Welcome!
Welcome to my web site about 66 Squadron Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force in the First World War. I have been researching 66 Squadron for about 14 years, and this web site is the result of some of my research. My main interests are the Officers and Other Ranks who served with 66 Squadron during WW1. They came from a wide range of backgrounds and many came from other countries of the Empire. Canada is very well represented, along with Australia, New Zealand, U.S.A., South Africa, Ireland and Argentina. The Officers were in the main quite young, most were born between 1890-1895, so in 1918 they were aged between 23 and 28. There were some notable exceptions, E V ffrench and F D C Gore to name two, both of Australian backgrounds.
The enlisted mens age varied quite a lot with men born in the mid 1880’s through 1896. The majority of the enlisted men were tradesmen such as carpenters, welders, riggers, airframe and engine fitters, electricians, others were in a support role, cooks, batmen, drivers etc.
Sixty six squadron was also unusual as three of the pilots who flew with the squadron were awarded the Victoria Cross, two with other squadrons after service with 66 and one whilst serving with 66. They were:
Englishman Capt. James McCudden V.C., D.S.O. and Bar, M.C. and Bar, M.M., and Croix de Guerre, served with 66 for a few weeks in the summer of 1917 flying the squadron Sopwith Scouts. He was awarded the VC whilst serving with 56 squadron in April 1918 only to die a few weeks later.
Canadian Major William G. Barker V.C., D.S.O. and Bar, M.C. and two Bars, C.C., Legion d’honour, Croix de Guerra, Medal d’Argento was Canada’s most highly decorated member of the RFC/RAF. He served with 66 as a flight commander from April 1918 until posted to 139 Squadron as Commanding Office in July. He returned to Home Establishment and was later sent to France where, whilst flying a Sopwith Snipe on the 27 October 1918 of 201 Squadron he was involved in combat and awarded the VC.
Finally Englishman Lt. Alan Jerrard was awarded a V.C. for the action he took part in with Capt. Peter Carpenter D.S.O. and Lt. Harold R. Eycott-Martin all of 66 squadron on the 30 March 1918 when attacking Austrian Mansue aerodrome.
After the war some of the men would return to their pre war employment, some including John Whittaker, Harry Goode and Owen Boyd stayed in the RAF, only to die in colonial and other wars including WW2, Richard Ryan helped found a new company in aviation, which grew into a major international airline. Gordon Apps joined the fledgling Canadian Air Force and was involved in the photographic mapping of that country. Others retained a link to the forces, Robert Capon retired from the RAF in 1925 after serving with the Reserve. He became the Superintendent of Scientific Research at Farnborough, Cecil Morley joined the Civil Works Staff eventually serving in Germany during the 1950’s Cold War. The biographies section will be added to as time permits.
The squadron was also unusual for the esprit de corps that was generated when John Whittaker took over command in the winter of 1917-18. He introduced a squadron magazine called “Clickerty-Click”. Inter-squadron sports were organized including, Water Polo, Football, Tennis and Cricket, and no doubt some of the men helped with the theatrical productions put on in 1918 by 34 Squadron.
Other sections that will be amended and finished include the serials section, officers and other ranks information. If you have any constructive comments, photographs or documents to lend or any other information, please get in touch with me, through the link provided on the opening page. I would be pleased to hear from any relatives of any one who served with 66 at any time during WW1. Please visit my help page, you might be able to help answer some of the questions posed and do not forget to sign my guest book.
Update 20 September 2007
The following entries have been updated or amended in the light of new research.
New biography and photographs about little known pilot Arthur J Howell. Other biographies that have been up dated include; John M Warnock, more on his WW2 service, Darrell J Tepoorten, more on his early flying training. Hillard Brooke Bell, corrections and minor up dates. The biography about Pat O’Brien is being re written after new material came to light and I hope to post this in the near future.
Update 09 May 2007
Harold Hindle James
Recent research has centred on the strange case of Harold Hindle James. James died in St Catherine’s hospital, Malta on 2 February 1969 and was buried two days later.
James retired from the RAF in 1931 and awarded an OBE. He had at one time been posted to HQ Iraq Command at Hinaidi as part of the Air Staff Intelligence section. It appears that James had been living in Cairo due to his ill health; during the Israeli - Egyptian six day war of June 1967. According to reports by James the Egyptian authorities arrested, tortured him, and accused him of being a spy, at one point they tried to get him to sign a false confession. The Egyptians ransacked his flat and many of his possessions went missing. James returned to the UK and was residing in Tavistock during part of 1968 and went to Malta for the winter, where he died.
Officer’s Records
Further information has been added to the majority of records.
Enlisted Men
Many “new” names have been added and the majority have an entry against them.
Information on 228 known names is nearly finished with information needed on nine men and four Manchester Regt. who may have been “passing through” the books?
Men’s records updated include James S Ackrill’s date and cause of death on 26 April 1933 when he drove into an unlit parked lorry. Ackrill and a passenger Muriel E W Choppin, aged ten years were killed.
If anyone has any additional information please get in touch through the e-mail link or the “contact me” link at the bottom of the page.
Update 16 January 2007
Recent research has revealed that at least three former 66 Squadron officers, including VC winner Alan Jerrard, served in the North Russian campaign of 1919-20. NS Taylor crashed Camel N6825 on 13 August 1919 at Koivisto, and FC Vincent went missing near Riga in 1920. Any additional information would be appreciated.
Walbanke Pritt
Recent research has uncovered the date and cause of his death, and also some photos of him aged about six!
Robert Oxspring
I now know his date of death, and the location of his grave near Leeds.
Updates have been made to information held for the following officers:
G Round. H Row, M Rowat, A Rudge, E Salthouse,A Sevastopulo, C Sharpe, D Sheehan, A Shirley, A Sissing, C Smith, R Stedman, S Stretton, C Stuart, A Sutcliffe, F Symondson, A Jerrard, P Taylor, N Taylor, F Wilkins, J Warter, R Wilson, F Vincent, F Winby, A Yates and W Young.
Enlisted Men
Research into known names is now nearly finished, with basic information only required on 14 men, four of whom were Manchester Regiment and may therefore have been just passing through the books. Updated records include cause of death for James Ackrill in 1933, and Albert Harper, who died in 1918 and is buried near Bedford.
