William Price (RAF officer)

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William Thomas Price
Born(1895-11-15)15 November 1895
Acocks Green, Yardley, Warwickshire, England
Died17 January 1982(1982-01-17) (aged 86)
Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Royal Air Force
RankCaptain
UnitNo. 48 Squadron RFC
AwardsMilitary Cross

Captain William Thomas Price MC (15 November 1895 – 17 January 1982) was a World War I flying ace who hailed from Warwickshire, England. He was credited with seven aerial victories at a time when British aviation was suffering its heaviest casualties of the war. After leaving military service, he devoted his life to teaching agriculture until his retirement in 1962.

Early life[edit]

William Thomas Price was born in Acocks Green, Yardley, Warwickshire, England,[1] on 15 November 1895. He was educated at Christ's College, London, as well as at Reading University.[2]

World War I[edit]

He began his military service in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, being commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant on 26 August 1915.[3]

Price volunteered for aviation duty and undertook pilot's training. On 28 November 1916, he was appointed a flying officer; this appointment signified his qualification as a pilot. He was seconded from the Royal Warwickshire Regiment to the Royal Flying Corps for duty.[4] He was one of the founding members of No. 48 Squadron RFC, and served with them piloting a two-seater Bristol F.2 Fighter.[2]

Price became a flying ace during Bloody April, 1917; British aviation suffered their heaviest casualties of World War I during that month. He scored two further victories on 9 May 1917, only to be shot down in turn by Lothar von Richthofen. Despite being wounded, he managed to land his aircraft in friendly territory north-east of Fampoux, France. On 1 July 1917 he was promoted to lieutenant,[5] and was awarded the Military Cross for his gallantry on this occasion,[2] which was gazetted on 18 July 1917:

"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. His machine being disabled by hostile fire, and his gun out of action, he managed by skilful handling to effect a safe landing, thus saving the machine and his passenger from capture. He has previously done fine work against hostile aircraft."[6]

On 1 March 1918, Price was appointed a flight commander with the accompanying temporary rank of captain, and transferred to the General List of the RFC.[7]

List of aerial victories[edit]

  • See also: Aerial victory standards of World War I
No. Date/time Aircraft Foe Result Location Notes
1 6 April 1917 Bristol F.2 Fighter German fighter Driven down out of control Douai, France Observer/gunner: Maurice Benjamin
2 9 April 1917 Bristol F.2 Fighter Albatros D.III Destroyed East of Arras, France Observer/gunner: Maurice Benjamin
3 23 April 1917 Bristol F.2 Fighter Albatros D.III Driven down out of control Vitry, France Observer/gunner: Maurice Benjamin; victory shared with Fred Holliday, Roger Hay, and their observers
4 25 April 1917 @ 1900 hours Bristol F.2 Fighter Albatros D.III Destroyed East of Arras, France Observer/gunner: Maurice Benjamin
5 27 April 1917 Bristol F.2 Fighter German two-seater Destroyed Vitry, France Observer/gunner: Maurice Benjamin; shared with Fred Holliday and observer
6 9 May 1917 @ 0820 hours Bristol F.2 Fighter serial number A7110 German two-seater Destroyed Between Vitry and Noyelles, France Observer/gunner: Ernest Moore; victory shared with Fred Holliday and observer
7 9 May 1917 @ 1725 hours Bristol F.2 Fighter s/n A7110 Albatros D.III Destroyed East of Vitry and Fampoux, France Observer/gunner: G. G. Claye[1]

Post World War I[edit]

On 4 February 1919, Price transferred to the unemployed list of the Royal Air Force.[8] After leaving military service, he taught agricultural techniques until his retirement in 1962. He died on 17 January 1982, in Leamington Spa in his native Warwickshire, England.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "William Thomas Price". The Aerodrome. 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d Shores, Franks & Guest (1990), p. 308.
  3. ^ "No. 29278". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 August 1915. p. 8613.
  4. ^ "No. 29874". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 December 1916. p. 12452.
  5. ^ "No. 30524". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 February 1918. p. 2017.
  6. ^ "No. 30188". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 July 1917. p. 7241.
  7. ^ "No. 30676". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 May 1918. p. 5558.
  8. ^ "No. 31271". The London Gazette. 4 April 1919. pp. 4419–4420.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Shores, Christopher F.; Franks, Norman & Guest, Russell F. (1990). Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.
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