Guy Wareing
Captain Guy Wilbraham Wareing DFC (23 July 1899 – 27 October 1918) was a British World War I flying ace credited with nine aerial victories.[1]
Guy Wilbraham Wareing | |
|---|---|
| Born | 23 July 1899 Latchford, Warrington, Lancashire |
| Died | 27 October 1918 (aged 19) (KIA) East of Tournai, Belgium |
| Buried | Rumillies, Tournai, Belgium 50°37′12″N 3°26′14″E |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | British Army Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1917–1919 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | No. 29 Squadron RAF |
| Battles/wars | World War I • Western Front |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross |
Biography
Wareing was born in Latchford, Warrington, Lancashire, the son of Frederick William Wareing, an engineer, and his wife Jessie Mary.[2][3]
On 30 August 1917 he was commissioned from cadet to temporary second lieutenant (on probation) on the General List to serve in the Royal Flying Corps,[4] being confirmed in his rank and appointed a flying officer on 14 February 1918.[5]
Wareing was posted to No. 29 Squadron RAF in June 1918 to fly the S.E.5a single-seat fighter. He gained his first victory on 12 August, destroying a Pfalz D.III fighter over Ploegsteert, Belgium. After destroying two reconnaissance aircraft and driving another down out of control, Wareing became both an ace and a balloon buster by destroying an observation balloon over Gheluvelt on 7 September 1918. He then sent a Fokker D.VII down in flames, and destroyed three more balloons, two of them on two separate sorties on 29 September.[1] He was appointed a temporary captain on 7 October 1918.[6]
On 27 October 1918 Wareing was killed when he was shot down by a Fokker D.VII flown by Leutnant Josef Raesch of Jasta 43.[1] He is buried in the churchyard of Église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, Rumillies, Tournai, Hainaut, Belgium,[2] where his is the only Commonwealth War Grave.[7]
Wareing's award of the Distinguished Flying Cross was gazetted posthumously on 3 December 1918. His citation read:
- Lieutenant Guy Wilbraham Wareing.
- "A bold and courageous airman who has destroyed four enemy aeroplanes and shot down in flames a hostile balloon. He is conspicuous for zeal and devotion to duty."[8]
List of aerial victories
| No. | Date/Time | Aircraft/ Serial No. |
Opponent | Result | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 August 1918 @ 0920 | S.E.5a (C1133) | Pfalz D.III | Destroyed | Ploegsteert |
| 2 | 19 August 1918 @ 1115 | S.E.5a (C1133) | DFW C | Destroyed | East of Bailleul |
| 3 | 31 August 1918 @ 1450 | S.E.5a (C1133) | LVG C | Out of control | East of Estaires |
| 4 | 6 September 1918 @ 1800 | S.E.5a (C1133) | DFW C | Destroyed | South-east of Pérenchies |
| 5 | 7 September 1918 @ 0655 | S.E.5a (C1133) | Balloon | Destroyed | Gheluvelt |
| 6 | 15 September 1918 @ 1845 | S.E.5a (C1133) | Fokker D.VII | Destroyed in flames | Roulers-Rumbeke |
| 7 | 27 September 1918 @ 0845 | S.E.5a (C1133) | Balloon | Destroyed | Moorslede |
| 8 | 29 September 1918 @ 1000 | S.E.5a (D6940) | Balloon | Destroyed | South-east of Armentières |
| 9 | 29 September 1918 @ 1410 | S.E.5a (C1133) | Balloon | Destroyed | East of Comines |
References
- "Guy Wilbraham Wareing". The Aerodrome. 2016.
- "Casualty Details: Wareing, Guy Wilbraham". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. 2016.
- "Baptisms at St Wilfrid in the Parish of Farnworth near Prescot". Lancashire OnLine Parish Clerk Project. 2010.
- "No. 30292". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 September 1917. pp. 9710–9711.
- "No. 30589". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 March 1918. p. 3572.
- "No. 30947". The London Gazette. 11 October 1918. p. 11974. Note: this usually indicated an appointment as a flight commander.
- "Premières commémorations du 11 novembre". Médaillés et Décorés du Tournaisis (in French). 2014.
- "No. 31046". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 November 1918. p. 14326.
Bibliography
- 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.