Richard Burnard Munday
Encyclopedia
Major Richard Burnard Munday was an English flying ace
credited with scoring nine aerial victories during World War I. He was notable for scoring Britain's first night victory; he also excelled as a balloon buster
at the rare feat of shooting down enemy observation balloon
s at night.
, England on 31 January 1896. He was the eldest son of Major General
and Mrs. R. B. Munday of Port Royal, Plymouth.
was confirmed on the same day he was awarded Royal Aero Club
Aviator's Certificate No. 1085. He had trained in a Maurice Farman
biplane at the military flight school at Brooklands
. Having completed his pilot's training, he began his aviation duties. He was slightly wounded on 28 December 1915, though details are unknown.
Munday served as an instructor at Cranwell
during 1916; one of his pupils was Leonard Henry Rochford
. Munday was promoted to Flight Lieutenant
on 1 April 1916. He rose to Flight Commander on 5 December 1916. On 26 April 1917, Flight magazine reported that Munday had been accidentally injured in the line of duty.
His first aerial success came on 18 August 1917. His second through sixth victories were over observation balloons; most unusually, Munday downed enemy balloons at night, scoring Britain's first night victory in the process. By 21 February 1918, his victory tally had reached nine. His valour earned Munday a Distinguished Service Cross, gazetted 16 March 1918:
On 20 September 1918, he was also awarded the Belgian Croix de guerre.
Munday was reassigned from occupation duty with the British Army of the Rhine
in Germany to the RAF Depot, Inland Region back in England, about 2 February 1922.
On 27 May 1925, Secretary of State for Air
Samuel Hoare recommended award of the Air Force Cross to Munday; the recommendation read:
On 3 June 1925, Munday was awarded the Air Force Cross as a sixtieth birthday honour from King George V.
On 1 January 1927, he was promoted from Flight Lieutenant to Squadron Leader
.
Richard Burnard Munday married Marie Jose de Reul of Brussels
in her native city on 26 April 1930.
On 5 May 1932, Squadron Leader Munday retired from the Royal Air Force due to ill health. He died on 11 July 1932.
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 scoring nine aerial victories during World War I. He was notable for scoring Britain's first night victory; he also excelled as a balloon buster
Balloon buster
Balloon busters were military pilots known for destroying enemy observation balloons. These pilots were noted for their fearlessness. Seventy-six fighter pilots in World War I were each credited with destroying five or more balloons, and thus were balloon aces....
at the rare feat of shooting down enemy observation balloon
Observation balloon
Observation balloons are balloons that are employed as aerial platforms for intelligence gathering and artillery spotting. Their use began during the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith during World War I, and they continue in limited use today....
s at night.
Early life
Richard Burnard Munday was born in PlymouthPlymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, England on 31 January 1896. He was the eldest son of Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
and Mrs. R. B. Munday of Port Royal, Plymouth.
World War I
Details of Munday's entry into military service are unknown. However, as of 16 February 1915 he lost his probationary status as his rank of Flight Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Air ServiceRoyal Naval Air Service
The Royal Naval Air Service or RNAS was the air arm of the Royal Navy until near the end of the First World War, when it merged with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps to form a new service , the Royal Air Force...
was confirmed on the same day he was awarded Royal Aero Club
Royal Aero Club
The Royal Aero Club is the national co-ordinating body for Air Sport in the United Kingdom.The Aero Club was founded in 1901 by Frank Hedges Butler, his daughter Vera and the Hon Charles Rolls , partly inspired by the Aero Club of France...
Aviator's Certificate No. 1085. He had trained in a Maurice Farman
Maurice Farman
Maurice Alain Farman was a French Grand Prix motor racing champion, an aviator, and an aircraft manufacturer and designer.-Biography:...
biplane at the military flight school at Brooklands
Brooklands
Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England. It opened in 1907, and was the world's first purpose-built motorsport venue, as well as one of Britain's first airfields...
. Having completed his pilot's training, he began his aviation duties. He was slightly wounded on 28 December 1915, though details are unknown.
Munday served as an instructor at Cranwell
RAF Cranwell
RAF Cranwell is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire close to the village of Cranwell, near Sleaford. It is currently commanded by Group Captain Dave Waddington...
during 1916; one of his pupils was Leonard Henry Rochford
Leonard Henry Rochford
Leonard Henry Rochford DSC & Bar, DFC was a British World War I Flying Ace with twenty-nine credited victories.-Involvement in World War I:...
. Munday was promoted to Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
on 1 April 1916. He rose to Flight Commander on 5 December 1916. On 26 April 1917, Flight magazine reported that Munday had been accidentally injured in the line of duty.
His first aerial success came on 18 August 1917. His second through sixth victories were over observation balloons; most unusually, Munday downed enemy balloons at night, scoring Britain's first night victory in the process. By 21 February 1918, his victory tally had reached nine. His valour earned Munday a Distinguished Service Cross, gazetted 16 March 1918:
On 20 September 1918, he was also awarded the Belgian Croix de guerre.
List of aerial victories
See also Aerial victory standards of World War IAerial victory standards of World War I
During World War I, the national air services involved developed their own methods of assessing and assigning credit for aerial victories.The victory scores of the pilots represented at List of World War I flying aces often cannot be definitive, but are based on itemized lists that are the best...
| No. | Date/time | Aircraft | Foe | Result | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 August 1917 @ 1830 hours | Sopwith Triplane Sopwith Triplane The Sopwith Triplane was a British single seat fighter aircraft designed and manufactured by the Sopwith Aviation Company during the First World War. Pilots nicknamed it the Tripehound or simply the Tripe. The Triplane became operational with the Royal Naval Air Service in early 1917 and was... serial number N5421 |
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.... |
Driven down out of control | Henin-Lietard | Victory shared with Charles Dawson Booker Charles Dawson Booker Major Charles Dawson Booker DSC was a World War I fighter ace credited with 29 victories. He was promoted to high rank while relatively young as a result of his gallantry and unswerving dedication to his country.-Early life:Charles Dawson Booker was born to Joseph Dawson and Rachel C... , Edward Crundall Edward Crundall Captain Edward Duncan Crundall was a World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.-World War I:... |
| 2 | 2 September 1917 @ 2000 hours | 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/n B3921 |
Observation balloon Observation balloon Observation balloons are balloons that are employed as aerial platforms for intelligence gathering and artillery spotting. Their use began during the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith during World War I, and they continue in limited use today.... |
Destroyed Balloon buster Balloon busters were military pilots known for destroying enemy observation balloons. These pilots were noted for their fearlessness. Seventy-six fighter pilots in World War I were each credited with destroying five or more balloons, and thus were balloon aces.... |
Quiery la Motte | |
| 3 | 29 September 1917 @ 2200 hours | Sopwith Camel s/n B3921 | Observation balloon | Destroyed | Brebières Brebières Brebières is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A farming and light industrial town located 12 miles east of Arras on the N50 road, at the junction with the D44 and D307, by the banks of the Scarpe river.A celebration of the potato takes... |
First British night victory |
| 4 | 3 October 1917 @ approximately 2300 hours | Sopwith Camel | Observation balloon | Destroyed | Douai Douai -Main sights:Douai's ornate Gothic style belfry was begun in 1380, on the site of an earlier tower. The 80 m high structure includes an impressive carillon, consisting of 62 bells spanning 5 octaves. The originals, some dating from 1391 were removed in 1917 during World War I by the occupying... |
|
| 5 | 7 November 1917 @ 0610 hours | Sopwith Camel s/n B3921 | Observation balloon | Destroyed | North of Meurchin Meurchin Meurchin is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Meurchin is a former coalmining town, nowadays a farming and light industrial town, northeast of Lens, at the junction of the D164 and the D165 roads.... |
|
| 6 | 21 January 1918 @ 1900 hours | Sopwith Camel s/n B6378 | Observation balloon | Destroyed | Godault Noyelles-Godault Noyelles-Godault is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Noyelles-Godault is a former coalmining town, nowadays a light industrial and farming town, east of Lens, at the junction of the A21 autoroute and A1 autoroute.-Population:-Places of... Farm |
|
| 7 | 29 January 1918 @ 1510 hours | Sopwith Camel s/n B6378 | Albatros D.V | Driven down out of control | Beaumont Beaumont -Canada:* Beaumont, Alberta* Lushes Bight – Beaumont – Beaumont North, Newfoundland and Labrador* Beaumont, Quebec- France :The following communes:* Beaumont, Ardèche* Beaumont, Corrèze* Beaumont, Gers* Beaumont, Haute-Loire* Beaumont, Meurthe-et-Moselle... -Auby Auby -Twin towns — Sister cities:Aubergenville is twinned with: Czeladź in Poland-References:* -External links:*... |
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| 8 | 3 February 1918 @ 1230 hours | Sopwith Camel s/n B6378 | Albatros D.V | Driven down out of control | Vitry Vitry Vitry is part of the name of several communes in France:* Vitry-aux-Loges, in the Loiret département* Vitry-en-Artois, in the Pas-de-Calais département* Vitry-en-Charollais, in the Saône-et-Loire département... |
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| 9 | 21 February 1918 @ 1130 hours | Sopwith Camel s/n B7197 | Reconnaissance plane | Driven down out of control | Drocourt Drocourt, Pas-de-Calais Drocourt is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:An ex-coalmining commune, now a light industrial and farming town, situated some southeast of Lens, at the junction of the D919, D40 and D47 roads.... |
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Post World War I
Munday remained in service postwar. On 1 August 1919, in the Royal Air Force revamping, Munday was granted a permanent commission in the rank of major.Munday was reassigned from occupation duty with the British Army of the Rhine
British Army of the Rhine
There have been two formations named British Army of the Rhine . Both were originally occupation forces in Germany, one after the First World War, and the other after the Second World War.-1919–1929:...
in Germany to the RAF Depot, Inland Region back in England, about 2 February 1922.
On 27 May 1925, Secretary of State for Air
Secretary of State for Air
The Secretary of State for Air was a cabinet level British position. The person holding this position was in charge of the Air Ministry. It was created on 10 January 1919 to manage the Royal Air Force...
Samuel Hoare recommended award of the Air Force Cross to Munday; the recommendation read:
On 3 June 1925, Munday was awarded the Air Force Cross as a sixtieth birthday honour from King George V.
On 1 January 1927, he was promoted from Flight Lieutenant to Squadron Leader
Squadron 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...
.
Richard Burnard Munday married Marie Jose de Reul of Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
in her native city on 26 April 1930.
On 5 May 1932, Squadron Leader Munday retired from the Royal Air Force due to ill health. He died on 11 July 1932.