Captain Harry Alexander Rigby (born 2 November 1896, date of death unknown) was a World War I

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 six aerial victories.

Rigby was commissioned 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 22 May 1916. He joined 40 Squadron on 1 August, but left a month later due to illness. Subsequently, he joined 1 Squadron on 2 February 1918, being promoted to captain shortly thereafter. Piloting a Royal Aircraft Factory SE5a, he scored his first victory on 13 March 1918, sharing it with fellow aces Percy Jack Clayson

Percy Jack Clayson

Percy Jack Clayson MC, DFC was a British Flying Ace in World War I credited with twenty-nine victories.-Background:Clayson was born in Deptford, London on 7 June 1896...

, Herbert Hamilton

Herbert Hamilton

Captain Herbert James Hamilton was a World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.Hamilton died in a flying accident in Yorkshire, England, on 13 June 1918, when his airplane shed a wing.-Reference:...

, William Patrick, Guy Borthwick Moore

Guy Borthwick Moore

Captain Guy Borthwick Moore was a World War I flying ace credited with ten aerial victories.Moore lived in Vancouver and attended the University of British Columbia from 1913–1916, gaining a BA. He was an oarsman and a rugby player. He became a lieutenant in the Irish Fusiliers of Canada in 1916,...

, and four other pilots. In the next two months, Rigby would singlehandedly rack up five more triumphs, the last being 11 May 1918. His final tally was one 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....

set afire, two enemy planes destroyed, and three enemy fighters sent down out of control. On 17 May, illness once again removed Rigby from duty.

Honors and awards

Military Cross (MC)

Lt. Harry Alexander Rigby, R.F.C., Spec. Res.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has carried out many low-flying bombing raids, obtaining direct hits on enemy troops, hutments and camps. On one occasion, after attacking a large column of enemy infantry on a road with machine-gun fire, he attacked and shot down in flames a hostile scout. His work has always been carried out with the utmost keenness and determination.