Was the first pilot to land his aircraft on a ship when he landed his Sopwith Pup on HMS Furious in Scapa Flow, Orkney on 2nd August 1917. Memorial in St Lawrence's Church, Bradfield, Essex, England states, 'SACRED TO THE.MEMORY OF/SQUADRON COMMANDER/EDWIN HARRIS DUNNING DSC. RN/H.M.S. FURIOUS/BORN 17TH JULY 1892. SECOND SON OF/ SIR EDWARD HARRIS DUNNING KNIGHT/OF JACQUES HALL IN THIS PARISH/WOUNDED 20TH JUNE 1916. WHILE BOMBING/ENEMY TERRITORY : IN A FIGHT WITH GERMAN/SEAPLANES AND WAS AWARDED THE/DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS . FOR/GALLANTRY ON THIS AND OTHER OCCASIONS/KILLED 7TH AUGUST 1917/BURIED IN BRADFIELD CHURCHYARD/BESIDE HIS MOTHER/The Admiralty wish you to know what/great service he performed for the Navy./It was in fact a demonstration of landing/an Aeroplane on the deck of a Man-of-War/ whilst the latter was under way./ This had never been done before; and the/data obtained was of the utmost value./It will make Aeroplanes indispensable to the/ Fleet, & possibly revolutionize Naval Warfare./The risk taken by Squadron Commander Dunning needed much courage. He had already made/two successful landings: but expressed a wish/to land again himself, before other Pilots did so:/ and in this last run he was killed. My Lords/desire to place on record their sense of loss/to the Naval Service of this Gallant Officer.' 'His captain wrote "I shall never cease to admire/& regret him. He was so keen and full of/enthusiasm & such an excellent capable/fellow in every way. Both officers & men/serving under him deeply feel the loss of/so fine an officer and gentleman"
DSC LG Sup 14 March 1916 - "Has performed exceptionally good work as a seaplane flyer, making many long flights both for spotting and photographing." MID LG Sup 1 October 1917