Henry Woollett

Henry Winslow Woollett, (5 August 1895 – 31 October 1969) was a British flying ace and the highest scoring British balloon busting ace credited with 35 aerial victories, including eleven balloons, during the First World War. He continued to serve in the Royal Air Force until the 1930s.

Early life and early military career

Henry Winslow Woollett was born on 5 August 1895. He grew up in Southwold, Suffolk, and was educated at Wellingborough School (1907–1913). A doctor's son, he was pursuing medical studies when the First World War began. He enlisted and, on 18 November 1914, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the infantry. He was promoted to lieutenant in the 6th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment on 10 December. The following year he served in the Gallipoli Campaign, taking part in the landing at Suvla Bay in August 1915. In 1916, he requested and received a transfer to the Royal Flying Corps. He qualified as a pilot after only three and a half hours flight time, and was appointed a flying officer on 27 October 1916.

Career as an flier

In November 1916, Woollett was assigned to No. 24 Squadron RFC to fly the Airco DH.2. These early fighter aircraft had a rear "pusher" engine format and a forward firing machine gun with a clear field of fire making synchronisation unnecessary. It was flying one of these that Woollett claimed his first victory, on 5 April 1917, destroying an Albatros D.III. He was appointed a flight commander with the temporary rank of captain on 13 July.

No. 24 Squadron was then re-equipped with the Airco DH.5. The DH.5 was unusual in design with the top wing having a 'back stagger', behind the lower wing, to give the pilot good visibility, especially overhead. Given its lack of power (top speed was 102 miles per hour) and poor performance at higher altitudes, it was used more for ground attack than air combat. Nevertheless, it was while flying the DH.5 that Woollett destroyed three more German aircraft and drove another down 'out of control'. On 17 August 1917, he became a flying ace. He was posted back to England as a flight instructor at Eastbourne in August 1917. On 9 January 1918, he was awarded the Military Cross; a Bar in lieu of a second award would follow on 22 June.

Woollett returned to combat in France in March 1918 with No. 43 Squadron, flying a Sopwith Camel. He achieved ten victories in March and was a triple ace by month's end. Beginning on 24 March, he began a series of 22 victories with Camel number D6402, making it one of the more successful airframes in the war. Victories 14 and 15 were over observation balloons, considered highly dangerous targets due to their heavy anti-aircraft protection and fighter cover.

Even in an era of relaxed garb and standards, Woollettt was colourful. He wore a leopardskin flying helmet and gauntlets when he flew. His aircraft was equally distinctive, with the propeller spinner painted as a Native American's face and a dragon trailing down the length of the fuselage. He also briefly adorned his aircraft with white 'splotches' as experimental camouflage to aid his balloon busting, but his superiors made him remove them.

Eccentric he may have been, but Woollett was also effective. April 1918 saw him claim six more German aircraft and five more balloons. He shot down six aircraft on a single day—12 April. It was an achievement rivalled by very few other pilots during the First World War and surpassed by only one, Captain John Lightfoot Trollope of No 43 Squadron RAF who destroyed seven German machines on 24 March 1918. Belgium's top ace of the First World War, Willy Coppens described Woollett's exploits:

Woollett downed a balloon and two aircraft in May 1918, an enemy fighter and two balloons in July, and finished up by destroying a Fokker D.VII to end his war with 35 victories. He had scored at least 23 of his triumphs in the same Camel, serial number D6402, which he overturned and damaged on 21 July. His final wartime duty was a posting back to England to command a training wing. Woollett's account consisted of 20 enemy aircraft destroyed (including 4 shot down in flames), 4 more aircraft down 'out of control' and 11 balloons destroyed.

Postwar career

On 1 August 1919 Woollett was granted a permanent commission in the Royal Air Force (RAF) with the rank of captain, and later that month his home town of Southwold granted him the freedom of the borough "in recognition of his conspicuous services". He was also awarded the French Legion of Honour on 30 November 1918, and the Croix de Guerre with Palm on 15 July 1919.

Woollett served in No. 8 Squadron RAF in Iraq until 1 April 1922, when transferred to the Iraq Command Stores Depot. From 14 January 1923 he served as adjutant at the Mechanical Transport Workshops and Pool in Palestine Command, before being posted to the headquarters of RAF Middle East in Egypt, on 31 March 1924. He then served at No. 4 Flying Training School, Egypt, from 16 April 1924, until being returned to the Home Establishment on 1 November.

Woollett served in No. 24 Squadron RAF at RAF Kenley from 4 January 1927, and No. 43 Squadron RAF at RAF Tangmere from 26 June 1928, before being promoted to squadron leader on 12 December 1928. On 15 January 1930 Woollett was appointed Officer Commanding No. 23 Squadron RAF at Kenley, which comprised two flights of Bulldogs. One of the pilots assigned to his command was Douglas Bader, the Second World War ace. Woollett relinquished command of No. 23 Squadron on 9 December 1931, and on 3 February 1932 resigned his commission.

Woollett joined the Air League of the British Empire and was appointed London Area organiser of the Air Defence Cadet Corps in mid-1938. On 1 February 1941, during the Second World War, Woollett was granted a commission as an acting pilot officer "for the duration of hostilities" in the Training Branch of the Reserve of Air Force Officers, but resigned his commission on 10 February 1942.

Woollett died on 31 October 1969.

Honours and awards

* ''Chevalier'' of the ''Legion d'Honneur'' (France) – 30 November 1918
* ''Croix de Guerre'' with Palm (France) – 15 July 1919

Military Cross

– London Gazette, 9 January 1918.

Bar to Military Cross

– London Gazette, 22 June 1918.

Distinguished Service Order

– London Gazette, 16 September 1918.

References

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Woollett, Henry
1895 births
1969 deaths
People from Southwold
People educated at Wellingborough School
Royal Lincolnshire Regiment officers
Royal Flying Corps officers
Royal Air Force officers
British World War I flying aces
Recipients of the Military Cross
Companions of the Distinguished Service Order
Chevaliers of the Légion d'honneur
Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)
Royal Air Force personnel of World War II