Under Andrew Murray-Jones No 2 Sqn AFC earnt a name as a quiet, humble, confident and proficient squadron. While this is not a result of the squadron commander alone, but a combined result of the attitude and ethic of the flight commanders, pilots and ground crew, there is no better example of the squadron's proficiency than Captain Roy C. Phillipps.
The flying services which fell under British administration used the Royal Flying Corps system of scoring. In this system combats could be recognised as Driven Down, Out of Control, Destroyed and Captured. By comparison the other services were far more strict in what they demanded as evidence for an aerial victory. The British system was better for collecting statistics and information on air battles, whereas other systems were superior in determining victory tallies.
It has been a common knock in World War I historical discussions that the British system was far too lenient in awarding victories to pilots, and as a result, many aces under this system have inflated scores. Not so Roy Phillipps. His victories;
Roy Phillipps was born in North Sydney, but when war broke out he was working as an accountant in Perth. Phillipps enlisted in the Army, and served in the famed 28th battalion, who along with the 26th battalion were the "Black ANZACs", named as they conducted the first Australian trench raids in France. Phillipps was promoted to Captain and earned a Military Cross for his valour before being wounded heavily in the leg, leaving his leg partially paralysed.
Phillipps transferred to the Australian Flying Corps, serving as the adjutant for No.2 Sqn AFC before signing up for flying training. Phillipps flew with No.32 Sqn RFC in Airco DH5s for operational experience before rejoining No.2 Sqn. Phillipps took part in the Cambrai battles, scoring one victory, before he squadron received SE5a aircraft. The aircraft in which he scored the bulk of his victories.
Before the armistice, Phillipps was promoted to Major and took command of No.6 Sqn AFC in England. In World War II, Phillipps rejoined the Air Force as a Wing Commander, and took command of the Flying Training School at Archerfield. Sadly he was to die in a plane crash in 1940.
- Captured DFW, 22nd November 1917.
- Destroyed Fokker DrI, 22nd March 1918.
- Destroyed Albatros DV, 23rd March 1918.
- Destroyed Albatros DV, 24th March 1918.
- Destroyed Fokker DrI, 27th March 1918.
- Captured Type D, 27th March 1918.
- Destroyed Pfalz DIII, 16th May 1918.
- Destroyed Fokker DrI, 12th June 1918.
- Destroyed Fokker DrI, 12th June 1918.
- Captured LVG C, 12th June 1918.
- Captured Fokker DVII, 12th June 1918.
- Destroyed Fokker DVII, 25th July 1918.
- Destroyed DFW C, 1st August 1918.
- Out of Control Fokker DVII, 1st August 1918.
- Destroyed Fokker DVII, 12th August 1918.
