Frank Godfrey | |
|---|---|
| Born | 16 August 1889 Godalming, England |
| Died | Unknown |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | British Army Royal Air Force |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | Middlesex Regiment No. 20 Squadron RAF |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross |
Captain Frank Godfrey DFC , was an English World War I flying ace credited with 12 victories. [1] All his victories were achieved against German fighter aircraft. [2]
Frank Godfrey was born in Godalming, Surrey, on 16 August 1889. After schooling, he became an accountant and assistant secretary to his local alderman. [3] He held these positions from 1902—1914. [2]
Godfrey was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 18th Battalion (1st Public Works Pioneers) of the Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) on 13 April 1915, [4] His ground service would be with the 19th Battalion of that Regiment. [2]
He gained promotion to captain on 17 March 1916. [5] He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, [3] receiving a commission as an observer officer, with the rank of second lieutenant (honorary captain), on 27 April 1918. [6]
Godfrey was assigned to 20 Squadron on 3 March 1918 as an observer/gunner on Bristol F.2 Fighters. He manned the guns in the rear cockpit for Captain Thomas Percy Middleton when they scored double victories on 17 April, 3 May, and 8 May 1918. [3] Godfrey scored five more wins in June, and a final victory over a German Fokker D.VII on 29 July 1918. His final tally was ten German fighters destroyed, and two driven down out of control. [1] [2] He was returned to Home Establishment in Britain on 22 September 1918. [2]
Godfrey was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in August 1918. His citation read:
Captain Frank Godfrey was discharged from military service on 25 April 1919. [2]
Group Captain Geoffrey Hilton "Beery" Bowman, was a British First World War fighter ace credited with 32 victories. After attaining the rank of major in the Royal Flying Corps, he later became a group captain in the Royal Air Force.
Captain Samuel Frederick Henry "Siffy" Thompson was a British World War I two-seater fighter ace who, in conjunction with his observer-gunners, was credited with thirty aerial victories before being shot down and killed. Despite having an active fighter career of only five months, he reached the rank of captain and won two British military decorations.
Captain Dennis Latimer was a British World War I flying ace notable for achieving twenty-eight aerial victories, all against enemy fighter aircraft.
Captain Harry George Ernest Luchford was an English World War I pilot credited with 24 victories. He was notable for scoring his first 11 victories in three months while piloting an obsolete double-seated FE.2 pusher aircraft.
Lieutenant Llewelyn Crichton Davies was a Welsh World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.
Captain Walter Alfred Southey was a British First World War flying ace, credited with twenty aerial victories, including five balloons, making him the second highest scoring ace in No. 84 Squadron, behind Andrew Beauchamp-Proctor.
Flight Lieutenant William Geoffrey Meggitt was a British World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.
Captain Owen John Frederick Scholte was a British flying ace of the First World War, credited with eight aerial victories before his death in an automobile accident.
Captain George Everard Gibbons was a British World War I flying ace credited with 18 aerial victories gained while flying a Bristol F.2 Fighter in 1918. Both of his observers, Sidney Knights and Thomas Elliott, also became aces flying with him. Gibbons' final tally consisted of three enemy aircraft destroyed by fire, five others destroyed, and ten driven down out of control.
Squadron Leader Anthony Herbert William Wall was a British World War I flying ace credited with sixteen aerial victories. He returned to serve in the Royal Air Force in World War II.
Sergeant Ernest Arthur Deighton was an English World War I observer/gunner flying ace credited with 15 confirmed aerial victories; all but one of them was against enemy fighters.
Flight Lieutenant Frank Gerald Craven Weare was a British World War I flying ace credited with fifteen aerial victories in forty days.
Lieutenant Ernest Hardcastle was an English World War I flying ace observer/gunner credited with twelve aerial victories. He would return to military service during World War II.
Group Captain Campbell Alexander Hoy was a British flying ace during the First World War, credited with eleven aerial victories. He remained in the Royal Air Force post-war and served through the end of the Second World War.
Lieutenant William Durrand Jr. was a Canadian flying ace from World War I. He was credited with eight aerial victories.
Second Lieutenant Francis James Ralph was a British World War I ace credited with 13 confirmed aerial victories over German fighter aircraft while flying as an aerial observer.
Laurence Wilfred Allen was an English World War I flying ace. He was credited with ten confirmed victories while serving as an observer/gunner in Bristol F.2 Fighters.
Captain Maurice Douglas Guest Scott was a British World War I flying ace credited with twelve official victories, including one observation balloon, while a member of the Royal Flying Corps. He scored as both an aerial observer and a pilot; he was successful while serving with three different squadrons.
Colonel Dennis Edward Francis Waight was a British Army professional infantryman. After being decorated for valor while serving as a fusilier early in World War I, he flew in combat as an aerial observer until war's end. No details of his transfer and training are known; however, he was credited with 12 aerial victories, making him a flying ace.
Second Lieutenant Bruce Digby-Worsley was a World War I British flying ace credited with 16 aerial victories between June and September 1918.