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Aviation History
1918
1918 - 0286.PDF
MARCH 14, 1918. part in 43 offensive patrols, in 14 of which he acted as leader.He has destroyed at least three enemy aircraft, and driven down nine others completely out of control. He has con-sistently shown great skill in aerial combats, and his fearless- ness and fine offensive spirit have been a splendid exampleto others. Temp. Second Lieutenant K. K. MUSPRATT, Gen. List andR.F.C.—He showed great initiative throughout the offensive operations, and seldom failed to become engaged with enemyaircraft when on offensive patrol. He destroyed several hostile machines. He took part in over forty offensive patrols,the majority of which entailed very severe fighting at low alti- tudes under heavy fire, and he set a magnificent example byhis skill, gallantry and initiative. Second Lieutenant A. C. T. PERKINS, R.G.A., Spec. Res., attd. R.F.C.—The machine in which he was an observer came into collision with another when he was at a height of 4,000 feet and had its right hand bottom plane so badly damaged that it got into a spinning nose-dive. Seeing this he immediately climbed to the outer bay of the left hand plane and by his weight there enabled his pilot to right his machine and to land without further damage. Temp. Second Lieutenant W. M. PIERCE, Gen. List andR.F.C.—Whilst on artillery patrol his machine was attacked by a hostile scout. Although he was wounded by the firstburst of hostile fire, he continued to work his gun, and succeeded in driving off the enemy machine which is believed to havebeen severely damaged. When taken to the CCS. he insisted on being sent to his squadron, in order to make a reconnais-sance report on movement behind the enemy's lines. After doing this he was taken back to the C.C.S., where he wasoperated on and the bullet extracted. This officer has proved himself a most reliable observer. He has done consistentgood work, and many of his reports have been of the greatest value. Temp. Second Lieutenant (Temp. Captain) W. J. TEMPEST, D.S.O., Gen. List and R.F.C.—For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on many occasions. He has success- fully bombed railway sidings and aerodromes, often in misty and cloudy weather and at a low altitude, causing much damage to his objectives. On one occasion he descended to a very low altitude and dropped bombs on two moving trains, causing them both to be derailed. This officer has taken part, in 34 night bombing raids. Second Lieutenant (Temp. Lieutenant) F. W. H. THOMAS,Yeo. and R.F.C.—When returning from a bombing raid the machine in which he was observer was attacked by fourenemy aeroplanes. One was driven down, and though his pilot was severely wounded he continued to fight until hisgun was put out of action by enemy fire. He showed great courage and determination. Captain C. T. VACHELL, Mon. R., and R.F.C.—He performedcontinuous good work on contact patrols and reconnaissances, flying at a low altitude. On one occasion in a very strong gale,flying low, he obtained information of the greatest importance. Second Lieutenant (Temp. Lieutenant) L. WALMSLEY,E. York. R., Spec. R., and R.F.C.—While acting as observer during a flight over enemy lines the petrol pipe burst. Withgreat coolness he attempted to stop the leak in spite of great danger from fire, eventually enabling the pilot to land safelyin our own lines. He has consistently done very fine work throughout. Temp. Lieutenant OLIVER BYERLEY WALTERS WILLS, R.F.C.—For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He carried out a reconnaissance on a hostile heavy howitzer emplacement nearly 8,000 ft. over the line. He descended to a height of 2,000 ft., and carefully examined the position. Having decided the exact position of the gun, he successfully directed the artillery on to it, securing a direct hit on theemplacement. Second Lieutenant FREDERICK WOODCOCK, R.G.A., Spec.Res., and R.F.C., Spec. Res.—For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He performed continuous and valuablework in contact patrols and reconnaissances, flying at a low altitude. On one occasion in a very strong gale, flying low,he obtained information of the greatest importance. .-,.;,;.• : Gallant Work in Burning Airships. IT was announced in_the London Gazette on March 8ththat the King has awarded the Albert medal to Flight Lieutenant Victor Albert Watson, R.N., and the Albertmedal in gold to Air-Mechanic, 1st Grade, Harold Victor Robinson and Boy Mechanic Eric Edward Steere, in recogni-tion of their heroic conduct in the following circumstances :— On the occasion of an accident to one of his Majesty'sairships, which resulted in a fire breaking out on board her. Flight Lieutenant Watson, the senior officer on the spot,immediately rushed up to the car of the airship under the impression that one of the crew was still in it, although hewas well aware that there were heavy bombs, attached to the airship, which could not be removed owing to the nearnessof the fire and were liable to explode at any moment on account of the heat. Having satisfied himself that there was no onein the car, he turned away to render assistance elsewhere. At that moment one of the bombs exploded, and a portion ofit shattered his right arm at the elbow. It was necessary to amputate the limb almost immediately. Air-Mechanic H. V. Robinson and Boy Mechanic E. E.Steere, on the occasion of an accident to one of his Majesty's airships which caused a fire to break out on board her,approached the burning airship without hesitation, extricated the pilot and two members of the crew, all of whom wereseriously injured, and then undipped the bombs from the burning car and carried them out of reach of the fire. Asthe bombs were surrounded by flames, and were so hot that they scorched the men's hands as they carried them, Robinsonand Steere must have expected that the bombs would explode. "Mentioned in Despatches." IN the despatch dated May 30th, 1917, and published in the London Gazette on March 7th, from Major-General A. R. Hoskins, C.M.G., D.S.O., late Commanding in Chief, East Africa Force, the following are mentioned :— Royal Naval Air Service.C.P.O., 2nd Grade, E. Mathias, O.N. M.6508 ; Air-Mech, 2nd Grade, J. H. Seager, O.N. F.7818. Royal Flying Corps.2nd Lieut. M. C. Mossop, Spec. Res. ; Temp. Lieut. F. L. Osman. ; Z.212 Sergt. E. A. Andrews ; Z. 252 Corpl. (ActingSergt.) H. Atkins ; Z.194 Sergt. (Acting Flight Sergt.) A. R. Geater; Z.211 Corpl. R. S. V. Parsons; Z.180 Sergt. T.Sim ; Z.144 Sergt. (Flight Sergt.) A. L. Solomons. In the despatch dated October nth, 1917, from Lieut.-Gen. J. L. Van Deventer, K.C.B., Commanding in Chief, East Africa Force, the following are brought to the noticeof the Secretary of State for War for meritorious service in the field. Royal Flying Corps. °Temp. Capt. W. W. Carey-Thomas, M.C. ; Temp. Lieut. A. E. Kennedy ; 2nd Lieut. R. B. Lovemore, R. Fus. ; Temp.2nd Lieut. A. E. Reynolds, Gen. List. ; 2nd Lieut. F. C. Smith, Spec. Res. ; Temp. Major G. P. Wallace, D.S.O. ; Temp.Lieut. L. Walmsley, M.C., E. Yorks. R. Z.323 Corpl. A. W. Barnes; Z.123 1st Class Air-Mech.(Acting Corpl.) H. H. Blake; Z.134 1st Class Air-Mech. (Acting Corpl.) W. H. Huson. ; Z.261 1st Class Air-Mech.(Acting Corpl.) L. J. D. Pare; Z.294 Sergt. E. C. Smith; Z.184 1st Class Air-Mech. (Acting Corpl.) C. Walker. Prince Albert's New Work. PRINCE ALBERT, who spent the week-end at Buckingham Palace, it is announced, returned on March nth to his duties at a naval air station. It is understood that since he ex- changed his naval duties for those of the Aircraft Service on account of ill-health Prince Albert has made good progress in the new branch and has made a successful flight. New Superintendent of the R.A.F. THE Secretary of the Air Ministry announces that Mr. Sydney Smith has been appointed Superintendent of the Royal Aircraft Factory, Farnborough. [Lieut.-Col. Sir Henry Fowler, K.B.E., now Deputy-Controller of Aircraft Production, was the Superintendent of the Factory.] Saving a Pilot and Observer ALTHOUGH not actually won for air work, the award,dated October 18th last, of the Military Cross to the following officer is interesting, now that the details of his gallant actionhave been published:— Second Lieutenant W. A. BEAMAN, Worcester Regt.—When in charge of a party carrying rations to the front line, he led his men through a heavy hostile barrage and deliveredall the rations. Later, when one of our aeroplanes was brought down into the thick of an enemy barrage, he went out withgreat coolness and guided the pilot and observer to cover through the barrage. He showed great courage and initia-tive throughout the operations. 282
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