Ernest Antcliffe

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Ernest Antcliffe
Born(1898-10-12)12 October 1898
Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England
Died1974 (aged 75–76)
Worksop, Yorkshire, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Flying Corps
Royal Air Force
Rank Sergeant
Unit No. 88 Squadron RAF
Battles/wars World War I
Awards Distinguished Flying Medal

Sergeant Ernest Antcliffe DFM (12 October 1898 – 1974) was a World War I flying ace gunner who, in conjunction with his pilots, was credited with seven aerial victories between 25 June 1918 and the end of the war. [1]

Distinguished Flying Medal

The Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force and other British Armed Forces, and formerly to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for "exceptional valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy". The award was discontinued in 1993 when all ranks became eligible for the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) as part of the reform of the British honours system.

World War I 1914–1918 global war originating in Europe

World War I, also known as the First World War or the Great War, was a global war originating in Europe that lasted from 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918. Contemporaneously described as "the war to end all wars", it led to the mobilisation of more than 70 million military personnel, including 60 million Europeans, making it one of the largest wars in history. It is also one of the deadliest conflicts in history, with an estimated nine million combatants and seven million civilian deaths as a direct result of the war, while resulting genocides and the 1918 influenza pandemic caused another 50 to 100 million deaths worldwide.

Flying ace distinction given to fighter pilots

A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more.

Antcliffe was originally a private in the 270th Infantry Battalion before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps. He then served as an observer/gunner in the rear seat of a Bristol F.2 Fighter in 88 Squadron. Three of his seven victories came while he was being piloted by Allan Hepburn. In total, he was credited with three Fokker D.VIIs set afire in midair, two others destroyed, and two driven down out of control. [2]

Royal Flying Corps former air warfare service of the British Army

The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was the air arm of the British Army before and during the First World War, until it merged with the Royal Naval Air Service on 1 April 1918 to form the Royal Air Force. During the early part of the war, the RFC supported the British Army by artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance. This work gradually led RFC pilots into aerial battles with German pilots and later in the war included the strafing of enemy infantry and emplacements, the bombing of German military airfields and later the strategic bombing of German industrial and transport facilities.

Bristol F.2 Fighter fighter and reconnaissance aircraft

The Bristol F.2 Fighter was a British two-seat biplane fighter and reconnaissance aircraft of the First World War developed by Frank Barnwell at the Bristol Aeroplane Company. It is often simply called the Bristol Fighter, other popular names include the "Brisfit" or "Biff".

Wing Commander Allan Hepburn, DFC, was an Australian World War I flying ace, who was born in Melbourne, Victoria. He scored 16 victories during his flying career.

Ernest Antcliffe won the Distinguished Flying Medal for his service; it was gazetted on 3 June 1919. [3] He then faded into obscurity.

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References

  1. ↑ "Ernest Antcliffe". theaerodrome.com. 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  2. ↑ Franks et.al. (1997), p.3.
  3. ↑ "No. 31378". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 May 1919. p. 7035.

Norman Leslie Robert Franks is an English militaria writer who specialises in aviation topics. He focuses on the pilots and squadrons of World Wars I and II.

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