Clement G. Boothroyd
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Clement Graham Boothroyd DFC became an ace
during World War I. He flew as an observer/gunner in a Bristol F.2 Fighter
, and in conjunction with his pilots, was credited with 12 confirmed aerial victories.
near Geluwe
. On 11 August, he destroyed an kite balloon
south of Heule
. Then, on 20 September, he began a streak of ten victories that took him through double wins on 23 and 30 October; for this latter pair of double triumphs, he was piloted by fellow ace Capt.Horace Percy Lale. His final tally was: one balloon busted
, one Fokker D.VII set afire in mid-air, nine others destroyed in flight, and one sent down out of control.
. On 12 December 1922, Boothroyd transferred to the Class A Reserve. Exactly four years later, he surrendered his commission.
2nd Lieut. Clement Graham Boothroyd.
(FRANCE)
An officer of high courage. On 23rd
October, after attacking with bombs a railway
station the formation with which this
officer was flying was engaged with about
fifteen enemy scouts; of these, he destroyed
one and his pilot accounted for a second.
In all he has to his credit eight enemy .aircraft
and one kite balloon.
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...
during World War I. He flew as an observer/gunner in a Bristol F.2 Fighter
Bristol F.2 Fighter
The Bristol F.2 Fighter was a British two-seat biplane fighter and reconnaissance aircraft of the First World War flown by the Royal Flying Corps. It is often simply called the Bristol Fighter or popularly the "Brisfit" or "Biff". Despite being a two-seater, the F.2B proved to be an agile aircraft...
, and in conjunction with his pilots, was credited with 12 confirmed aerial victories.
World War I service
Boothroyd's initial aerial success with 20 Squadron came on 2 July 1918, when he destroyed a Fokker D.VIIFokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...
near Geluwe
Geluwe
Geluwe is a town in the West Flanders province of Belgium. It is contained within the municipality of Wervik. The town is known for the "yawning festival" ....
. On 11 August, he destroyed an kite balloon
Observation balloon
Observation balloons are balloons that are employed as aerial platforms for intelligence gathering and artillery spotting. Their use began during the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith during World War I, and they continue in limited use today....
south of Heule
Heule
Heule is a submunicipality of the city of Kortrijk in the Belgian province of West-Flandres. The first notion of this settlement date of the year 1111. Heule has a surface of 1169h and has a population of 10,503 . Surrounding villages of Heule are Bissegem, Gullegem, Lendelede and Kuurne...
. Then, on 20 September, he began a streak of ten victories that took him through double wins on 23 and 30 October; for this latter pair of double triumphs, he was piloted by fellow ace Capt.Horace Percy Lale. His final tally was: one balloon busted
Balloon buster
Balloon busters were military pilots known for destroying enemy observation balloons. These pilots were noted for their fearlessness. Seventy-six fighter pilots in World War I were each credited with destroying five or more balloons, and thus were balloon aces....
, one Fokker D.VII set afire in mid-air, nine others destroyed in flight, and one sent down out of control.
Post World War I
Boothroyd remained in the service postwar. On 1 August 1920, Observer Officer Clement Graham Boothroyd was Mentioned in Dispatches by General C. C. Monro for exemplary service in WaziristanWaziristan
Waziristan is a mountainous region near the Northwest of Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan and covering some 11,585 km² . The area is entirely populated by ethnic Pashtuns . The language spoken in the valley is Pashto/Pakhto...
. On 12 December 1922, Boothroyd transferred to the Class A Reserve. Exactly four years later, he surrendered his commission.
Honors and awards
Distinguished Flying Cross2nd Lieut. Clement Graham Boothroyd.
(FRANCE)
An officer of high courage. On 23rd
October, after attacking with bombs a railway
station the formation with which this
officer was flying was engaged with about
fifteen enemy scouts; of these, he destroyed
one and his pilot accounted for a second.
In all he has to his credit eight enemy .aircraft
and one kite balloon.
Reference
- Above the War Fronts: The British Two-seater Bomber Pilot and Observer Aces, the British Two-seater Fighter Observer Aces, and the Belgian, Italian, Austro-Hungarian and Russian Fighter Aces, 1914-1918. Norman L. R. Franks, Russell Guest, Gregory Alegi. Grub Street, 1997. ISBN 1898697566, 9781898697565.
External links
- http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/boothroyd.php has a photo of Boothroyd and a detailed list of his victories