Captain George William Francis Darvill (26 October 1898 – September 1950) was an English World War I

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 nine aerial victories.

Early life

Darvill was born in East Meon, Petersfield, Hampshire, England,Franks ''et.al.'' (1997), p. 61. the son of Minnie M. and George Darvill. He worked as a farmer until he joined the

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

during World War I.

World War I

Darvill was commissioned as a probationary

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 ...

on 20 April 1917. He was awarded

Royal Aero Club The Royal Aero Club (RAeC) is the national co-ordinating body for air sport in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1901 as the Aero Club of Great Britain, being granted the title of the "Royal Aero Club" in 1910. History The Aero Club was foun ...

Aviators Certificate No. 4973 at

RAF Hendon Hendon is an urban area in the Borough of Barnet, North-West London northwest of Charing Cross. Hendon was an ancient manor and parish in the county of Middlesex and a former borough, the Municipal Borough of Hendon; it has been part of Great ...

on 13 July 1917. His first, brief, assignment was a posting to No. 9 Squadron from October to December 1917; the squadron then moved forward to action in France. On 13 January 1918, he transferred to No. 18 Squadron to fly

Airco DH.4 The Aircraft Manufacturing Company Limited (Airco) was an early British aircraft manufacturer. Established during 1912, it grew rapidly during the First World War, referring to itself as the largest aircraft company in the world by 1918. Air ...

light bombers. Beginning on 10 March 1918, he began a string of nine aerial victories that did not end until 4 September 1918. His succession of victories was rewarded by a Military Cross, which was gazetted on 3 June 1918. He was also promoted to temporary captain and appointed as a flight commander on 18 August 1918. August 1918 also saw his award of a Distinguished Flying Cross, although it was not gazetted until 2 November 1918. His citation read:

List of aerial victories

Post World War I

Darvill was discharged from the Royal Air Force on 12 September 1919. On 16 January 1926, Darvill was married to Violet Ruth Collins at

Ashtead Ashtead is a large village in the Mole Valley district of Surrey, England, approximately south of central London. Primarily a commuter settlement, Ashtead is on the single-carriageway A24 between Epsom and Leatherhead. The village is on t ...

; the report of the nuptials in ''Flight'' indicate that Darvill was still involved in the world of aviation. He would leave his home in Ramsdean, Petersfield to enter the

Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve The Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) was established in 1936 to support the preparedness of the U.K. Royal Air Force in the event of another war. The Air Ministry intended it to form a supplement to the Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF ...

in September 1939. On 14 March 1941, he was commissioned as a probationary

pilot officer Pilot officer (Plt Off officially in the RAF; in the RAAF and RNZAF; formerly P/O in all services, and still often used in the RAF) is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countri ...

with seniority from 14 February 1941. On 14 February 1942, he was confirmed in rank as a

flight lieutenant Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in air forces that use the Royal Air Force (RAF) system of ranks, especially in Commonwealth countries. It has a NATO rank code of OF-2. Flight lieutenant is abbreviated as Flt Lt in the India ...

. George William Francis Darvill died in September 1950 in Christchurch, Hampshire, England.

References

;Notes ;Bibliography * {{DEFAULTSORT:Darvill, George 1898 births 1950 deaths People from East Meon Royal Flying Corps officers Royal Air Force personnel of World War I British World War I flying aces Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve personnel of World War II Recipients of the Military Cross Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)