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No. 73 Squadron
No. 73 Squadron, Royal Air Force was formed on 2 July 1917 during the First World War. It was disbanded in 1969. World War I It was initially a unit of the Royal Flying Corps and was formed out of the Central Flying School, based at Upavon, Wiltshire. Eight days after, the new unit moved to RFC Lilbourne, near Rugby. The squadron, only for a matter of days led by Lieutenant C A Mercer, came under the command of Major H F A Gordon and started a phase of training at Lilbourne. From September 1917, this became more specifically targeted towards operating in combat when a Programme of Development was received, instructing the unit to prepare for an overseas deployment on 22 December. This training phase saw a number of accidents and incidents, not uncommon in military aviation at that time. On one day, 29 October 1917, the squadron had four aircraft damaged in accidents: two in a mid-air collision, when one aircraft had its propeller damaged, the other lost part of its lower ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The United Kingdom includes the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland, and many smaller islands within the British Isles. Northern Ireland shares a land border with the Republic of Ireland; otherwise, the United Kingdom is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the English Channel, the Celtic Sea and the Irish Sea. The total area of the United Kingdom is , with an estimated 2020 population of more than 67 million people. The United Kingdom has evolved from a series of annexations, unions and separations of constituent countries over several hundred years. The Treaty of Union between the Kingdom of England (which included Wales, annexed in 1542) and the Kingdom of Scotland in 170 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Augustus Orlebar
Air Vice Marshal Augustus Henry Orlebar, (17 February 1897 – 4 August 1943) was a British Army and Royal Air Force officer who served in both world wars. After being wounded during the Gallipoli campaign, Orlebar was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps and subsequently the Royal Air Force (RAF). He formally transferred to the RAF after the First World War and between the wars was involved in high speed flying, commanding the High Speed Flight RAF, competing in the Schneider Trophy, and holding the world air speed record. By the outbreak of the Second World War Orlebar was in command of RAF Northolt. He briefly became Director of Flying Training in 1940 before going to HQ RAF Fighter Command. In July 1941 he became Air Officer Commanding, No. 10 (Fighter) Group, and in March 1943 Deputy Chief of Combined Operations. He fell ill, and died in hospital on 4 August 1943. Early life Orlebar was the son of Augustus Scobell Orlebar and Hester Mary Orlebar, of Podington, Bedfords ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cooper Bombs
The Cooper bomb was a British 20 pound bomb used extensively in World War I, it was the first high explosive bomb to be adapted by the Royal Flying Corps. Design The bomb was in weight, of which was the bomb casing and was an explosive charge of Amatol. The main body, being thick, was made of cast iron, steel or semisteel and the after body is made of wood and the fins sheet steel.{{Cite web, url=http://www.wwi-models.org/Photos/Various/Bombs-brit/, title=British Bombs, website=www.wwi-models.org, access-date=2017-03-11 List of aircraft that used the Cooper bomb * Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 * Bristol F.2 Fighter * Airco DH.4 * Sopwith Camel The Sopwith Camel is a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter aircraft that was introduced on the Western Front in 1917. It was developed by the Sopwith Aviation Company as a successor to the Sopwith Pup and became one of the b ... * Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2 References Aerial bombs of the United King ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Geoffrey Pidcock
Air Vice Marshal Geoffrey Arthur Henzell Pidcock, (6 November 1897 – 12 February 1976) was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force. After becoming a flying ace in the First World War, credited with six aerial victories, he remained in the newly created [oyal Air Force after the war, serving as a senior officer during the Second World War and specializing in the development of armaments. He retired in 1951. Early life and education Pidcock was born in Eastbourne, Sussex, and was educated at St Cyprian's School there, and then at Haileybury and Imperial Service College, Haileybury College, Hertfordshire, from 1911. He left school in February 1915, and joined the Royal Flying Corps as a cadet in April 1916. First World War Pidcock completed his basic flight training, and was awarded Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificate No. 3259 on 17 July 1916, being commissioned as a second lieutenant (on probation) the same day. He was appointed a flying officer on 4 August, and was confir ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Air Vice-Marshal
Air vice-marshal (AVM) is a two-star air officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. Air vice-marshal is a two-star rank and has a NATO ranking code of OF-7. It is equivalent to a rear-admiral in the Royal Navy or a major-general in the British Army or the Royal Marines. In other NATO forces, such as the United States Armed Forces and the Canadian Armed Forces, the equivalent two-star rank is major general. The rank of air vice-marshal is immediately senior to the rank air commodore and immediately subordinate to the rank of air marshal. Since before the Second World War it has been common for air officers commanding RAF groups to hold the rank of air vice-marshal. In small air forces such as ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Thomas Sharpe (aviator)
Captain Thomas Sydney Sharpe (born 24 February 1887; date of death unknown) was a British World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories. Military service Sharpe was commissioned as a second lieutenant (on probation) in the 3rd Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, on 17 April 1915. He later trained as a pilot, being granted Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate No. 2471 on 19 February 1916. He was confirmed in his rank on 22 March, and was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps and appointed a flying officer on 21 April. Sharpe flew with No. 24 Squadron from May to July 1916. On 1 February 1917 he was appointed a flight commander with the acting rank of captain. He was later posted to No. 73 Squadron as a flight commander, to fly the Sopwith Camel single-seat fighter. On 11 March 1918 he destroyed a Fokker Dr.I triplane, then an Albatros D.V and two LVG reconnaissance aircraft on 22 March, and a pair of D.Vs two days later. Three days later, on 27 March, he was shot do ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Maurice Le Blanc-Smith
Major Maurice Le Blanc-Smith (23 February 1896 – 29 October 1986) was a British World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories. Biography Background and education Le Blanc-Smith's great-grandfather was Henry Le Blanc (1776–1855), born in Cavenham, Suffolk, one of 13 children of Thomas Le Blanc (1743–1801) and Felicia, née Pelham (1747–1840). The Le Blanc's trace their ancestry back to France. In 1792 Henry joined the 71st (Highland) Regiment of Foot and served in India, Scotland, Ireland and South Africa, before losing a leg to a Spanish cannonball while serving as a major in the Expedition to the Río de la Plata in 1806. He was invalided home to serve as lieutenant colonel of the 5th Royal Veteran Battalion in Guernsey, then as Captain of Invalids and Hospital Major at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. He somehow managed to see action during the battle of Waterloo in 1815, and was eventually promoted to colonel. He married Elizabeth McClintock of Drumcar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Norman Cooper (aviator)
Lieutenant Norman Cooper (October 2, 1888 – December 1, 1960) was an American flying ace of the First World War, being accredited with List of World War I aces credited with 6 victories, six aerial victories. His real name was Ernest Sidney Tooker. Biography Tooker was born in Gloversville, New York, he enlisted in Canada in 1916 under the alias Norman Cooper under the pretense of being a Canadian citizen. He initially served as a private in the 3d Canadian Division Supply Column from June 1916 until August 1917 when he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in August 1917. Deployed to France, he flew Sopwith Camels with 73 Squadron RAF in the summer of 1918. In combat he was awarded the British Distinguished Flying Cross. Gazetted on 8 February 1919 for his actions during 1918, taking part in many low level bombing and strafing attacks. In air combat he attained six victories. After the war, Tooker returned to the United States. He died in 1960 in St. Petersburg, Florida. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Robert Chandler (aviator)
Lieutenant Robert North Chandler (born 18 December 1898; date of death unknown) was a British World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories. Biography Chandler was appointed a probationary temporary second lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps on 5 July 1917, being confirmed in the rank on 16 November. Posted to No. 73 Squadron, flying the Sopwith Camel, he gained his first victory on 24 March 1918, shooting down an Albatros D.V over Vraignes. On 11 April he shot down another D.V south-east of Villers-Bretonneux, and destroyed a Fokker D.VII on 11 June, east of Bus. On 21 July he shared in the destruction of a Fokker Dr.I with Maj. R. H. Freeman, Capt. Maurice Le Blanc-Smith, Lt. Gavin L. Graham, Lt. William Stephenson, 2nd Lt. K. S. Laurie, Lt. William Sidebottom, Lt J. Balfour and Lt W. G. Peters, north-east of Oulchy-le-Château. He destroyed two more D.VII on 22 and 29 July, and finally destroyed a Halberstadt C over Nesle with Lt. Gavin L. Graham and Lt. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Emile John Lussier
Captain Emile John Lussier was an American flying ace during World War I. He was credited with eleven confirmed aerial victories while flying with the Royal Air Force. Early life Emile John Lussier was the son of Joseph Emile and Louise Swalwell Lussier. The younger Lussier was born in Chicago on 10 October 1895, and reared there until age fifteen. In 1910, Joseph Lussier moved to Winnipeg to take up a job constructing railroad stations throughout western Canada, and his teenage son went with him. Consequently, he has often been dubbed a French Canadian.''Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914-1918'', p. 59. Military service When World War I began, Emile John Lussier claimed Medicine Hat as his home. He enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps in late 1917. Once trained, he was stationed with No. 73 Squadron RFC as a Sopwith Camel pilot. Lussier did not score his first wins until 25 July 1918, when he destroyed ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
William Henry Hubbard
Captain William Henry Hubbard DFC (19 May 1886—19 June 1960) was a Canadian World War I flying ace credited with twelve aerial victories against enemy fighter planes despite spending a year and a half out of action. He was noted for his zeal in ground support missions, as well as his success against enemy fighters. Military service Hubbard had moved to Toronto in 1915 when he volunteered for military service. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Special Reserve on 1 January 1916. On 9 May 1916, he received Royal Aero Club pilot's certificate no. 2871. On 8 September, while flying a Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2c for No. 5 Squadron RFC, he destroyed a Fokker Eindekker over Saint-Julien. On the day after Christmas, he was severely wounded by Erwin Boehme. Upon recovery, he was posted to Home Establishment as an instructor. He remained there until he was promoted Captain and appointed Flight Commander in No. 73 Squadron RAF, flying a Sopwith Camel The Sopwith ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
William Stephenson
Sir William Samuel Stephenson (23 January 1897 – 31 January 1989), born William Samuel Clouston Stanger, was a Canadian soldier, fighter pilot, businessman and spymaster who served as the senior representative of the British Security Coordination (BSC) for the western allies during World War II. He is best known by his wartime intelligence codename, Intrepid. Many people consider him to be one of the real-life inspirations for James Bond. Ian Fleming himself once wrote, "James Bond is a highly romanticised version of a true spy. The real thing is... William Stephenson." As head of the British Security Coordination (BSC), Stephenson handed British scientific secrets over to Franklin D. Roosevelt and relayed American secrets back to Winston Churchill. In addition, Stephenson has been credited with changing American public opinion from an isolationist stance to a supportive tendency regarding the United States' entry into World War II. Early life Stephenson was born Willi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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