Francis W. Gillet

Francis W. Gillet (28 November 1895 – 21 December 1969) was an American who served in both the American and British armed forces as a pilot during the First World War.

Hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, Gillet joined the U.S. Army Signal Corps as Aviation Cadet. After preliminary flight training, He was given a conditional discharge and enlisted in theRoyal Flying Corps (soon Royal Air Force) in Canada using the name Frederick. There he finished his basic flight training, received his pilots wings and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. In England, after receiving advanced training as a fighter pilot, he was assigned to No. Seventy Nine Squadron in France in March 1918.

The squadron was flying the Sopwith Dolphin, an unusual biplane distinguished by its "negative stagger" wing arrangement, a type Gillet had not flown before. After becoming acclimated to the Dolphin and honing his combat skills, he scored his first victory in August.From then to November 1918 Gillet was credited with 17 German airplanes and 3 observation balloons, all assessed as destroyed. The 100% ratio of destroyed was extremely unusual, as most aces had numerous "out of control" credits.

Though he flew exclusively with the British, Gillet's record of 20 victories ranked him second among all American fliers in the Great War, he destroyed more enemy aircraft than Eddie Rickenbacker. He was promoted to Captain and served for a short time as Commanding Officer of his squadron, His decorations included the British Distinguished Flying Cross and bar and the Belgian Croix de Guerre.

After the war ended he returned to the United States and obtained his release from the U.S. Army Signal Reserve Corps and entered the family business. Gillet pursued a successful, lengthy business career and died at age 74.

References

* Norman Franks and Frank W. Bailey (1992). "Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the U.S. and French Air Services, 1914-1818".
*Ministry of Defense, Service Record of Francis Warrington Gillet
*"Maryland in the World War 1917-1918, Military and Naval Service Records" Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore,Maryland
*War Department, Office of the Quartermaster General of the Army memo. Jan 18 1919 confirming Capt. F.W. Gillet's discharge from the "Sig. R. Corps"
*Obituary from the Baltimore Sun date December 22, 1969
*F. W. Gillet's letters written in 1917-1918