Wing Commander Robert John Orton Compston

DSC DSC may refer to: Academia * Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) * District Selection Committee, an entrance exam in India * Doctor of Surgical Chiropody, superseded in the 1960s by Doctor of Podiatric Medicine Educational institutions * Dalton State Col ...

& 2 Bars DFC (9 January 1898 – 28 January 1962) was an English fighter pilot credited with 25 victories during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. He was one of only seven airman in this war who won three awards of the

Distinguished Service Cross The Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.) is a military decoration for courage. Different versions exist for different countries. *Distinguished Service Cross (Australia) *Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) *Distinguished Service Cross (U ...

Life and service

Robert John Orton Compston was born in Farnham, Surrey the son of Herbert Fuller Bright Compston, a clergyman, and his wife Rose Contance Compston (née Orton). He joined the

Royal Naval Air Service The Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) was the air arm of the Royal Navy, under the direction of the Admiralty's Air Department, and existed formally from 1 July 1914 to 1 April 1918, when it was merged with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps t ...

in 1915 when he was 17 years old. He originally flew Home Defense missions, but was reassigned to 8 Naval Squadron when it went to France. He was a close friend of ace Robert Little. Compston served in the

Royal Air Force 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 the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. On the 13 August 1940, while based at RAF Detling, the airfield came under attack by the ''

Luftwaffe The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German ''Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabtei ...

''. It was the first major effort of the Germans during the Battle of Britain.

Junkers Ju 87 The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka (from ''Sturzkampfflugzeug'', "dive bomber") was a German dive bomber and ground-attack aircraft. Designed by Hermann Pohlmann, it first flew in 1935. The Ju 87 made its combat debut in 1937 with the Luftwaffe's Con ...

''Stuka'' dive-bombers devastated the station and Squadron Leader Compston was wounded in action; one of 42 wounded and 24 killed.Saunders 2013, p. 212. He retired from the RAFVR in 1954 with the rank of wing commander.

Personal life

Compston married Nina Barclay in Chelsea in 1919. He died in the Worthing area of Sussex on 28 January 1962 aged 64.

Honours and awards

*12 May 1917 Flight Lieutenant Robert John Orton Compston, R.N.A.S. was awarded the

(DSC): *11 August 1917 Flight Commander Robert John Orton Compston, D.S.C., R.N.A.S. was awarded a bar to his Distinguished Servrtillery aeroplanes: *On 16 March 1918 Flight Commander Robert John Orton Compston, D.S.C., R.N.A.S. was awarded a second bar to his Distinguished Service Cross (DSC): *3 June 1918 Captain Robert John Orton, DSC was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on the occasion of the King's Birthday for Distinguished Service.

Sources of info

References

* ''Sopwith Triplane Aces of World War 1''. Norman Franks. Osprey Publishing, 2004. , 9781841767284. * Saunders, Andy. ''Stuka Attack!: The Dive-Bombing Assault on England During the Battle of Britain''. Grub Street, London. {{DEFAULTSORT:Compston, Robert Royal Naval Air Service aviators 1898 births 1962 deaths Royal Navy officers of World War I People from Farnham Royal Air Force squadron leaders British World War I flying aces Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve personnel of World War II Royal Naval Air Service personnel of World War I Military personnel from Surrey