Group Captain Charles Henry Chapman Woollven (28 June 1897 – 7 January 1971) was a British professional soldier who began his military career during World War I. He became a

flying ace A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace is varied, but is usually co ...

credited with five aerial victories while piloting a two-seater FE.2b into combat. Postwar, he remained in the Royal Air Force, rising through the officer's ranks while holding increasingly more important posts during the 1920s and 1930s. By 1938, on the eve of World War II, he was a wing commander. Promoted to the rank of

group captain Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force, where it originated, as well as the air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. It is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank i ...

by war's end, he retired in 1947.

Personal details

Charles Henry Chapman Woollven was born on 28 June 1897; his birthplace is given as either

Plymouth Plymouth () is a port city and unitary authority in South West England. It is located on the south coast of Devon, approximately south-west of Exeter and south-west of London. It is bordered by Cornwall to the west and south-west. Plymouth ...

, England, or

Folkestone Folkestone ( ) is a port town on the English Channel, in Kent, south-east England. The town lies on the southern edge of the North Downs at a valley between two cliffs. It was an important harbour and shipping port for most of the 19th and 20t ...

. On 6 August 1925, he married Ariel Gwynnedd Alice Jeffery at

Holy Trinity, Paddington Holy Trinity was a church that once stood on the corner of Bishop's Road, now Bishop's Bridge Road, and Westbourne Terrace, in Paddington, London. It was built 1844–46 to a design by Thomas Cundy. Before 1873, the church of Saint Paul, Harro ...

World War I

On 26 January 1916, Woollven was commissioned from the

Royal Military College, Sandhurst The Royal Military College (RMC), founded in 1801 and established in 1802 at Great Marlow and High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, England, but moved in October 1812 to Sandhurst, Berkshire, was a British Army military academy for training infantry a ...

as a

second lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...

in the

Devonshire Regiment The Devonshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army that served under various titles and served in many wars and conflicts from 1685 to 1958, such as the Second Boer War, the First World War and the Second World War. In 1958 ...

. He was promptly seconded to the

Royal Flying Corps "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colors = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = , decorations ...

to begin his flight training, being granted Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate No. 2636 on 31 March, and was appointed a flying officer on 27 May. He joined No. 25 Squadron RFC on 19 June 1916 to fly a F.E.2b two-seater. He scored his first victory on 8 August, driving down a Roland C.II out of control. Woollven was awarded the

Military Cross The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level pre-1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth countries. The MC i ...

, which was gazetted on 14 November 1916. His citation read: :Second Lieutenant Charles Henry Chapman Woollven, Devonshire Regiment and Royal Flying Corps. ::"For conspicuous gallantry in action. He dived down to a low altitude, attacked a train, causing many casualties, and displayed great courage and determination throughout." Royal Aircraft Factory FE2d gunner

He quickly followed this with more aerial victories, destroying two

Albatros D.I The Albatros D.I was a German fighter aircraft used during World War I. Although its operational career was short, it was the first of the Albatros D types which equipped the bulk of the German and Austrian fighter squadrons (''Jagdstaffeln'') fo ...

fighters, on 16 and 23 November. He was appointed a flight commander with the temporary rank of captain on 31 December 1916. On 17 March 1917 he drove down out of control an

Albatros D.II The Albatros D.II was a German fighter aircraft used during World War I. After a successful combat career in the early '' Jagdstaffeln'', it was gradually superseded by the Albatros D.III. Design and development Albatros designers Robert Thelen ...

fighter, and on 1 May he destroyed an Albatros D.III for his fifth victory. On 26 July 1917 Woollven was promoted to lieutenant.

List of aerial victories

Inter-war career

On 20 January 1919 Woollven was transferred to the RAF's Administrative Branch, and was granted a permanent commission in the RAF as a captain on 1 August 1919. He served first overseas, as he was posted to the RAF Depot on transfer to the Home Establishment on 21 October 1923. He served at the Inland Area Aircraft Depot at RAF Henlow from 14 January 1924. On 1 January 1931, he was promoted to

squadron leader Squadron leader (Sqn Ldr in the RAF ; SQNLDR in the RAAF and RNZAF; formerly sometimes S/L in all services) is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also ...

, and on 8 April was posted to No. 4 Flying Training School at

RAF Abu Sueir The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...

in Egypt, where he remained until 10 October 1933. Placed on half pay, he was reactivated on 22 June 1934, and posted to No. 2 Flying Training School at RAF Digby for administrative duties on 10 November, then to the RAF Record Office at

RAF West Ruislip RAF West Ruislip was a Ministry of Defence site, located in Ickenham within the London Borough of Hillingdon. The base was originally built as a depot for the Royal Air Force (RAF), split by what is now the Chiltern Main Line. North of the rail ...

on 11 August 1938. On 29 November 1938 he was promoted to wing commander.

World War II and beyond

On 11 June 1942 in the King's Birthday Honours, Woollven, now an acting

, was made an

Officer of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

. He was promoted to the temporary rank of group captain on 1 January 1943, and eventually retired on 15 September 1947 retaining that rank. Charles Henry Chapman Woollven died on 7 January 1971.

References

;Notes ;Bibliography * {{DEFAULTSORT:Woolven, Charles 1897 births 1971 deaths British World War I flying aces Devonshire Regiment officers Graduates of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst Officers of the Order of the British Empire People from Folkestone Royal Air Force officers Royal Flying Corps officers Recipients of the Military Cross