Dennis Latimer

Captain Dennis Latimer MC, DFC (31 August 1895 – 12 January 1976) was a British World War I flying ace notable for achieving twenty-eight aerial victories, all against enemy fighter aircraft.[1]

Dennis Latimer
Born(1895-08-31)31 August 1895
Withington, Shropshire, England
Died12 January 1976(1976-01-12) (aged 80)
Middlesex, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Royal Air Force
Years of service1917–1919
RankCaptain
UnitNo. 20 Squadron RFC/RAF
Battles/warsWorld War I
  Western Front
AwardsMilitary Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross

Early life

Latimer was born in Withington, Shropshire, to James Davies and Ida Lottie Latimer. By 1901 the family was residing in Towyn, Merionethshire, Wales, where his father was a hotel proprietor.[1]

World War I

Latimer was commissioned from cadet to temporary second lieutenant (on probation) for duty in the Royal Flying Corps on 26 January 1917,[2] and was appointed a flying officer on 27 April.[3] In early 1918 he was posted to No. 20 Squadron RFC to fly a Bristol F.2b two-seater fighter.[4] Latimer scored his first victory on 13 March with Lieutenant James Scaramanga as his observer/gunner, the only one he scored in the Royal Flying Corps.[1] On 1 April 1918, the Army's Royal Flying Corps was merged with the Royal Naval Air Service to form the Royal Air Force. Latimer was then paired with Lieutenant Tom Noel, gaining his second victory on 21 April. Latimer and Noel gained another 13 victories between 8 and 20 May,[1] and on 25 May Latimer was appointed a flight commander with the temporary rank of captain.[5] Latimer and Noel gained nine more victories in June and July, and in August Latimer and Sergeant Arthur Newland gained five more. However, on 22 August, Latimer was again flying with Noel, when they were shot down by Leutnant Willi Nebgen of Jasta 7. Noel was killed and Latimer captured.[1] Latimer's final total claimed in conjunction with his gunners was one aircraft captured, seventeen destroyed (including one shared), and ten 'out of control' wins (two shared),[6] making him the highest-scoring ace of No. 20 Squadron.[7]

Latimer was subsequently awarded the Military Cross which was gazetted on 13 September. His citation read:

Temporary Lieutenant Dennis Latimer, RAF.
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on offensive patrol. He and his observer in four days' fighting destroyed seven enemy machines and drove down three. They did magnificent service."[8]

A week later his award of the Distinguished Flying Cross was published, the citation reading:

Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) Dennis Latimer, MC.
"When leading an offensive patrol this officer displayed great skill and bravery. Having shot down a scout in flames, he immediately engaged a second, which he destroyed after a short combat. In addition, he has accounted for four other machines."[9]

Latimer was eventually repatriated following the armistice, and was transferred to the RAF's unemployed list on 10 April 1919.[10]

List of aerial victories

Combat record[1]
No. Date/Time Aircraft/
Serial No.
Opponent Result Location Notes
113 March 1918
@ 1255
Bristol F.2b
(C4615)
Albatros D.VOut of controlCominesWervicqObserver: 2nd Lt. James Scaramanga.
221 April 1918
@ 1110
Bristol F.2b
(B1232)
Albatros D.VOut of controlNorth of WervicqObserver: Lt. Tom Noel.
38 May 1918
@ 1320
Bristol F.2b
(C856)
Albatros D.VDestroyed in flamesSouth-east of WervicqObserver: Lt. Tom Noel.
48 May 1918
@ 1640
Bristol F.2b
(C856)
Fokker Dr.IDestroyed in flamesComines—WervicqObserver: Lt. Tom Noel.
5Fokker Dr.IOut of control
6Fokker Dr.IOut of control
714 May 1918
@ 1845–1850
Bristol F.2b
(C856)
Albatros D.VDestroyedWervicqObserver: Lt. Tom Noel.
8Albatros D.VCapturedZillebeke
915 May 1918
@ 1045–1115
Bristol F.2b
(C856)
Pfalz D.IIIOut of controlNorth-west of LilleObserver: Lt. Tom Noel.
10Fokker Dr.IDestroyedComines—Ypres
1118 May 1918
@ 0700
Bristol F.2b
(C856)
Pfalz D.IIIDestroyedCominesObserver: Lt. Tom Noel.
1218 May 1918
@ 1140
Bristol F.2b
(C856)
Pfalz D.IIIDestroyedNorth-east of Nieppe ForestObserver: Lt. Tom Noel.
13Pfalz D.IIIOut of controlMerville
1420 May 1918
@ 1130–1135
Bristol F.2b
(C856)
Albatros D.VDestroyed in flamesNorth-east of MervilleObserver: Lt. Tom Noel.
15Albatros D.VDestroyedCoucou Aerodrome
161 June 1918
@ 0630
Bristol F.2b
(C892)
Pfalz D.IIIDestroyedCominesObserver: Lt. Tom Noel.
179 June 1918
@ 0915
Bristol F.2b
(C892)
Pfalz D.IIIDestroyedCominesObserver: Lt. Tom Noel.
1817 June 1918
@ 0745
Bristol F.2b
(C987)
Fokker D.VIIOut of controlBoesingheObserver: Lt. Tom Noel.
Shared with Lt. William Thomson & 2nd Lt. F. J. Ralphs.
1930 June 1918
@ 0730
Bristol F.2b
(C987)
Pfalz D.IIIDestroyedCominesObserver: Lt. Tom Noel.
201 July 1918
@ 1845
Bristol F.2b
(C987)
Fokker Dr.IOut of controlMeninObserver: Lt. Tom Noel.
2114 July 1918
@ 0900
Bristol F.2b
(C987)
Fokker D.VIIOut of controlSouth-east of YpresObserver: Lt. Tom Noel.
22Fokker D.VIIOut of controlObserver: Lt. Tom Noel.
Shared with Lt. August Iaccaci & 2nd Lt. Ronald Turner.
2319 July 1918
@ 0845
Bristol F.2b
(C987)
Fokker D.VIIDestroyedNorth of CominesObserver: Lt. Tom Noel.
2414 August 1918
@ 1800–1830
Bristol F.2b
(D7993)
Pfalz D.IIIDestroyedDadizeeleObserver: Sgt. Arthur Newland.
25Pfalz D.IIIDestroyed
2621 August 1918
@ 1910–1915
Bristol F.2b
(D7993)
Pfalz D.IIIDestroyedMeninObserver: Sgt. Arthur Newland.
27Pfalz D.IIIDestroyedDadizeele
28Pfalz D.IIIDestroyedGheluweObserver: Sgt. Arthur Newland.
Shared with Capt. Horace Lale & 2nd Lt. F. J. Ralphs.

References

  1. "Dennis Latimer". The Aerodrome. 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  2. "No. 29929". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 February 1917. pp. 1244–1245.
  3. "No. 30073". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 May 1917. p. 4758.
  4. Guttman & Dempsey (2007), pp. 49–50.
  5. "No. 30735". The London Gazette. 7 June 1918. p. 6800.
  6. Shores, Franks & Guest (1990), p. 233.
  7. "20 Squadron". The Aerodrome. 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  8. "No. 30901". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 September 1918. p. 10977.
  9. "No. 30913". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 September 1918. p. 11252.
  10. "No. 31463". The London Gazette. 18 July 1919. p. 9137.

Bibliography

  • Guttman, Jon & Dempsey, Harry (2007). Bristol F2 Fighter Aces of World War I. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-201-1.
  • 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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