Gilbert W. M. Green
Encyclopedia
Group Captain Gilbert Ware Murlis Green DSO* MC**
was a Royal Air Force
career officer credited with eight aerial victories. He was a pioneer among fighter aces, and his victories were scored in a variety of theaters and flying environments. He was successful on both the Western Front
, in Greece, and on his home soil. He also commanded two of the original night fighter squadrons.
Observer. He was assigned to 5 Squadron on the Western Front
. Manning the guns in a two-seater aircraft piloted by Frederick Powell
, Green set a DFW
two-seater aflame on 29 February 1916. He was then transferred from Flying Officer Observer to the Royal Flying Corps
's General List on 19 June 1916 and sent to pilot training. By 13 December 1916, he was scoring his second victory, destroying another DFW while flying a Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.12
for 17 Squadron in Salonika, Greece.
On 4 January 1917, he captured an Albatros D.V
fighter despite being overmatched; the German craft was faster, more maneuverable, and had two guns instead of one. Ten days later, he would repeat the feat, although his victim this time was an Albatros two-seater reconnaissance plane, and Green had help from fellow ace Franklin Saunders
. On 18 February 1917, Green battled German ace Rudolf von Eschwege
in a dogfight during which Green's gun jammed, and wingman J. C. F. Owen was shot down. Green returned to form on 18 and 19 March, destroying a Friedrichshafen G seaplane and driving another down out of control on the 18th, and flaming an Albatros recon craft on the 19th. Green thus became the only pilot to become an ace flying the unwieldy antiquated B.E. 12. These latest three successes earned him the Distinguished Service Order.
For his next victory, Green borrowed a Spad
fighter; he flamed an Albatros recon plane with it on 13 July 1917. He was then rotated home to England and to command of a Home Defence unit, 44 Squadron, that operated Sopwith Camel
s as night fighters. Once there, Green closed out his year by shooting down a Gotha G
iant bomber piloted by German Oberleutnant Gerhard Von Stachelsky on 18 December 1917. It was the first German airplane to be shot down at night over Britain.
In June 1918, Green took command of 151 Squadron and led it to France, where it engaged the Germans in night fighter operations. Later in the war, he moved on to command 70 Squadron in daylight combat.
to Wing Commander
. On 1 July 1934, he was promoted again, from Wing Commander to Group Captain
.
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Temp. 2nd Lt. (temp. Capt.) Gilbert Ware M. Green, M.C., R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has set a magnificent example by his gallant conduct in attacking the enemy's aeroplanes when in superior numbers. He brought down three enemy machines within twenty-four hours. (Text from Supplement to the London Gazette, 18 June 1917) (30135/5981)
Green also won two Bars to the DSO in lieu of a second and third award.
After being awarded the Military Cross on 1 January 1917, Green won a Bar in lieu of a second award.
Military Cross (MC) First Bar
2nd Lt. (temp. Lt.) Gilbert Ware Murlis Green, M.C., Gen. List and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry in action. He brought down two enemy machines on successive days under adverse circumstances. He has displayed great dash and courage at every opportunity. (The M.C. was awarded in London Gazette dated 1 January 1917.)
Military Cross (MC) Second Bar (awarded 8 January 1918)
Temp. Sec. Lieut. (Temp. Capt.) Gilbert Ware Murlis Green, D.S.O., M.C., Gen. List and R.F.C.
While flying at night on patrol duty he encountered an enemy aeroplane, which he attacked with great determination and skill, and although there was very little light he succeeded in hitting one of the engines of the machine, which, by reason of the damage, was forced to come down in the sea off a South Coast port, where two of the occupants of the machine ware made prisoners.
Serbian Order of the White Eagle 4th Class, with Swords, was awarded 3 October 1917.
French Croix de Guerre was awarded 2 June 1917.
Belgian Croix de Guerre awarded 15 July 1919.
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 Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
career officer credited with eight aerial victories. He was a pioneer among fighter aces, and his victories were scored in a variety of theaters and flying environments. He was successful on both the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
, in Greece, and on his home soil. He also commanded two of the original night fighter squadrons.
World War I service
Green's military career started humbly; on 9 September 1914, just after World War I began, he was promoted from Rifleman to Temporary Second Lieutenant. By 22 November 1915, he was a Flying OfficerFlying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
Observer. He was assigned to 5 Squadron on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
. Manning the guns in a two-seater aircraft piloted by Frederick Powell
Frederick Powell
Major Frederick James Powell was a World War I flying ace credited with six confirmed and nine unconfirmed aerial victories.Powell began his military career with the Manchester Regiment. After being granted Royal Aero Club Certificate No. 1130 on 2 March 1915, he was posted to 5 Squadron...
, Green set a DFW
Deutsche Flugzeug-Werke
Deutsche Flugzeug-Werke, usually known as DFW was a German aircraft manufacturer of the early twentieth century. It was established by Bernhard Meyer and Erich Thiele at Lindenthal in 1910, and initially produced Farman designs under licence, later moving on to the Etrich Taube and eventually to...
two-seater aflame on 29 February 1916. He was then transferred from Flying Officer Observer to 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...
's General List on 19 June 1916 and sent to pilot training. By 13 December 1916, he was scoring his second victory, destroying another DFW while flying a Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.12
Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.12
|-See also:-External links:*...
for 17 Squadron in Salonika, Greece.
On 4 January 1917, he captured an Albatros D.V
Albatros D.V
|-See also:-Bibliography:*Bennett, Leon. Gunning for the Red Baron. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2006. ISBN 1-58544-507-X....
fighter despite being overmatched; the German craft was faster, more maneuverable, and had two guns instead of one. Ten days later, he would repeat the feat, although his victim this time was an Albatros two-seater reconnaissance plane, and Green had help from fellow ace Franklin Saunders
Franklin Saunders
Captain Franklin Geoffrey Saunders was a World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.-Reference:...
. On 18 February 1917, Green battled German ace Rudolf von Eschwege
Rudolf von Eschwege
Leutnant Rudolf von Eschwege was a German World War I flying ace who was the only fighter pilot operating on the Macedonian Front. He was credited with twenty confirmed and six unconfirmed victories....
in a dogfight during which Green's gun jammed, and wingman J. C. F. Owen was shot down. Green returned to form on 18 and 19 March, destroying a Friedrichshafen G seaplane and driving another down out of control on the 18th, and flaming an Albatros recon craft on the 19th. Green thus became the only pilot to become an ace flying the unwieldy antiquated B.E. 12. These latest three successes earned him the Distinguished Service Order.
For his next victory, Green borrowed a Spad
Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés
SPAD was a French aircraft manufacturer between 1911 and 1921. Its SPAD S.XIII biplane was the most popular French fighter airplane in World War I.-Deperdussin:...
fighter; he flamed an Albatros recon plane with it on 13 July 1917. He was then rotated home to England and to command of a Home Defence unit, 44 Squadron, that operated Sopwith Camel
Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...
s as night fighters. Once there, Green closed out his year by shooting down a Gotha G
Gotha G
|-See also:-References:* The Complete Encyclopedia of Flight 1848-1939 by John Batchelor and Malcolm V. Lowe-External links:*...
iant bomber piloted by German Oberleutnant Gerhard Von Stachelsky on 18 December 1917. It was the first German airplane to be shot down at night over Britain.
In June 1918, Green took command of 151 Squadron and led it to France, where it engaged the Germans in night fighter operations. Later in the war, he moved on to command 70 Squadron in daylight combat.
Postwar career
Green continued serving in the Royal Air Force after the war. On 1 July 1928, he was promoted from Squadron LeaderSquadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
to Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
. On 1 July 1934, he was promoted again, from Wing Commander to Group Captain
Group Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
.
Honors and awards
Mentioned in Dispatches 6 December 1916, 28 November 1917, 20 December 1917.Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Temp. 2nd Lt. (temp. Capt.) Gilbert Ware M. Green, M.C., R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has set a magnificent example by his gallant conduct in attacking the enemy's aeroplanes when in superior numbers. He brought down three enemy machines within twenty-four hours. (Text from Supplement to the London Gazette, 18 June 1917) (30135/5981)
Green also won two Bars to the DSO in lieu of a second and third award.
After being awarded the Military Cross on 1 January 1917, Green won a Bar in lieu of a second award.
Military Cross (MC) First Bar
2nd Lt. (temp. Lt.) Gilbert Ware Murlis Green, M.C., Gen. List and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry in action. He brought down two enemy machines on successive days under adverse circumstances. He has displayed great dash and courage at every opportunity. (The M.C. was awarded in London Gazette dated 1 January 1917.)
Military Cross (MC) Second Bar (awarded 8 January 1918)
Temp. Sec. Lieut. (Temp. Capt.) Gilbert Ware Murlis Green, D.S.O., M.C., Gen. List and R.F.C.
While flying at night on patrol duty he encountered an enemy aeroplane, which he attacked with great determination and skill, and although there was very little light he succeeded in hitting one of the engines of the machine, which, by reason of the damage, was forced to come down in the sea off a South Coast port, where two of the occupants of the machine ware made prisoners.
Serbian Order of the White Eagle 4th Class, with Swords, was awarded 3 October 1917.
French Croix de Guerre was awarded 2 June 1917.
Belgian Croix de Guerre awarded 15 July 1919.