William Frederick James Harvey DFC & Bar MC MBE (8 January 1897 – 21 July 1972) was a British

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 ...

in World War I credited with twenty-six victories. He was the first recipient of the DFC & Bar and was also awarded the MC.Shores, C. etc p. 187

Involvement in World War I

Harvey served with the Signal Company of the Royal Engineers until he transferred to the RFC in December 1916. In December 1917 he was posted as a pilot to No. 22 Squadron flying Bristol F.2BGuttman, p. 32 fighters. His first air victory, a downed Pfalz D.III, was recorded 16 March 1918, followed by an Albatros D.V two days later. With three more kills in March Harvey established himself as a

.Guttman, p. 28 In May 1918 he was promoted to captain and commanded 'B' Flight. In the last decade of May Harvey, flying with Lt. George Thomson as his flight observer, downed two observation balloons and four German airplanes; on 20 June he downed three enemy airplanes. Shortly after this success Thomson was replaced with Captain Dennis Waight, who remained Harvey's teammate until the end of campaign. The crew scored 9 kills during the Battle of Amiens in August 1918. Of his twenty-six victories (comprising 3 balloons, 12 and 2 shared destroyed, and 9 'out of control') credited to Harvey, eighteen were achieved utilising his front gun.

Later military service

After the war, Harvey served as an instructor with 33 TD Squadron of the

Army of the Rhine An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...

. On leaving the

RAF 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 ...

he became a farmer. During the Second World War he was awarded the MBE for his service. When the war ended he retired to

Kent Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west, and Essex to the north across the estuary of the River Thames; it faces ...

, writing many aviation-related articles and the history of his old RAF Squadron, No. 22, entitled 'Pi in the Sky'. Harvey married Mary Gurdon, sister of his squadron mate John Everard Gurdon, in 1920.Guttman, p. 32

Honours and awards

* 3 August 1918 - Distinguished Flying Cross - Lt. William Frederick James Harvey: "As a fighting pilot this officer has the real offensive spirit regardless of personal danger. He has destroyed several enemy machines whilst fighting against superior numbers." * 3 December 1918 - Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross - Lieut. (A./Capt.) William Frederick James Harvey, D.F.C. (FRANCE.) "A brilliant fighting pilot, who has proved himself a capable leader in many offensive patrols. During the August operations he personally accounted for seven enemy machines and, in company with another pilot, destroyed an eighth, displaying courage and tenacity of high order." * 10 April 1945 -

Member 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 ...

- Captain (temporary Major) William Frederick James Harvey, D.F.C. (73684), Royal Artillery, Territorial Army.

Notes

References

* . The book is dedicated personally to Harvey "and all the other Biff Boys" * {{DEFAULTSORT:Harvey, William Frederick James 1897 births 1972 deaths British World War I flying aces Royal Corps of Signals officers Royal Flying Corps officers British Army personnel of World War I Recipients of the Military Cross Members of the Order of the British Empire Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) People from Wingham, Kent