William Price (RAF officer)

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.

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

Early life

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

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
  • 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

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
Notes
  1. "William Thomas Price". The Aerodrome. 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  2. 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
  • 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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