Leslie Warren

Last updated

Leslie Reginald Warren
Born(1899-01-21)21 January 1899
Colony of Natal
DiedUnknown
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Navy
Royal Air Force
Years of service1917–1919
Rank Captain
UnitNo. 6 (Naval) Squadron RNAS
No. 206 Squadron RAF
Battles/warsFirst World War
 • Western Front
Awards Distinguished Flying Cross

Captain Leslie Reginald Warren DFC (born 21 January 1899, date of death unknown) was British flying ace in the First World War who was credited with eight aerial victories. [1]

Biography

Warren was born in Colony of Natal, to English parents. Biographical sources indicate that his father was Reginald C. Warren, a solicitor from Weybridge, Surrey, while his mother, Kathleen M. Warren, was from Hurstpierpoint, Sussex. By 1901, the family were resident in Kensington, London. [1] However, the source of this information appears to be from the 1901 census and close scrutiny of the document shows that he, and his real mother Margaret Amy Warren, were actually recorded as visitors in the household of Reginald and Kathleen Warren, who were his aunt and uncle. [2] Warren's father was Bernard William Warren, who had been killed during the Battle of Colenso in 1899. [3]

Warren joined the Royal Navy to serve in the Royal Naval Air Service and, on 26 September 1917, was promoted from temporary probationary flight officer to temporary flight sub-lieutenant. [4]

He was posted to No. 6 (Naval) Squadron RNAS, [1] which, on 1 April 1918 following the merging of the Army's Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the RNAS, became No. 206 Squadron RAF.

Flying an Airco DH.9 two-seater bomber, Warren was credited with his first victory on 3 May 1918, shooting down an Albatros D.V fighter south of Merville, with Lieutenant O'Brien as his observer. On 7 June, he and his observer, Second Lieutenant Penny, shared in the driving down of an enemy aircraft over Bac Saint-Maur with Second Lieutenant C. M. Hyslop and Corporal J. W. Pacey. [1]

Warren was then paired with Lieutenant Leonard Christian as his observer. On 1 July, they sent a Pfalz D.III fighter down in flames over Houthem. [1] On 4 July, Warren was appointed a flight commander with the temporary rank of captain. [5] Early on 29 July, Warren and Christian drove down another D.III over Roulers and sent two more down in flames that evening north of Menen. On 1 August, they accounted for two more between Menen and Wervicq, bringing Warren's total to eight, [1] and Christian's to nine. [6]

Warren was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, which was gazetted on 20 September 1918. His citation read:

Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) Leslie Reginald Warren (late R.N.A.S.).
"This officer has taken part in forty-six successful raids, fourteen of which he has led. In these operations his formation has only suffered one casualty. This remarkable immunity has been in the main due to his brilliant and skilful leadership; he combines keenness and determination with sound, clear judgment. In addition to raids, he has taken many area photographs, and carried out five long-distance reconnaissances, rendering valuable reports." [7]

Warren was eventually transferred to the RAF's unemployed list on 11 March 1919. [8]

Related Research Articles

Flight Lieutenant James Anderson Slater was a British First World War flying ace, credited with 24 aerial victories. He served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) as an instructor after the war until killed in a flying accident.

Captain Dennis Latimer was a British World War I flying ace notable for achieving twenty-eight aerial victories, all against enemy fighter aircraft.

Captain William Otway Boger was a Canadian World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.

Major Ernest Leslie Foot was an English World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories. He was the best friend of Albert Ball.

Lieutenant Charles Philip Harrison was a British World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.

Captain Charles Roger Lupton was a British World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.

Second Lieutenant Edward Darby was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.

Lieutenant Thomas Archibald Mitford Stuart Lewis was a British World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.

Lieutenant Robert McLaughlin was a British World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.

Captain John Gamon was an English World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.

Captain Thomas Frederick Le Mesurier DSC & Two Bars was a British flying ace of the First World War credited with seven aerial victories. Le Mesurier was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) and Two Bars for his conspicuous service in bombing operations.

Flight Lieutenant David Arthur Stewart, was a British First World War flying ace credited with sixteen aerial victories. Remarkably, they were all scored while he was flying bombers instead of fighters.

Captain George Brian Gates was a British World War I flying ace credited with 15 aerial victories, twelve of them enemy aircraft, and three observation balloons.

Group Captain Harry King Goode, was an officer of the Royal Air Force (RAF). During World War I, he was a flying ace credited with 15 aerial victories. He remained in RAF service until retiring in 1941.

Flight Lieutenant Frank Gerald Craven Weare was a British World War I flying ace credited with fifteen aerial victories in forty days.

Captain Maxwell Hutcheon Findlay was a Scottish World War I flying ace credited with 14 aerial victories. He remained in the RAF postwar for several years before going on to a civilian aviation career that ended with his death in the Johannesburg Air Race of 1936.

Captain John Ellis Langford Hunter was a British World War I flying ace credited with 13 confirmed aerial victories.

Group Captain Norman William Reginald Mawle was a British World War I flying ace. He was credited with 12 official aerial victories during the First World War. During World War II, he returned to his country's service, not retiring until 1954.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reginald Soar</span> British flying ace

Captain Reginald Rhys Soar was a British flying ace during World War I. He was credited with 12 official aerial victories won while serving in the Dardanelles and along the English Channel.

Major Thomas Francis Netterville Gerrard was a British World War I flying ace credited with ten aerial victories. He died following a post-war equestrian accident.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Leslie Reginald Warren". The Aerodrome. 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  2. ↑ "1901 census". Familysearch. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
    - "Warren's training record showing mother's name". Flickr. 21 May 2018. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  3. ↑ "Memorials: B W Warren". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  4. ↑ "No. 30348". The London Gazette. 23 October 1917. pp. 10904–10905.
  5. ↑ "No. 30803". The London Gazette. 19 July 1918. p. 8504.
  6. ↑ "Leonard Arthur Christian". The Aerodrome. 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  7. ↑ "No. 30913". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 September 1918. p. 11255.
  8. ↑ "No. 31251". The London Gazette. 25 March 1919. p. 3889.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.