Edward Darby
Edward Darby | |
|---|---|
| Born | 7 March 1888 |
| Died | Unknown |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Navy Royal Air Force |
| Rank | Second Lieutenant |
| Unit | No. 5 Squadron RNAS No. 202 Squadron RAF |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Medal |
Second Lieutenant Edward Darby DSM (born 7 March 1888, date of death unknown) was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.[2] From 1910 to 1915, Darby worked as a civilian mechanic in Liverpool.[3]
Military career
Before his airborne experience, Darby served as a gunlayer in the 5 Wing of the Royal Naval Air Service, part of which became the No. 5 Squadron RNAS on April 26, 1916.[1] On 5 August 1917 Darby was serving as an Air Mechanic 1st Class in No. 5 Squadron RNAS when he and pilot Robert Jope-Slade, in a DH.4, drove out of control an Albatros D.III over Snellegem, earning Darby's first aerial victory. Darby was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Service Medal on 14 September,[2][4] and on 19 November was appointed a probationary observer officer.[5][1]
On 17 April 1918 Darby was commissioned in the newly formed Royal Air Force as a second lieutenant (observer officer).[6] He was assigned to No. 202 Squadron RAF, formerly No. 2 Squadron RNAS, on May 9, 1917,[1] also flying the DH.4. With pilot Lieutenant A. L. Godfrey, Darby gained his second aerial victory on 4 June, destroying a Pfalz D.III off Zeebrugge.[1] His third came on 27 June, with Lieutenant Laurence Pearson, driving down another D.III over Ostend.[1] On 16 July he and Captain A. V. Bowater accounted for another D.III, driven down south of Ostend.[1] His fifth and sixth victories came on 16 September, again with Lt. Pearson, driving down a Pfalz D.XII over Lissewege, and shooting a Fokker D.VII down in flames over Dudzele.[1]
One September 28, 1917, Darby and his pilot, C. R. Moore, became lost in a storm over Nieuport, and were forced to land behind German lines, both being taken prisoners of war.[7][1] Darby was repatriated in December of 1918.[8]
Darby finally left the RAF, being transferred to the unemployed list on 20 February 1919.[9]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Norman, Franks L R; Guest, Russell; Alegi, Gregory (1997). Above The War Fronts. London: Grub Street. p. 84. ISBN 1898697566.
- ^ a b "Edward Darby". The Aerodrome. 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- ^ UK, RAF Officer Service Records, 1918-1919
- ^ "No. 30285". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 September 1917. p. 9537.
- ^ "Royal Naval Air Service: Appointments". Flight. IX (465): 1238. 22 November 1917. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- ^ "No. 30688". The London Gazette. 17 May 1918. p. 5874.
- ^ Guttman, Jon (1997). Naval Aces of World War 1 Part 1. Osprey Publishing. p. 80. ISBN 9781849083461.
- ^ "Edward Darby in the UK, RAF Officer Service Records, 1918-1919". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
{{cite web}}: Wikipedia Library link in|url= - ^ "No. 31217". The London Gazette. 7 March 1919. p. 3152.