Carl Raymond Davis

Carl Raymond Davis, DFC (30 July 1911 – 6 September 1940) was a South African-born American-British pilot and flying ace of the Battle of Britain. He claimed nine enemy aircraft (and one shared) destroyed, four (and one shared) probably destroyed, and four damaged,[2] before he was himself shot down and killed in action.[3]

Carl Raymond Davis
Carl Raymond Davis c. 1939
Born(1911-07-30)30 July 1911
Krugersdorp, Transvaal, South Africa
Died6 September 1940(1940-09-06) (aged 29)
near Tunbridge Wells, England
Buried
St Mary's churchyard, Storrington, Sussex
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Air Force
Years of service1936–1940
RankFlight Lieutenant
Service number90131
UnitNo. 601 Squadron RAF
Battles/warsSecond World War
AwardsDistinguished Flying Cross
RelationsCarl Raymond Davis Sr (father)
Clara May Davis (mother)[1]

Davis was one of 11 American pilots who flew with RAF Fighter Command between 10 July and 31 October 1940, thereby qualifying for the Battle of Britain clasp to the 1939–45 campaign star.[4]

Early years

Born in Krugersdorp, Transvaal in South Africa to American parents, Davis was educated in England at Sherborne School, and Trinity College, Cambridge (Bachelor of Arts) and at McGill University, Montreal (Bachelor of Arts qualifying as a mining engineer). He became a British citizen in 1932.[5] His wife was Anne, sister of Sir Archibald Philip Hope, 17th Baronet, of No. 601 Squadron[6] (Hope was in turn married to Carl's sister Ruth.) After obtaining his mining degree, Davis took flying lessons in New Jersey while living with his sister.

Returning to the United Kingdom in 1935, Davis then lived in London and joined No. 601 Squadron, Auxiliary Air Force at Hendon, being commissioned in August 1936.

Second World War

Davis was called to full-time service on 27 August 1939 and, on 27 November, flew one of the six No. 601 Squadron Blenheims that attacked the German seaplane base at Borkum. On 11 July 1940, he shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 110, and he added two more Bf 110s on 11 August 1940 and three more Bf 110s on the 13th. Davis was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 30 August. His citation read:

Flying Officer Carl Raymond Davis (90131), Auxiliary Air Force. Flying Officer Davis has been engaged on operational flying since 3rd September, 1939. He has taken part in nearly all patrols and interceptions carried out by his squadron. He has been a section leader for the last two months, and on several occasions has led his flight. Flying Officer Davis has personally destroyed six enemy aircraft, and severely damaged several others. He has shown great keenness and courage.[7]

Death

Davis downed five more aircraft before being killed in action when a Messerschmitt Bf 109 shot down his Hawker Hurricane I (P3363) in combat over Tunbridge Wells at 09:30 hrs, 6 September 1940. Davis crashed, inverted, with his aircraft burned out in the back garden of Canterbury Cottage at Matfield, Brenchley, near Tunbridge Wells. He was 29 years old.

Remembrance

2464 (Storrington) Squadron of the Air Training Corps observe an annual act of Remembrance to Flt Lt Davis along with the laying of a wreath at his grave in the churchyard at St Mary's, Storrington.

This service is held immediately following the Church's Battle of Britain service each year.

See also

References

Notes
  1. "Davis, Carl Raymond." Commonwealth War Graves commission. Retrieved: 25 December 2010.
  2. Shores and Williams 1994, p. 213.
  3. "Carl Raymond Davis." TracesOfWar.com Retrieved: 5 January 2013.
  4. "Battle of Britain – Roll of Honour." Archived 17 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine RAF. Retrieved: 6 January 2013.
  5. Battle of Britain, Then and Now Mk V supplemental published 1989, p. xviii, quote from Davis' sister confirming nationality issues
  6. "The Airmen's Stories – F/Lt. C R Davis." Archived 3 November 2009 at the Wayback Machine The Battle of Britain London Monument. Retrieved: 25 December 2010.
  7. "30 August 1940." London Gazette. Retrieved: 5 January 2013.

Bibliography
  • Shores, Christopher and Clive Williams. Aces High. London: Grub Street, 1994. ISBN 1-898697-00-0.
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