This article (since deleted, backup here) came to my eye recently. The article glosses over the exploits of a citizen of British India who, purportedly, rose from utter obscurity to becoming an ace flier. A quote of some of the article is as follows:
Dattatray Laxman Patwardhan was born at Ratnagiri on 10th July, 1883. [...]
1914 The First World War Starts
When the First World War started in 1914, Dattu went to Britain's "War Office" and secured an assignment in "Ambulance Corps." Considering his sincerity, he was promoted as a "Soldier" in "Sussex" Brigade. He got trained in handling the latest weapons, guns and cannons. So he was dispatched to France to fight on the actual battlefield. Afterwards, he was promoted to Royal Air Force and acquired skill to fly Cargo and Bomber aircrafts and became an ace pilot.
Bombing Berlin in the Mist
Taking advantage of thick mist, Dattu bombed Berlin directly. Ducking the anti-aircraft fire, Dattu played havoc and straightway bombed the "Kaiser Palace." He was honoured as the first Bomber Pilot in the world to bomb Berlin! King George the Fifth himself decorated Dattu by pinning on his coat the Military Award and Award of Valour. He was presented with "Sword of Military Honour." At that time, Dattu informed King Majesty of England that he was in fact Dattatray Laxman Patwardhan and gained entry in the army by adopting the Anglo-Indian name of "D Lacman Pat"!
The article only cites names, and obscure/ambiguous decorations - nothing concrete.
A google search to match the name against the place during World War I - failed to yield a positive result. The language used in the article too somehow doesn't ring true; could simply be poor linguistic skill on the part of the journalist though.
Was this Indian, in fact, the first allied aviator to strike Berlin during the Great War? As a corollary, who was the first allied aviator to strike Berlin?
Links:
- http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/20471470/1857933068/name/STORY__OF_FIRST_AVIATOR.doc
- http://web.archive.org/web/20150421123629/http://www.koi-hai.com/Default.aspx?id=557860
- https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/MerchantNavy/conversations/messages/21886
- https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=144682722360101&story_fbid=173706769457696