Gordon Olley
Encyclopedia
Flying Officer Gordon Percy Olley MM
(29 April 1893 – 18 March 1958) was a First World War flying ace who later formed his own airline, Olley Air Services. He was the first pilot to fly a million miles in total.
department store.
, before being posted to the Royal Flying Corps
as an Air Mechanic Second Class, going to France with them on 17 June 1915. At first he was a despatch rider
, and then he became an air observer
with No. 1 Squadron
.
After training as a pilot he rejoined the squadron in 1917 to fly Nieuport scouts
. In September 1917 he was awarded the Military Medal
for bravery in the field. He was then commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant
on the General List, and appointed a flying officer in the Royal Flying Corps
on 28 January 1918. He transferred to the Royal Air Force
on its formation on 1 April 1918 and was promoted to lieutenant
.
After the war he was transferred to Unemployed List on 22 June 1919.
His service record states that in addition to his MM he was Mentioned in Despatches "for valuable services" during the war. During operations with 1 Squadron he is credited with ten aerial victories, comprising 3 destroyed, 5 ( and 2 shared) 'out of control'.
He rejoined the RAF in 1923 when he was commissioned as a flying officer
on probation in Class A of the Reserve of Air Force Officers on 4 December, he was confirmed in that rank on 4 June 1924. He transferred to Class C of the reserve on 4 December 1932, and relinquished the commission on 4 December 1936, and was permitted to retain his rank.
and KLM. In 1931, he became the world's first pilot to log one million miles. Leaving Imperial, he started his own airline, Olley Air Services, in 1934. Operating originally from Croydon Airport
as a charter airline. Olley Air Services eventually was part of a group of airlines that included Blackpool & West Coast Air Services, Channel Air Ferries and Isle of Man Air Services
. After the Second World War the airline resumed services as both a charter airline and a scheduled service before being sold to Morton Air Services
in 1953.
Olley died in Wimbledon on 18 March 1958. His obituary reported that not one of his 40,000 passengers suffered a casualty.
Military Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
(29 April 1893 – 18 March 1958) was a First World War flying ace who later formed his own airline, Olley Air Services. He was the first pilot to fly a million miles in total.
Early years
Olley was born in Harleston, Norfolk on the 29 April 1893. In the 1901 Census Olley, aged 7, is described as living at 161, Gloucester Road, Bristol with his parents George and Eliza Olley and a brother and sister. His father is described as a Tobacconist and Hairdresser. In the 1911 Census Olley is still living at the same address, now aged 17, and described as an Apprentice in a wholesale clothing warehouse. In 1912 he became a "motor salesman" at London's SelfridgesSelfridges
Selfridges, AKA Selfridges & Co, is a chain of high end department stores in the United Kingdom. It was founded by Harry Gordon Selfridge. The flagship store in London's Oxford Street is the second largest shop in the UK and was opened on 15 March 1909.More recently, three other stores have been...
department store.
Military aviator
Olley joined the Queen Victoria's Rifles in August 1914. He later transferred to the Royal Fusiliers, rising to the rank of serjeantSergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
, before being posted 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...
as an Air Mechanic Second Class, going to France with them on 17 June 1915. At first he was a despatch rider
Despatch rider
A despatch rider is a military messenger, mounted on horse or motorcycle.Despatch riders were used by armed forces to deliver urgent orders and messages between headquarters and military units...
, and then he became an air observer
Air observer
An air observer is a British term for a military aircrew member whose duties are predominantly reconnaissance. The term originates in the First World War in the Royal Flying Corps, and was maintained by its successor, the Royal Air Force...
with No. 1 Squadron
No. 1 Squadron RAF
No. 1 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It operated the Harrier GR9 from RAF Cottesmore until 28 January 2011.The squadron motto is In omnibus princeps , appropriate for the RAF's oldest squadron and one that has been involved in almost every major British military operation since...
.
After training as a pilot he rejoined the squadron in 1917 to fly Nieuport scouts
Nieuport 11
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Angelucci, Enzio, ed. The Rand McNally Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft. New York: The Military Press, 1983. ISBN 0-517-41021-4....
. In September 1917 he was awarded the Military Medal
Military Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
for bravery in the field. He was then commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
on the General List, and appointed a flying officer in 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...
on 28 January 1918. He transferred to the 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...
on its formation on 1 April 1918 and was promoted to lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
.
After the war he was transferred to Unemployed List on 22 June 1919.
His service record states that in addition to his MM he was Mentioned in Despatches "for valuable services" during the war. During operations with 1 Squadron he is credited with ten aerial victories, comprising 3 destroyed, 5 ( and 2 shared) 'out of control'.
He rejoined the RAF in 1923 when he was commissioned as a flying officer
Flying 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...
on probation in Class A of the Reserve of Air Force Officers on 4 December, he was confirmed in that rank on 4 June 1924. He transferred to Class C of the reserve on 4 December 1932, and relinquished the commission on 4 December 1936, and was permitted to retain his rank.
Civil aviator
After leaving the RAF he worked as a pilot for Imperial AirwaysImperial Airways
Imperial Airways was the early British commercial long range air transport company, operating from 1924 to 1939 and serving parts of Europe but especially the Empire routes to South Africa, India and the Far East...
and KLM. In 1931, he became the world's first pilot to log one million miles. Leaving Imperial, he started his own airline, Olley Air Services, in 1934. Operating originally from Croydon Airport
Croydon Airport
Croydon Airport was an airport in South London which straddled the boundary between what are now the London boroughs of Croydon and Sutton. It was the main airport for London before it was replaced by Northolt Aerodrome, London Heathrow Airport and London Gatwick Airport...
as a charter airline. Olley Air Services eventually was part of a group of airlines that included Blackpool & West Coast Air Services, Channel Air Ferries and Isle of Man Air Services
Isle of Man Air Services
Isle of Man Air Services Ltd was a small airline, based at Ronaldsway Airport Isle of Man, which operated scheduled flights to the English mainland between September 1937 and January 1947.-Formation:...
. After the Second World War the airline resumed services as both a charter airline and a scheduled service before being sold to Morton Air Services
Morton Air Services
Morton Air Services was one of the earliest post-World War II private, independentindependent from government-owned corporations British airlines formed in 1945. It mainly operated regional short-haul scheduled services within the British Isles and between the United Kingdom and Continental Europe....
in 1953.
Olley died in Wimbledon on 18 March 1958. His obituary reported that not one of his 40,000 passengers suffered a casualty.