- Douglas Arthur Davies
-
Douglas Arthur Davies Born 12 January 1896
Harrow, Middlesex, EnglandDied Post 10 February 1954
UnknownAllegiance England Service/branch Aviation Rank Wing Commander Unit No. 150 Squadron RAF Awards Distinguished Flying Cross, French Croix de guerre Lieutenant Douglas Arthur Davies was a World War I flying ace credited with 10 aerial victories.
Contents
Early life
Douglas Arthur Davies was born on 12 January 1896. He was the first-born son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Davies. His birthplace was Harrow, England.[1]
World War I
On 17 October 1915, he was commissioned second lieutenant in the Wiltshire Regiment.[2] On 20 November 1917, he was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps as a lieutenant[3] and a Flying Officer.[4]
By mid-1918, Davies was posted to 150 Squadron in Salonika as a Sopwith Camel pilot. He scored his first aerial victories on 12 June 1918, when he set one Albatros D.V afire and destroyed another. His second successful day saw him become an ace, as he destroyed two more Albatros D.Vs in one dogfight on 17 July, then drove another down out of control an hour and a half later. Six days later, he teamed with John Preston to destroy another. On 8 August, he drove down two enemy fighters out of control. Ten days later, he rounded off his victory string by driving down another pair of Albatros D.Vs out of control.[5]
He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for his prowess. It was announced in The London Gazette on 2 November 1918:
"This officer sets a fine example of gallantry and courage, notably on two occasions. On the 12th of June he, single-handed, engaged four enemy scouts, one of which he shot down in flames and a second out of control; the latter was seen to catch fire on reaching the ground. Some weeks later he led his patrol of four scouts against a formation of eleven hostile machines; two of these were shot down in flames, the wings fell off another, and the remainder dispersed."[6]
Between the World Wars
On 10 October 1919, Davies was awarded the French Croix de guerre avec Palme.[7] On 17 December 1919, he transferred to the Royal Air Force's unemployed list.[8]
On 30 September 1921, he surrendered his commission in his regiment.[9]
In May 1923, his engagement to Muriel Wilson was posted in Flight magazine.[10]
On 26 January 1937, he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer (Class BB) in the RAF Reserve.[11]
World War II
On 12 October 1940, Davies was confirmed in rank as a Pilot Officer.[12] He later was granted the war substantive rank of Flight Lieutenant, dating from 28 September 1940.[13] On 1 January 1944, he was promoted to Squadron Leader in the Administration & Special Duties Branch of RAF.[14]
Post World War II
On 1 November 1947, Davies relinquished his commission as a flight lieutenant in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.[15] On 1 January 1948, he surrendered his war substantive rank of Squadron Leader in the RAF Volunteer Reserve while retaining the rank of Flight Lieutenant.[16] On 10 February 1954, Flight Lieutenant Davies relinguished his commission in RAF Volunteer Reserve, retaining the rank of Wing Commander.[17]
See also
Aerial victory standards of World War I
http://www.encyclopedia.com/video/0qQSjlSdQyc-wwi-battle-in-air-interview.aspx for a video interview with Robert Dodds recounting his aerial combats
List of aerial victories
All victories gained while posted to No. 150 Squadron based at Salonika, Greece.
No. Date/time Aircraft Foe Result Location Notes 1 12 June 1918 @ 0600 hours Sopwith Camel no. C1599 Albatros D.V Destroyed by fire North of Guevgueli 2 12 June 1918 @ 0800 hours Sopwith Camel no. C1599 Albatros D.V Destroyed North of Guevgueli 3 17 July 1918 @ 0735 hours Sopwith Camel no. C1599 Albatros D.V Destroyed Hudova 4 17 July 1918 @ 0735 hours Sopwith Camel no. C1599 Albatros D.V Destroyed Hudova 5 17 July 1918 @ approx. 0900 hours Sopwith Camel no. C1599 Albatros D.V Driven down out of control Balinge 6 23 July 1918 @ 0730 hours Sopwith Camel no. C1599 Albatros D.V Destroyed Northeast of Boluntili Shared with ace John Carbery Preston 7 8 August 1918 @ approx. 0800 hours Sopwith Camel no. C1599 Enemy fighter plane Driven down out of control Piravo 8 8 August 1918 @ 0810 hours Sopwith Camel no. C1599 Enemy fighter Driven down out of control Boluntili 9 18 August 1918 @ 0745 hours Sopwith Camel no. C1599 Albatros D.V Driven down out of control North of Lake Doiran 10 18 August 1918 @ 0745 hours Sopwith Camel no. C1599 Albatros D.V Driven down out of control North of Lake Doiran[18] Endnotes
- ^ (Flight, 3 May 1923, p. 246) http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1923/1923%20-%200246.html Retrieved 25 May 2011.
- ^ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 16 October 1915) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29330/supplements/10240 Retrieved 17 May 2011.
- ^ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 8 February 1918) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30515/supplements/1806 Retrieved 17 May 2011.
- ^ (Flight," 14 February 1918, p. 186) http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1918/1918%20-%200190.html Retrieved 25 May 2011.
- ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/davies2.php Retrieved 28 May 2011.
- ^ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 2 November 1918) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30989/supplements/12964 Retrieved 17 May 2011.
- ^ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 10 October 1919) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31592/supplements/12527 Retrieved 17 May 2011.
- ^ (The London Gazette, 6 January 1920) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31720/pages/201; http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31720/pages/202 Retrieved 17 May 2011.
- ^ (Supplement to The London Gazette, 20 December 1921) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/32555/supplements/10440; http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/32555/supplements/10444 Retrieved 17 May 2011.
- ^ (Flight, 3 May 1923, p. 246) http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1923/1923%20-%200246.html Retrieved 25 May 2011.
- ^ (Flight, 18 February 1937, p. 178) http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1937/1937%20-%200454.html Retrieved 25 May 2011.
- ^ (The London Gazette, 14 January 1941) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/35042/pages/283 Retrieved 17 May 2011.
- ^ (The London Gazette, 21 March 1941) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/35114/pages/1666 Retrieved 17 May 2011.
- ^ (Supplement to The London Gazette, 21 January 1944) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/36340/supplements/411 Retrieved 17 May 2011.
- ^ (Supplement to The London Gazette, 18 November 1947. http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/38125/supplements/5436; http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/38125/supplements/5437 Retrieved 17 May 2011.
- ^ (Supplement to The London Gazette, 17 February 1948) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/38209/supplements/1125 Retrieved 17 May 2011.
- ^ (Supplement to The London Gazette, 8 June 1954) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/40198/supplements/3410 Retrieved 17 May 2011.
- ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/davies2.php Retrieved 28 May 2011.
People and aircraft Campaigns and battles Strategic bombing (German, Cuxhaven) · Bombing of cities · Fokker Scourge · Flight over Vienna · Bloody April · BattlesEntente Powers air services Australian Flying Corps · British air services (Royal Flying Corps, Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Air Force) · French Air Service · Imperial Russian Air Force · Italian Military Air Corps · United States Army Air Service · Greek air services (Army Air Service, Naval Air Service)Central Powers air services German air services (Army Air Service, Navy Air Service) · Austro-Hungarian Imperial and Royal Aviation Troops · Ottoman Air Force · Bulgarian Army Aeroplane SectionCategories:- British World War I flying aces
- 1896 births
- 1954 deaths
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
