William Frederick James Harvey

William Frederick James Harvey DFC & Bar MC MBE, (8 January 1897 in Portslade, Sussex – 21 July 1972) was a British flying ace in World War I credited with twenty-six victories. He was the first recipient of the DFC & Bar and was also awarded the MC.[1]

William Frederick James Harvey
Nickname(s)Jim
Born8 January 1897
Portslade, Sussex, England
Died21 July 1972 (aged 75)
Wingham, Kent, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Flying Corps
Royal Air Force
Royal Artillery
Years of service1914-1919
1939-1952
RankMajor
Battles/warsWorld War I
World War II
AwardsDistinguished Flying Cross & Bar
Military Cross
Member of the Order of the British Empire

Involvement in World War I

Harvey served with the Signal Company of the Royal Engineers until he transferred to the RFC in December 1916. In December 1917 he was posted as a pilot to No. 22 Squadron flying Bristol F.2B[2] fighters. His first air victory, a downed Pfalz D.III, was recorded 16 March 1918, followed by an Albatros D.V two days later.[3]

With three more kills in March Harvey established himself as a flying ace.[4] In May 1918 he was promoted to captain and commanded 'B' Flight.[4] In the last decade of May Harvey, flying with Lt. George Thomson as his flight observer, downed two observation balloons and four German airplanes; on 20 June he downed three enemy airplanes.[4] Shortly after this success Thomson was replaced with Captain Dennis Waight, who remained Harvey's teammate until the end of campaign. The crew scored 9 kills during the Battle of Amiens in August 1918.[4]

Of his twenty-six victories (comprising 3 balloons, 12 and 2 shared destroyed, and 9 'out of control') credited to Harvey, eighteen were achieved utilising his front gun.[1][4]

Later Military Service

After the war, Harvey served as an instructor with 33 TD Squadron of the Army of the Rhine. On leaving the RAF he became a farmer. During the Second World War he was awarded the MBE for his service. When the war ended he retired to Kent, writing many aviation-related articles and the history of his old RAF Squadron, No. 22, entitled 'Pi in the Sky'.[1][5]

Harvey married Mary Gurdon, sister of his squadron mate John Everard Gurdon, in 1920.[2]

Honours and awards

"As a fighting pilot this officer has the real offensive spirit regardless of personal danger. He has destroyed several enemy machines whilst fighting against superior numbers."[6]

"A brilliant fighting pilot, who has proved himself a capable leader in many offensive patrols. During the August operations he personally accounted for seven enemy machines and, in company with another pilot, destroyed an eighth, displaying courage and tenacity of high order."[7]

  • 10 April 1945 - Member of the Order of the British Empire - Captain (temporary Major) William Frederick James Harvey, D.F.C. (73684), Royal Artillery, Territorial Army.[8]

Notes
  1. Shores, C. etc p.187
  2. Guttman, p. 32
  3. Guttman, p. 27
  4. Guttman, p. 28
  5. William Frederick James Harvey (1971). PI in the Sky: A History of No. 22 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps & R.A.F. in the War of 1914-1918. Leicester: Colin Huston. ISBN 0950186805.
  6. "No. 30827". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 August 1918. p. 9200.
  7. "No. 31046". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 December 1918. p. 14316.
  8. "No. 37025". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 April 1945. p. 1903.

References
  • Guttman, Jon (2007). Bristol F2 Fighter Aces of World War 1. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1846032011.. The book is dedicated personally to Harvey "and all the other Biff Boys"
  • Shores, C., Franks, N., Guest, R (1990). Above the Trenches. Grub Street. ISBN 0-948817-19-4.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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