Ronald Malcolm Fletcher
Encyclopedia
Ronald Malcolm Fletcher DFM
(22 February 1899 – 20 January 1952) was an English World War I
observer/gunner ace in two-seater fighters who, in conjunction with his pilot, Lt. S.F.H. Thompson, gained 26 confirmed victories (16 destroyed, 10 'out of control'). He was notable for the fact that all but one of these victories were over enemy fighter planes.
from the 30th Training Reserve Battalion in November 1917, Fletcher was teamed with pilot Samuel Frederick Henry Thompson
in May 1918. Thompson already had scored three victories. The team of Sergeant Fletcher and Lieutenant Thompson was to become a deadly one; Fletcher scored all but one of his 26 victories flying in the rear seat of Bristol F.2bs flown by Thompson. In turn, Thompson would become the leading ace of 22 Squadron
with 30 victories.
The new team got off to immediate success; on 16 May 1918, they destroyed three German Pfalz D.III
fighters in ten minutes. Five days later, they destroyed another Pfalz and drove one down out of control, and Fletcher was an ace. Fletcher got two more wins in May, over German Albatros D.V
s. June then became a succession of multiple victory days—two each on the 1st and 2nd, three on the 5th, and two more on the 23rd, to end the month with a count of 16 wins.
There was a lapse in his tally until 8 August, when he shot down a Fokker Dr.I
. He then tripled on the 13th and doubled on the 27th. His final four victories came in September, including yet another double on the 5th.
The final list of 26 victories with Thompson over German fighters was an impressive one. Three were shot down in flames—an Albatros D.V
, a Pfalz D.III
, and a Fokker D.VII
. Thirteen others were claimed destroyed 13–four Pfalz D.III
s, five Albatros D.V
s, two Fokker Dr.I
s, and two Fokker D.VII
s. All other victories were classified as "driven down out of control".
The Thompson/Fletcher team thus destroyed the equivalent of more than an entire German fighter squadron. Research suggests Thompson claimed at least 18 of their 26 victories with his front gun, and Fletcher's personal score (taking into account claims with other pilots) was at least 11.
Fletcher became a flight cadet and was commissioned in October 1918. He was belatedly awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal
on 2 November 1918; the medal's citation still referred to him as a sergeant. The citation also noted Fletcher had seven solo kills since 21 May 1918. He left the military on 28 February 1919.
in March 1941 on a wartime commission in the RAF Volunteer Reserve, and served in the Air Training Corps. Fletcher died in Dore, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England on 20 January 1952.
Distinguished Flying Medal
The Distinguished Flying Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force and the other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active...
(22 February 1899 – 20 January 1952) was an English 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...
observer/gunner ace in two-seater fighters who, in conjunction with his pilot, Lt. S.F.H. Thompson, gained 26 confirmed victories (16 destroyed, 10 'out of control'). He was notable for the fact that all but one of these victories were over enemy fighter planes.
Aerial Service
Attached to the Royal Flying CorpsRoyal 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...
from the 30th Training Reserve Battalion in November 1917, Fletcher was teamed with pilot Samuel Frederick Henry Thompson
Samuel Frederick Henry Thompson
Captain Samuel Frederick Henry "Siffy" Thompson MC DFC was a World War I two-seater fighter ace who, in conjunction with his observer-gunners, was credited with 30 kills . He was shot down and killed in action September 1918...
in May 1918. Thompson already had scored three victories. The team of Sergeant Fletcher and Lieutenant Thompson was to become a deadly one; Fletcher scored all but one of his 26 victories flying in the rear seat of Bristol F.2bs flown by Thompson. In turn, Thompson would become the leading ace of 22 Squadron
No. 22 Squadron RAF
No. 22 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Sea King HAR.3 and HAR.3A at three stations in the southern United Kingdom. The squadron was originally formed in 1915 as an aerial reconnaissance unit of the Royal Flying Corps serving on the Western Front during First World War...
with 30 victories.
The new team got off to immediate success; on 16 May 1918, they destroyed three German Pfalz D.III
Pfalz D.III
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962. ISBN 0-93385-271-1.* Grosz, Peter M. Pfalz D.IIIa . Berkhamsted, Herts, UK: Albatros Publications, 1995. ISBN 0-94841-425-1.* Guttman, Jon. Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1 ...
fighters in ten minutes. Five days later, they destroyed another Pfalz and drove one down out of control, and Fletcher was an ace. Fletcher got two more wins in May, over German 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....
s. June then became a succession of multiple victory days—two each on the 1st and 2nd, three on the 5th, and two more on the 23rd, to end the month with a count of 16 wins.
There was a lapse in his tally until 8 August, when he shot down a Fokker Dr.I
Fokker Dr.I
The Fokker Dr.I Dreidecker was a World War I fighter aircraft built by Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. The Dr.I saw widespread service in the spring of 1918...
. He then tripled on the 13th and doubled on the 27th. His final four victories came in September, including yet another double on the 5th.
The final list of 26 victories with Thompson over German fighters was an impressive one. Three were shot down in flames—an 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....
, a Pfalz D.III
Pfalz D.III
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962. ISBN 0-93385-271-1.* Grosz, Peter M. Pfalz D.IIIa . Berkhamsted, Herts, UK: Albatros Publications, 1995. ISBN 0-94841-425-1.* Guttman, Jon. Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1 ...
, and a Fokker D.VII
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...
. Thirteen others were claimed destroyed 13–four Pfalz D.III
Pfalz D.III
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962. ISBN 0-93385-271-1.* Grosz, Peter M. Pfalz D.IIIa . Berkhamsted, Herts, UK: Albatros Publications, 1995. ISBN 0-94841-425-1.* Guttman, Jon. Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1 ...
s, five 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....
s, two Fokker Dr.I
Fokker Dr.I
The Fokker Dr.I Dreidecker was a World War I fighter aircraft built by Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. The Dr.I saw widespread service in the spring of 1918...
s, and two Fokker D.VII
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...
s. All other victories were classified as "driven down out of control".
The Thompson/Fletcher team thus destroyed the equivalent of more than an entire German fighter squadron. Research suggests Thompson claimed at least 18 of their 26 victories with his front gun, and Fletcher's personal score (taking into account claims with other pilots) was at least 11.
Fletcher became a flight cadet and was commissioned in October 1918. He was belatedly awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal
Distinguished Flying Medal
The Distinguished Flying Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force and the other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active...
on 2 November 1918; the medal's citation still referred to him as a sergeant. The citation also noted Fletcher had seven solo kills since 21 May 1918. He left the military on 28 February 1919.
Post World War I
Fletcher married Elsie Annie Newborn on 23 April 1924 in the Wesleyan Methodist church in Priory Place, Doncaster, England. He returned to the Royal Air ForceRoyal 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...
in March 1941 on a wartime commission in the RAF Volunteer Reserve, and served in the Air Training Corps. Fletcher died in Dore, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England on 20 January 1952.