Arthur Gerald Knight
Encyclopedia
Captain Arthur Gerald Knight (1895-1916) DSO
MC
was a British-born Canadian World War I flying ace
credited with eight aerial victories. He was under attack by Oswald Boelcke
and Erwin Böhme
when they collided, causing Boelcke's death. Two months later, Knight would fall under the guns of Manfred von Richthofen
, who had also been in the dogfight when Boelcke was killed.
when he joined the Royal Flying Corps
in 1915.
of 24 Squadron to destroy an LVG
C model reconnaissance plane over Courcelette
. His next two wins were of the "driven down out of control" variety, but for his fourth triumph on 14 September he helped Stanley Cockerell
flame a Fokker
fighter. The following day, he singlehandedly flamed another German fighter; a month later, he drove a Roland C.II down out of control. On 9 November 1916, he shared the destruction of an enemy fighter with Alfred Edwin McKay
and Eric Pashley. Knight's Military Cross was awarded five days later.
Knight transferred to 29 Squadron as the flight commander, B Flight, still flying a DH.2. On 11 December 1916, he was bequeathed the Distinguished Service Order. He scored his eighth victory five days later, downing an enemy fighter northeast of Arras
, and continuing his assault on a second despite a broken machine gun extractor. Four days later, he led his final patrol before ten days leave. He did not return. His patrol of four made it back, but badly battered by combat. Knight had become the Red Baron's thirteenth victim.
The only known description of Knight's end comes from the victor's combat report: "...I attacked him at closest range.... I saw immediately that I had hit the enemy. First he went down in curves, then he crashed to the ground. I pursued him until 100 meters above the ground."
2nd Lt. Arthur Gerald Knight, R.F.C., Spec. Res.
For conspicuous skill and gallantry. He has shown great pluck in fights with enemy machines, and has accounted for several. On one occasion, when a hostile machine was interfering with a reconnaissance, he attacked at very close range, and brought down the enemy machine in flames.
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
For conspicuous gallantry in action. He led four machines against 18 hostile machines. Choosing a good moment for attack he drove down five of them and dispersed the remainder. He has shown the utmost dash and judgment as a leader of offensive patrols.
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
was a British-born Canadian World War I flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
credited with eight aerial victories. He was under attack by Oswald Boelcke
Oswald Boelcke
Oswald Boelcke was a German flying ace of the First World War and one of the most influential patrol leaders and tacticians of the early years of air combat. Boelcke is considered the father of the German fighter air force, as well as the "Father of Air Fighting Tactics"; he was the first to...
and Erwin Böhme
Erwin Böhme
Erwin Böhme , Pour le Mérite, was a German pilot during World War I. He was born in Holzminden, grew into an athletic sportsman, and became a flying ace during the war credited with 24 victories. He was a both a close friend and a military subordinate of Oswald Boelcke and was inadvertently...
when they collided, causing Boelcke's death. Two months later, Knight would fall under the guns of Manfred von Richthofen
Manfred von Richthofen
Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen , also widely known as the Red Baron, was a German fighter pilot with the Imperial German Army Air Service during World War I...
, who had also been in the dogfight when Boelcke was killed.
Early life
Arthur Gerald Knight was the son of Arthur Cecil Knight and Isabella Jael Knight (née Baston). The younger Knight was a student of Applied Science at Upper Canada CollegeUpper Canada College
Upper Canada College , located in midtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is an independent elementary and secondary school for boys between Senior Kindergarten and Grade Twelve, operating under the International Baccalaureate program. The secondary school segment is divided into ten houses; eight are...
when he joined the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
in 1915.
Aerial victories
Knight began his victory string on 22 June 1916, using an Airco DH.2Airco DH.2
|-DH.2 aces:Distinguished pilots of the DH.2 included Victoria Cross winner Lanoe Hawker , who was the first commander of No 24 Squadron and ace Alan Wilkinson. The commander of No. 32 Squadron, Lionel Rees won the Victoria Cross flying the D.H.2 for single handedly attacking a formation of 10...
of 24 Squadron to destroy an LVG
LVG
Luftverkehrsgesellschaft m.b.H. was a German aircraft manufacturer based in Berlin-Johannisthal, which began constructing aircraft in 1912, building Farman-type aircraft. The company constructed many reconnaissance and light bomber biplanes during World War I.The raid on London in 1916 was...
C model reconnaissance plane over Courcelette
Courcelette
Courcelette is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Courcelette is situated on the D929 and D107 crossroads, some northeast of Amiens.-History:...
. His next two wins were of the "driven down out of control" variety, but for his fourth triumph on 14 September he helped Stanley Cockerell
Stanley Cockerell
Captain Stanley Cockerell was a World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.-World War I aerial success:...
flame a Fokker
Fokker
Fokker was a Dutch aircraft manufacturer named after its founder, Anthony Fokker. The company operated under several different names, starting out in 1912 in Schwerin, Germany, moving to the Netherlands in 1919....
fighter. The following day, he singlehandedly flamed another German fighter; a month later, he drove a Roland C.II down out of control. On 9 November 1916, he shared the destruction of an enemy fighter with Alfred Edwin McKay
Alfred Edwin McKay
Captain Alfred Edwin “Eddie” McKay MC was a Canadian flying ace who flew with the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War.- Civilian Life :...
and Eric Pashley. Knight's Military Cross was awarded five days later.
Notable combats
On 26 October, Knight was under attack by Boelcke and Böhme when McKay, pursued by Richthofen, cut across between Knight and his assailants. In the resultant dodges and swerves, Böhme's plane's landing gear wheels damaged Boelcke's upper wing, and Boelcke fell to his death.Knight transferred to 29 Squadron as the flight commander, B Flight, still flying a DH.2. On 11 December 1916, he was bequeathed the Distinguished Service Order. He scored his eighth victory five days later, downing an enemy fighter northeast of Arras
Arras
Arras is the capital of the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. The historic centre of the Artois region, its local speech is characterized as a Picard dialect...
, and continuing his assault on a second despite a broken machine gun extractor. Four days later, he led his final patrol before ten days leave. He did not return. His patrol of four made it back, but badly battered by combat. Knight had become the Red Baron's thirteenth victim.
The only known description of Knight's end comes from the victor's combat report: "...I attacked him at closest range.... I saw immediately that I had hit the enemy. First he went down in curves, then he crashed to the ground. I pursued him until 100 meters above the ground."
Honors and awards
Military Cross (MC)2nd Lt. Arthur Gerald Knight, R.F.C., Spec. Res.
For conspicuous skill and gallantry. He has shown great pluck in fights with enemy machines, and has accounted for several. On one occasion, when a hostile machine was interfering with a reconnaissance, he attacked at very close range, and brought down the enemy machine in flames.
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
For conspicuous gallantry in action. He led four machines against 18 hostile machines. Choosing a good moment for attack he drove down five of them and dispersed the remainder. He has shown the utmost dash and judgment as a leader of offensive patrols.