Walter H. Longton
Encyclopedia
Captain Walter Hunt Longton was an English World War I flying ace
credited with 11 confirmed aerial victories. Most unusually for a British or Commonwealth
ace, all his victories resulted in the destruction of his foe.
Postwar, he became very involved in air racing, aviation exhibitions, and various competitive air events while continuing his military aviation career.
Longton was commissioned a temporary second lieutenant in Royal Flying Corps
. On 12 July 1916, he was appointed a Flying Officer in the RFC; such appointments customarily were made at the end of pilot's training.
By mid-1918, he was posted to 85 Squadron as a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a pilot. On 3 June 1918, he was awarded the Air Force Cross by King George V upon the royal birthday. He would not score his first aerial victory until 7 July 1918, when he destroyed a German Fokker D.VII
fighter plane over Doulieu. He destroyed three more enemy planes in July—a Hannover two-seater reconnaissance craft on the 10th, an Albatros two-seater on the 14th, and a Pfalz D.III
on the 24th.
On 5 August, he became an ace, setting another Albatros recon plane aflame. His next success, on 22 August 1918, not only gained him another victory, but was cited as a major reason for his receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross:
Longton would next score on 8 October, when he destroyed an opposing observation balloon
south of Busigny
. His dearth of victories in September is at least partially explained by the text of his award for a second Distinguished Flying Cross (which was awarded to him as a Bar):
Between 29th September and 9th October this officer carried out twelve tactical reconnaissances, bringing back most valuable information; he also displayed great gallantry in attacking enemy troops on the ground. On 9th October, when on a low patrol, he observed a machine-gun nest which appeared to be the sole obstacle to our cavalry advance. Having informed the cavalry and field artillery of the situation, he co-operated with the former in their attack, and, after the enemy had been driven out, pursued them with machine-gun fire as they retreated.
Longton would finish October with a rush of victories. On the 14th, he destroyed a Fokker D.VII
over Wassigny
. On the 29th, he destroyed another Fokker D.VII at 1430 hours; half an hour later, he teamed with Thomas M. Harries
and H. V. Evans to destroy an enemy reconnaissance two-seater, scoring a win for each flier. The following day, Longton closed out his victory roll with the destruction of a Fokker D.VII over Marville
.
Longton stayed in the Royal Air Force, and was a participant in the RAF Pageant at Hendon
on 3 July 1920. A photo in Flight Magazine shows him seated in a Sopwith Camel adorned with Charlie Chaplin
's Little Tramp
on the side of its cockpit. At one point, Longton flew aerobatics, to much acclaim. He also competed in an air race but did not finish.
Longton would participate in air exhibitions, races, and trials of various sorts through the 1920s right up until the year of his death. Accounts of his feats are scattered throughout the aviation press. A few examples:
Longton was a competitor in the Seventh Aerial Derby
on 7 August 1922; however, the relay race in which he entered was cancelled due to a preliminary accident to one of the competitors.
In 1923, Longton flew in the Lympne light aircraft trials
in a Wren
, competing for the consumption prize. In mid-1923, he won the Grosvenor Challenge Cup air race in a Sopwith Gnu
.
On 3 July 1925, he flew a Martinsyde
in the Fourth Annual King's Cup
but retired early on.
His racing and trials work seem not to have hurt his professional prospects. On 1 January 1924, he was promoted from Flight Lieutenant to Squadron Leader
.
In early 1927, Longton's aircraft was peppered by shotgun fire from a farmer while Longton was racing at a low altitude. On 6 June 1927, he was killed in a flying accident at Bournemouth, Dorset, England. He was buried under a headstone supplied by his wife, in Upavon
Cemetery. He is also memorialized by a plaque erected by his old aviation comrades in 58 Squadron and Netheravon
.
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 11 confirmed aerial victories. Most unusually for a British or Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
ace, all his victories resulted in the destruction of his foe.
Postwar, he became very involved in air racing, aviation exhibitions, and various competitive air events while continuing his military aviation career.
World War I
On 29 April 1916, PrivatePrivate (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
Longton was commissioned a temporary second lieutenant in 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 12 July 1916, he was appointed a Flying Officer in the RFC; such appointments customarily were made at the end of pilot's training.
By mid-1918, he was posted to 85 Squadron as a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a pilot. On 3 June 1918, he was awarded the Air Force Cross by King George V upon the royal birthday. He would not score his first aerial victory until 7 July 1918, when he destroyed a German 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...
fighter plane over Doulieu. He destroyed three more enemy planes in July—a Hannover two-seater reconnaissance craft on the 10th, an Albatros two-seater on the 14th, and 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 ...
on the 24th.
On 5 August, he became an ace, setting another Albatros recon plane aflame. His next success, on 22 August 1918, not only gained him another victory, but was cited as a major reason for his receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross:
Longton would next score on 8 October, when he destroyed an opposing 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....
south of Busigny
Busigny
-References:*...
. His dearth of victories in September is at least partially explained by the text of his award for a second Distinguished Flying Cross (which was awarded to him as a Bar):
Between 29th September and 9th October this officer carried out twelve tactical reconnaissances, bringing back most valuable information; he also displayed great gallantry in attacking enemy troops on the ground. On 9th October, when on a low patrol, he observed a machine-gun nest which appeared to be the sole obstacle to our cavalry advance. Having informed the cavalry and field artillery of the situation, he co-operated with the former in their attack, and, after the enemy had been driven out, pursued them with machine-gun fire as they retreated.
Longton would finish October with a rush of victories. On the 14th, he destroyed 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...
over Wassigny
Wassigny
Wassigny is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-Population:...
. On the 29th, he destroyed another Fokker D.VII at 1430 hours; half an hour later, he teamed with Thomas M. Harries
Thomas M. Harries
Lieutenant Thomas Montagu Harries was a Scottish World War I flying ace credited with 11 aerial victories. He was the second scoring ace using the Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter; he then also became an ace on the Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a.-World War I:...
and H. V. Evans to destroy an enemy reconnaissance two-seater, scoring a win for each flier. The following day, Longton closed out his victory roll with the destruction of a Fokker D.VII over Marville
Marville, Meuse
Marville is a commune in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.An airbase built by NATO hosted fighter squadrons from the RCAF from 1952 to 1967.-Geography:...
.
Post World War I
On 16 April 1919, Longton was demobilized when he ceased to be employed by the Royal Air Force, and gave up his commission. On 3 June 1919, Longton was awarded a second bar to his Distinguished Flying Cross "for services rendered during the war." He then re-enlisted and was granted a permanent commission as a lieutenant on 1 August 1919. On 1 November 1919, he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant.Longton stayed in the Royal Air Force, and was a participant in the RAF Pageant at Hendon
Hendon
Hendon is a London suburb situated northwest of Charing Cross.-History:Hendon was historically a civil parish in the county of Middlesex. The manor is described in Domesday , but the name, 'Hendun' meaning 'at the highest hill', is earlier...
on 3 July 1920. A photo in Flight Magazine shows him seated in a Sopwith Camel adorned with Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
's Little Tramp
Little Tramp
Little Tramp is a musical with a book by David Pomeranz and Steven David Horwich and music and lyrics by David Pomeranz.Based on the life of comedian Charles Chaplin and named after his most famous character, it opens at the 1971 Academy Awards ceremony at which the aging star, long exiled from the...
on the side of its cockpit. At one point, Longton flew aerobatics, to much acclaim. He also competed in an air race but did not finish.
Longton would participate in air exhibitions, races, and trials of various sorts through the 1920s right up until the year of his death. Accounts of his feats are scattered throughout the aviation press. A few examples:
Longton was a competitor in the Seventh Aerial Derby
Air racing
- History :The first ever air race was held in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1908. The participants piloted the only 4 airships in the U.S. around a course located at Forest Park...
on 7 August 1922; however, the relay race in which he entered was cancelled due to a preliminary accident to one of the competitors.
In 1923, Longton flew in the Lympne light aircraft trials
Lympne light aircraft trials
The Lympne Light Aircraft Trials were held to encourage the development of practical light aircraft for private ownership, with a strong but not exclusive emphasis on fuel economy. They were held in 1923, 1924 and 1926. Each year saw different restrictions on engine size, framed initially in terms...
in a Wren
Wren
The wrens are passerine birds in the mainly New World family Troglodytidae. There are approximately 80 species of true wrens in approximately 20 genera....
, competing for the consumption prize. In mid-1923, he won the Grosvenor Challenge Cup air race in a Sopwith Gnu
Sopwith Gnu
-References:* A.J. Jackson, British Civil Aircraft since 1919 - Volume 3, Putnam, London 1988, ISBN 0 85177 818 6* The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft , Orbis Publishing....
.
On 3 July 1925, he flew a Martinsyde
Martinsyde
Martinsyde was a British aircraft and motorcycle manufacturer between 1908 and 1922, when they were forced into liquidation by a factory fire.-History:...
in the Fourth Annual King's Cup
King's Cup
The King's Cup is an international football competition held in Thailand. It has been played annually since 1968, with the exception of 1983, 1985 and 2008. In some years, the competition has featured club or invitational teams as well as international sides....
but retired early on.
His racing and trials work seem not to have hurt his professional prospects. On 1 January 1924, 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...
.
In early 1927, Longton's aircraft was peppered by shotgun fire from a farmer while Longton was racing at a low altitude. On 6 June 1927, he was killed in a flying accident at Bournemouth, Dorset, England. He was buried under a headstone supplied by his wife, in Upavon
Upavon
Upavon is a rural village in the English County of Wiltshire, England. As its name suggests, it is on the upper portions of the River Avon which runs from the north to the south through the village. It is situated about south of Pewsey, about southeast of the market town of Devizes, and about ...
Cemetery. He is also memorialized by a plaque erected by his old aviation comrades in 58 Squadron and Netheravon
Netheravon
Netheravon is a village and civil parish on the River Avon, about north of the town of Amesbury in Wiltshire.-Notable people:The writer Frank Sawyer , although born in Bulford, spent most of his life in Netheravon as river keeper River Avon and died on the banks of the river near the parish church...
.