Henry Winslow Woollett

Infobox Military Person
name=Henry Winslow Woollett


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born=August 5 1895
died=October 31 1969
placeofbirth=Suffolk, England
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rank=Captain
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Henry Winslow Woollett (5 August 1895 - 31 October 1969), Military Cross and Bar, Distinguished Service Order, was a World War I fighter ace Captain who continued to serve in the Royal Air Force during the 1920s.

Early Life

Henry W. Woollett grew up in Southwold, Suffolk, England. He was a doctor's son and was pursuing medical studies when World War I began. He immediately enlisted and was commissioned in an infantry unit, the Lincolnshire Regiment. He then served in the Gallipoli Campaign, landing at Suvla Bay. In 1916, he requested and received transfer to the Royal Flying Corps. He qualified as a pilot after only 3.5 hours flight time.

His Career as an Ace

In November, 1916, he was assigned to 24 Squadron to fly Airco DH2 aircraft. These were early fighter planes, with a rear "pusher" propeller and a forward firing machine gun with a clear field of fire. It was flying one of these that Woollett claimed his first victory, on 5 April 1917 destroying an Albatros D.III.

His squadron switched over to Airco DH5s, and it was while flying one of those that he destroyed three more German planes and drove another down out of combat. On 17 August 1917, he became an ace. He was promoted to the assignment of flight commander. On 26 September 1917, he was awarded the Military Cross. He was also eventually posted back to England as a flight intsructor.

He returned to combat in France in March, 1918. He was assigned to 43 Squadron, which operated Sopwith Camels. It was a spectacular return. Starting on 8 March, he achieved ten victories in March and was a triple ace by month's end. Triumphs 14 and 15 were risky 'kill' of observation balloons, with their antiaircraft protection and fighter escorts.

Even in an era of relaxed garb and standards, Woollettt was colorful. He wore a leopardskin flying helmet and gauntlets when he flew. His airplane was equally distinctive, with the propeller spinner painted as a Native American's face and a dragon trailing down the length of the fuselage.

Eccentric he may have been, but he was also effective. April saw him win over six German airplanes and five more balloons. Most incredibly, he shot down all six planes on 12 April. But let Belgium's top ace of World War I, Willy Coppens describe it:

"Captain H. W. Woollett of No. 43 Squadron...whilst leading a patrol, he saw a German machine, out-manoeuvred it, fired about thirty rounds and saw it spin down and crash. During this fight he had been attacked by several other machines. Without delay he climbed rapidly above his attackers and dived on to a two-seater, firing as he went, causing this machine also to crash. Once again he out-climbed his opponents, looped away from two attacking Fokkers, made a vertical bank, and again dived on the tail of an Albatross. After he had fired about 40 rounds, this machine burst into flames and fell to pieces. He then went home. At 5 p.m. the same evening he attacked thirteen enemy aircraft.... He first fired 30 rounds into one of the enemy aeroplanes, which turned over on its back and fell to pieces. He then climbed again, manoeuvred rapidly among the remaining twelve machines, avoiding the fire of his opponents until he could fire a burst into an Albatross, which spun down and crashed. He then made for home. On crossing the lines he saw another enemy machine above him. Once more the climb of his 'bus enabled him to get over his enemy, and he crashed his sixth machine for the day."

Woollett downed a balloon and two planes in May, an enemy fighter and two balloons in July, and finished up by destroying the best of the German fighters, a Fokker D.VII, to end his war with 35 victories.

His accounting came to 20 enemy planes destroyed, including four shot down in flames. He drove four more aircraft down out of control. He destroyed 11 balloons; most World War I aces never shot down the first one because of the hazard. Also unusual was the lack of help he had; he shot down all his opponents lone hand.

Post War

He served in Iraq during the 1920s. He also was squadron leader of 23 Squadron in 1930 - 31.

Citations

Military Cross

T./Lt. (T./Capt.) Henry Winslow Woollett, Gen. List and R.F.C.For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in engaging three enemy aircraft and following them down to a low altitude behind the enemy's lines, destroying one and driving down another out of control during the operations. He has done excellent work as a patrol leader, and has always displayed great gallantry in aerial combats, having brought down three other enemy machines in addition to those already mentioned.M.C. gazetted 26th September, 1917.

Bar to Military Cross

T./Capt. Henry Winslow Woollett, M.C., R.F.C.For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On one occasion, when on offensive patrol, he dived on to an enemy plane, which was attempting to cross our lines, and fired 100 rounds into it at 100 yards range, causing it to burst into flames and crash to the ground. He then dived on to another hostile machine, which went down in a spin and finally crashed to earth. On a later occasion he attacked and brought down in flames two enemy observation balloons. The gallantry and skill exhibited by this officer have been most inspiring to his flight.Supplement to the London Gazette, 22 June 1918 (30761/7401)

Distinguished Service Order

T./Capt. Henry Winslow Woollett, M.C., Gen. List, attd. R.A.F.For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during recent operations. In two days during three patrols he destroyed eight enemy machines, making his total twenty-two. His leadership, dash and courage were of the highest order.

Supplement to the London Gazette, 16 September 1918 (30901/10875)

Woollett also received the French Legion d'Honneur and Croix de Guerre.

References/Websites

* http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/woollett.htm Accessed 16 September 2008.

* Denes Bernad. "Sopwith Camel Aces of World War I". 2003, Osprey Publishing.

* http://www.woolletthistory.co.uk/main/hw_wooll.htm Accessed 16 September 2008.