Harold Koch Boysen
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Harold Koch Boysen was a World War I
flying ace
credited with five aerial victories.
Boysen joined the Royal Flying Corps
in June 1917. After training, he was assigned to 66 Squadron to fly a Sopwith Pup
. He would not have any success until the unit re-equipped with Sopwith Camel
s and transferred fronts from France to northern Italy. He scored a victory in December 1917. In January 1918, he crashed while landing in a fog, and was injured. Upon recovery, he then scored four more times in May 1918, including one win shared with Lieutenant Christopher McEvoy
.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
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 five aerial victories.
Boysen 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 June 1917. After training, he was assigned to 66 Squadron to fly a Sopwith Pup
Sopwith Pup
The Sopwith Pup was a British single seater biplane fighter aircraft built by the Sopwith Aviation Company. It entered service with the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service in the autumn of 1916. With pleasant flying characteristics and good maneuverability, the aircraft proved very...
. He would not have any success until the unit re-equipped with 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 and transferred fronts from France to northern Italy. He scored a victory in December 1917. In January 1918, he crashed while landing in a fog, and was injured. Upon recovery, he then scored four more times in May 1918, including one win shared with Lieutenant Christopher McEvoy
Christopher McEvoy
Lieutenant Christopher McEvoy was an English flying ace credited with nine aerial victories during World War I. Despite poor health, he would gallantly serve his nation in both World Wars before his early death.-Early life:...
.