a Drachen on 24 August for his fourth victory. What makes Bannerman's string of victories more remarkable was that the engine of the Dolphin was notorious for its unreliability and his log book records many engine failures, which would have reduced his time in the air. Also 79 Squadron was tasked for ground attack work; none of his victories were scored above 5,000 feet altitude. Indeed, there were only four other aces in the unit: Francis W. Gillet, Frederic Ives Lord, John McNeaney, and Edgar Taylor. Bannerman ended the war a Captain with two awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross. He had 396 hours flight time and approximately 190 combat sorties. He was New Zealand's top ranking ace. List of victories Sources: Return to civilian life He continued flying and other duties after the armistice, including serving in the Army of Occupation in Belgium and as an instructor of fighter tactics and aerobatics in Britain. By the time he closed his pilot's log for good in June 1919, he had more than 500 hours flying time. He was transferred to the RAF's Unemployed List on 16 August 1919. By September 1919 he had returned home, where he begin a distinguished long career as a lawyer first in Dunedin and then at Gore where he entered into partnership with Edmund Robert Bowler (1866–1927), who had served as a Lieutenant-Colonel at Gallipoli. The firm was initially known as Bowler & Bannerman until Bowler's retirement in February 1927. Bannerman remained a member of the Otago Regiment and then with the Southland Regiment until May 1924. He transferred to the Territorial Air Force, where he remained until he retired in June 1930 with the rank of flight lieutenant. He then had little to do with aviation for the next decade. World War II After the outbreak of World War II he rejoined the RNZAF in September 1940. He rose to become the Air Member for Personnel for the RNZAF from November 1942 to October 1945, achieving the rank of Air Commodore in the process. In the 1945 King's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his services. Later life He resumed his legal career after World War II. Together with Keith Caldwell and Leonard Isitt he was instrumental in establishing the New Zealand 1914–1918 Airmen's Association in 1960. In the 1960s he initiated negotiations with landowners