Australian Imperial Force on 27 October 1914, giving his profession as cart driver and claiming 15 months prior service in C Company, 93rd Regiment of the militia. He embarked for departure from Australia in December 1914; he was in the 15th Battalion as a bugler. He served in the Gallipoli Campaign before transferring to aviation.
World War I aviation service
Cummings was assigned to train at the flying school at RAF Shawbury. He completed all phases of his training in three weeks, and was posted to No. 2 Squadron AFC. Although he had yet to score an aerial victory, his rise through the ranks was rapid, and he was appointed Flight Commander on 17 October 1916. He subsequently liaised with Rene Fonck in operations against Manfred von Richthofen's Flying Circus.
Details of Cummings' service over the next year and a half are missing. By May 1918, however, he was assigned to 2 Squadron AFC as a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a pilot. On 3 May 1918, he scored his first aerial victory. His brother Roy mailed home a copy of orders describing the action; this was reprinted in The (Hobart) Mercury in the Cummings' native Tasmania. The reprint gives a vivid description of early aerial warfare:
"Lieutenant E. D. Cummings...attacked a...triplane, and fired a burst from both guns into it. The enemy aircraft immediately went down in a spin, followed by Lieutenant Cummings, still firing. The enemy aircraft then turned on its back, and finally crashed....At this point Lieutenant Cummings was attacked by four...triplanes, who shot away his elevator controls, instrument board, petrol and oil tanks; his machine went down almost out of control, but he managed to keep it out of a spin until it...crashed. His safety-belt broke, and he was thrown clear of the machine into a shell-hole...."
Nothing daunted, Cummings went on to score eight more confirmed aerial wins and rise to the rank of captain. His bravery would win him a Distinguished Flying Cross, which would be gazetted on 8 February 1919:
"This officer has proved himself an able and determined leader of offensive patrols. In carrying out these raids he has met with conspicuous success, heavy damage being inflicted on enemy material and personnel. This has been due in the main to his brilliant leadership and skilful navigation. Capt. Cummings possesses, in a marked degree, courage, combined with cool judgment."
List of aerial victories
Between the wars
Cummings returned to Australia after the war; on 28 August 1919 he flew an aerobatic exhibition in a Sopwith Pup over downtown Hobart, including eight loops. The exhibition was a public relations stunt to draw a crowd to subscribe to a Peace Loan of 750,000 Pounds to care for military veterans. After his departure from Hobart, he barnstormed locally for the Peace Loan, despite engine trouble after departing Launceston for Longford and Devonport on 9 September 1919.
On 11 February 1920 Cummings was invested with the Distinguished Flying Cross by General William Birdwood in Cummings' home town of Franklin.
On 7 June 1923 Cummings was granted a short service commission in the Royal Air Force as a Flying Officer.
On 7 June 1928 he was transferred to Class A Reserve of the Royal Air Force; he would remain in the reserves in various capacities until World War II.
While Cummings was a reservist he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant on 4 February 1931.
Also during this time, on 27 April 1932, he was elected to membership in the Royal Aero Club.
World War II
Cummings returned to active service for World War II. On 7 June 1940 he was promoted to temporary Squadron Leader. On 1 March 1942, Cummings was promoted to temporary Wing Commander.
Endnotes
- Footnotes
- Citations
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Douglas_Cummings
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
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- View record
- October 21, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Eric Douglas Cummings's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what city and state was Eric Douglas Cummings born?
- A.Launceston, Victoria
- B.Franklin, Tasmaniacorrect
- C.Devonport, New South Wales
- D.Hobart, Tasmania
The biography states that Eric Douglas Cummings was born to Doctor and Mrs. H. L. Cummings in Franklin, Tasmania.
Source: Early life
2.What was Eric Douglas Cummings' profession when he first enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in 1914?
- A.Cart drivercorrect
- B.Bugler
- C.Mechanic
- D.Flight instructor
Eric Douglas Cummings enlisted in the 2nd Signal Company on 27 October 1914, listing his profession as a cart driver.
Source: Early life
3.How many aerial victories was Eric Douglas Cummings officially credited with during World War I?
- A.Seven
- B.Ten
- C.Eight
- D.Ninecorrect
The text states that Eric Douglas Cummings was an Australian World War I flying ace credited with nine aerial victories.
Source: Introduction
4.At which Royal Air Force facility did Eric Douglas Cummings receive his aviation training?
- A.RAF Shawburycorrect
- B.RAF Hendon
- C.RAF Upavon
- D.RAF Cranwell
Eric Douglas Cummings was assigned to train at the flying school at RAF Shawbury.
Source: World War I aviation service
5.What role did Eric Douglas Cummings serve in while he was part of the 15th Battalion during the Gallipoli Campaign?
- A.Medic
- B.Scout
- C.Buglercorrect
- D.Cart driver
Eric Douglas Cummings served in the 15th Battalion as a bugler during the Gallipoli Campaign.
Source: Early life
6.When was Eric Douglas Cummings officially gazetted for the Distinguished Flying Cross?
- A.28 August 1919
- B.3 May 1918
- C.8 February 1919correct
- D.17 October 1916
The biography notes that Eric Douglas Cummings' Distinguished Flying Cross was gazetted on 8 February 1919.
Source: World War I aviation service
7.Which aircraft was Eric Douglas Cummings flying when he achieved his first aerial victory on 3 May 1918?
- A.Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5acorrect
- B.Sopwith Pup
- C.Bristol Fighter
- D.Airco DH.5
By May 1918, Eric Douglas Cummings was assigned to 2 Squadron AFC as a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a pilot and scored his first victory.
Source: World War I aviation service
8.What aerial maneuver did Eric Douglas Cummings perform over downtown Hobart on 28 August 1919?
- A.Barrel rolls
- B.Spins
- C.Loopscorrect
- D.Tail slides
On 28 August 1919, Eric Douglas Cummings flew an aerobatic exhibition in a Sopwith Pup over Hobart that included eight loops.
Source: Between the wars
9.What was the primary purpose of the aerobatic exhibition Eric Douglas Cummings held in Hobart in 1919?
- A.Demonstrating new aviation technology
- B.Celebrating the end of the war
- C.Promoting the Royal Air Force
- D.Raising subscriptions for a Peace Loancorrect
The exhibition served as a public relations stunt to draw a crowd to subscribe to a Peace Loan to care for military veterans.
Source: Between the wars
10.Who invested Eric Douglas Cummings with the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1920?
- A.Major Rene Fonck
- B.General William Birdwoodcorrect
- C.King George V
- D.Lieutenant Roy Cummings
On 11 February 1920, Eric Douglas Cummings was invested with the award by General William Birdwood in Franklin.
Source: Between the wars
11.In what year was Eric Douglas Cummings elected to membership in the Royal Aero Club?
- A.1928
- B.1923
- C.1931
- D.1932correct
The text records that Eric Douglas Cummings was elected to membership in the Royal Aero Club on 27 April 1932.
Source: Between the wars
12.To what rank was Eric Douglas Cummings promoted on 4 February 1931?
- A.Wing Commander
- B.Captain
- C.Squadron Leader
- D.Flight Lieutenantcorrect
While Eric Douglas Cummings was a reservist, he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant on 4 February 1931.
Source: Between the wars
13.What rank did Eric Douglas Cummings reach by 1 March 1942?
- A.Squadron Leader
- B.Wing Commandercorrect
- C.Group Captain
- D.Flight Lieutenant
On 1 March 1942, Eric Douglas Cummings was promoted to temporary Wing Commander.
Source: World War II
14.What was the name of Eric Douglas Cummings' brother who served with him in the Australian Flying Corps?
- A.H. L. Cummings
- B.Roy Cummingscorrect
- C.William Cummings
- D.Arthur Cummings
The biography mentions that Eric Douglas Cummings had a brother named Roy, who served in the Australian Flying Corps with him.
Source: Early life
15.How long did it take Eric Douglas Cummings to complete his training at the RAF Shawbury flying school?
- A.One year
- B.Three months
- C.Three weekscorrect
- D.Six months
Eric Douglas Cummings completed all phases of his aviation training at RAF Shawbury in three weeks.
Source: World War I aviation service
16.What was the specific date of Eric Douglas Cummings' death?
- A.27 October 1979correct
- B.13 April 1896
- C.3 May 1918
- D.27 October 1914
Eric Douglas Cummings was born on 13 April 1896 and passed away on 27 October 1979.
Source: Introduction
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