Arthur Keen (aviator)
Encyclopedia
Major Arthur William Keen, MC was a World War I flying ace
credited with fourteen aerial victories.
Keen scored his first aerial victory while piloting a Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter for 70 Squadron. On 28 August 1916, he drove a Fokker D.II down out of control over Bapaume
. He was transferred to 40 Squadron as a Flight Commander in Spring of 1917. On 1 May 1917, he used another two-seater plane, a Nieuport
to destroy an Albatros D.III
to score his second win near Douai
. He then switched to single-seat Nieuport fighters to reel off a string of ten more victories, which took him to 15 August 1917. His Military Cross was gazetted the following day. Keen was then withdrawn from combat for a rest.
Keen returned to command 40 Squadron in the wake of the 1 June 1918 death of its ace commanding officer, Roderic Dallas
. Keen scored two more victories during his command, on 30 June and 9 August 1918. His final tally was: four German fighters set afire; three others destroyed, one of which was shared; seven enemy planes driven down out of control.
Keen was severely burned in a 15 August flying accident. He lingered for four weeks, before dying of his wounds on 12 September 1918.
T./Capt. Arthur Willan Keen, Gen. List and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has shown the greatest gallantry and skill in aerial fighting, and his daring in leading offensive patrols into favourable positions for attack has been the means of many hostile aircraft being destroyed and driven down.
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 fourteen aerial victories.
Keen scored his first aerial victory while piloting a Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter for 70 Squadron. On 28 August 1916, he drove a Fokker D.II down out of control over Bapaume
Bapaume
Bapaume is a commune and the seat of a canton in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A farming and light industrial town located 10 miles south of Arras at the junction of the A1 autoroute and the N17 and N30 national roads its location is...
. He was transferred to 40 Squadron as a Flight Commander in Spring of 1917. On 1 May 1917, he used another two-seater plane, a Nieuport
Nieuport
Nieuport, later Nieuport-Delage, was a French aeroplane company that primarily built racing aircraft before World War I and fighter aircraft during World War I and between the wars.-Beginnings:...
to destroy an Albatros D.III
Albatros D.III
The Albatros D.III was a biplane fighter aircraft used by the Imperial German Army Air Service and the Austro-Hungarian Air Service during World War I. The D.III was flown by many top German aces, including Manfred von Richthofen, Ernst Udet, Erich Löwenhardt, Kurt Wolff, and Karl Emil Schäfer...
to score his second win near Douai
Douai
-Main sights:Douai's ornate Gothic style belfry was begun in 1380, on the site of an earlier tower. The 80 m high structure includes an impressive carillon, consisting of 62 bells spanning 5 octaves. The originals, some dating from 1391 were removed in 1917 during World War I by the occupying...
. He then switched to single-seat Nieuport fighters to reel off a string of ten more victories, which took him to 15 August 1917. His Military Cross was gazetted the following day. Keen was then withdrawn from combat for a rest.
Keen returned to command 40 Squadron in the wake of the 1 June 1918 death of its ace commanding officer, Roderic Dallas
Roderic Dallas
Roderic Stanley Dallas DSO, DSC & Bar was an Australian fighter ace of World War I. His score of aerial victories is generally regarded as the second-highest by an Australian, after Robert Little; however there is considerable dispute over Dallas's exact total...
. Keen scored two more victories during his command, on 30 June and 9 August 1918. His final tally was: four German fighters set afire; three others destroyed, one of which was shared; seven enemy planes driven down out of control.
Keen was severely burned in a 15 August flying accident. He lingered for four weeks, before dying of his wounds on 12 September 1918.
Honors and awards
Military Cross (MC)T./Capt. Arthur Willan Keen, Gen. List and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has shown the greatest gallantry and skill in aerial fighting, and his daring in leading offensive patrols into favourable positions for attack has been the means of many hostile aircraft being destroyed and driven down.