Leslie Hamilton
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Leslie Hamilton was a World War I
flying ace
credited with six aerial victories. After a postwar spell of stunt flying as "The Flying Gypsy", he attempted the first nonstop east-west flight across the Atlantic Ocean. His Fokker
Jupiter plane, dubbed Saint Raphael, was last seen in mid-Atlantic by USS Josiah Macy, a Standard Oil ship.
. After 17 Squadron was consolidated with 47 Squadron, Hamilton scored five more wins for the resulting new squadron, No. 150. The four triumphs he notched between 4 May and 4 September were shared with other aces, such as Gerald Gibbs
, Frederick Travers, and Gerald Gordon Bell
. Hamilton's sixth and last win, on 18 September 1918, was a solo one.
ed a bit as "The Flying Gypsy". In 1927, he became involved in an attempt to set an aviation record by flying the Atlantic Ocean from east to west, from England to Canada. Princess Anne of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg
financed the attempt and was a passenger on the Fokker F.VII
chosen for the attempt. Colonel Frederick F. Minchin
and Hamilton were the other participants. The Fokker, dubbed Saint Raphael, headed west from the coast of Ireland and was last seen, flying west over the mid-Atlantic, by the crew of the USS Josiah Macy.
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. After a postwar spell of stunt flying as "The Flying Gypsy", he attempted the first nonstop east-west flight across the Atlantic Ocean. His Fokker
Fokker
Fokker was a Dutch aircraft manufacturer named after its founder, Anthony Fokker. The company operated under several different names, starting out in 1912 in Schwerin, Germany, moving to the Netherlands in 1919....
Jupiter plane, dubbed Saint Raphael, was last seen in mid-Atlantic by USS Josiah Macy, a Standard Oil ship.
World War I service
Hamilton made his mark in Greece, flying a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a. His first victory, scored while he was in 17 Squadron stationed in Salonika, was on 21 April 1918 and was shared with fellow ace Acheson GouldingAcheson Goulding
Captain Acheson Gosford Goulding was a Canadian-born World War I flying ace credited with nine aerial victories. After infantry service, he transferred to aviation and served in Asia Minor and the Balkans. After winning the Military Cross for courage, he returned to civilian life...
. After 17 Squadron was consolidated with 47 Squadron, Hamilton scored five more wins for the resulting new squadron, No. 150. The four triumphs he notched between 4 May and 4 September were shared with other aces, such as Gerald Gibbs
Gerald Gibbs (RAF officer)
Air Marshal Sir Gerald Ernest Gibbs KBE, CIE, MC & Two Bars, RAF was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force in the first half of the 20th century and the last RAF commander-in-chief of the Indian Air Force. During World War I he scored 10 victories , becoming a double ace...
, Frederick Travers, and Gerald Gordon Bell
Gerald Gordon Bell
Gerald Gordon Bell DFC was a Canadian First World War flying ace, officially credited with 16 victories.During 1917 Bell flew as an observer/gunner with No. 22 Squadron, claiming 3 victories. After training as a pilot, Bell was sent to Greece to fly scouts with 47 Squadron and 150 Sqn.-List of...
. Hamilton's sixth and last win, on 18 September 1918, was a solo one.
Post war disappearance
Hamilton resigned his commission on 28 November 1919. He barnstormBarnstorm
Barnstorm is the first album by Joe Walsh following his departure from the James Gang, released in 1972 . The core band on this album – Walsh, bassist Kenny Passarelli and drummer/multi-instrumentalist Joe Vitale – was also named Barnstorm.-History:With this album, Walsh and Barnstorm moved away...
ed a bit as "The Flying Gypsy". In 1927, he became involved in an attempt to set an aviation record by flying the Atlantic Ocean from east to west, from England to Canada. Princess Anne of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg
Princess Anne of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg
Princess Anne of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg was an English socialite and aviation patron and enthusiast. Anne was both the first woman to attempt and perish in a transatlantic airplane flight...
financed the attempt and was a passenger on the Fokker F.VII
Fokker F.VII
The Fokker F.VII, also known as the Fokker Trimotor, was an airliner produced in the 1920s by the Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker, Fokker's American subsidiary Atlantic Aircraft Corporation, and other companies under licence....
chosen for the attempt. Colonel Frederick F. Minchin
Frederick F. Minchin
Frederick Frank Reilly Minchin CBE DSO MC was born in Madras on 16 June 1890 and was educated at Eastbourne College. He passed out of Sandhurst in 1909 and after 2 years resigned his commission to train as a civilian pilot at the recently formed Eastbourne Aviation Company. In 1913 he obtained his...
and Hamilton were the other participants. The Fokker, dubbed Saint Raphael, headed west from the coast of Ireland and was last seen, flying west over the mid-Atlantic, by the crew of the USS Josiah Macy.