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Charles Woollven

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Charles Henry Chapman Woollven
Born(1897-06-28)28 June 1897
Folkestone, Kent, England
Died7 January 1971(1971-01-07) (aged 73)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Royal Air Force
Years of service1916–1947
RankGroup Captain
UnitDevonshire Regiment
No. 25 Squadron RFC
Battles/warsWorld War I
 • Western Front
World War II
AwardsOrder of the British Empire
Military Cross

Group Captain Charles Henry Chapman Woollven OBE, MC (28 June 1897 – 7 January 1971) was a British World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.[1]

World War I

Woollven was commissioned from Gentlemen Cadet at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, to be a second lieutenant in the Devonshire Regiment, on 26 January 1916.[2] He was promptly seconded to the Royal Flying Corps to begin his flight training, being granted Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate No. 2636 on 31 March,[1] and was appointed a flying officer on 27 May.[3] He joined No. 25 Squadron RFC on 19 June 1916 to fly a F.E.2b two-seater.[4] He scored his first victory on 8 August, driving down a Roland C.II out of control.[1][4]

Woollven was awarded the Military Cross, which was gazetted on 14 November 1916. His citation read:

Second Lieutenant Charles Henry Chapman Woollven, Devonshire Regiment and Royal Flying Corps.
"For conspicuous gallantry in action. He dived down to a low altitude, attacked a train, causing many casualties, and displayed great courage and determination throughout."[5]

He quickly followed this with more aerial victories, destroying two Albatros D.I fighters, on 16 and 23 November.[1] He was appointed a flight commander with the temporary rank of captain on 31 December 1916.[6] On 17 March 1917 he drove down out of control an Albatros D.II fighter, and on 1 May he destroyed an Albatros D.III for his fifth victory.[1][4] On 26 July 1917 Woollven was promoted to lieutenant.[7]

List of aerial victories

Combat record[1]
No. Date/Time Aircraft/
Serial No. 		Opponent Result Location Notes
1 8 August 1916
@ 0640		 F.E.2b
(6991)		 Roland C.II Out of control Don Observer: Lieutenant C. Nelson.
2 16 November 1916
@ 1300		 F.E.2b
(7024)		 Albatros D.I Destroyed Somain Observer: Second Lieutenant C. H. Marchant.
3 23 November 1916
@ 1545		 F.E.2b
(7024)		 Albatros D.I Destroyed East of Oppy Observer: Sergeant G. R. Horrocks.
4 17 March 1917
@ 1100–1130		 F.E.2b
(A5484)		 Albatros D.II Out of control Oppy—Beaumont Observer: Sergeant J. H. Booth.
5 1 May 1917
@ 1800		 F.E.2b
(7003)		 Albatros D.III Destroyed South-east of Fresnoy Observer: Sergeant J. H. Booth.

Inter-war career

On 20 January 1919 Woollven was transferred to the RAF's Administrative Branch,[8] and was granted a permanent commission in the RAF as a captain on 1 August 1919.[9] He served first overseas, as he was posted to the RAF Depot on transfer to the Home Establishment on 21 October 1923.[10] He served at the Inland Area Aircraft Depot at RAF Henlow from 14 January 1924.[11]

On 6 August 1925 he married Ariel Gwynnedd Alice Jeffery at Holy Trinity Church, Paddington.[12]

On 1 January 1931 he was promoted to squadron leader,[13] and on 8 April was posted to No. 4 Flying Training School at RAF Abu Sueir, Egypt,[14] remaining there until 10 October 1933.[15] On 10 November 1934 he was posted to No. 2 Flying Training School at RAF Digby for administrative duties,[16] then to the RAF Record Office at RAF West Ruislip on 11 August 1938.[17] On 29 November 1938 he was promoted to wing commander.[18]

World War II

On 11 June 1942 in the King's Birthday Honours, Woollven, now an acting group captain, was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.[19] He was promoted to the temporary rank of group captain on 1 January 1943,[20] and eventually retired on 15 September 1947 retaining that rank.[21]

References

Notes
  1. ^ a b c d e f "Charles Henry Chapman Woollven". The Aerodrome. 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  2. ^ "No. 29450". The London Gazette. 25 January 1916. p. 1007.
  3. ^ "No. 29625". The London Gazette. 16 June 1916. p. 5984.
  4. ^ a b c Shores, Franks & Guest (1990), p. 390.
  5. ^ "No. 29824". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 November 1916. p. 11071.
  6. ^ "No. 29899". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 January 1917. p. 472.
  7. ^ "No. 30552". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 March 1918. p. 2691.
  8. ^ "No. 31223". The London Gazette. 11 March 1919. p. 3297.
  9. ^ "No. 31486". The London Gazette. 1 August 1919. p. 9867.
  10. ^ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XV (778): 731. 22 November 1923. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  11. ^ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XVI (785): 27. 10 January 1924. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  12. ^ "Personals: Married". Flight. XVII (871): 569. 3 September 1925. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  13. ^ "No. 33675". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1930. p. 17.
  14. ^ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XXIII (1181): 823. 14 August 1931. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  15. ^ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XXV (1296): 1083. 26 October 1933. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  16. ^ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XXVI (1352): 1263. 22 November 1934. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  17. ^ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XXXIV (1549): 189. 1 September 1938. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  18. ^ "No. 34575". The London Gazette. 29 November 1938. p. 7533.
  19. ^ "No. 35586". The London Gazette. 5 June 1942. p. 2487.
  20. ^ "No. 35855". The London Gazette. 5 January 1943. p. 216.
  21. ^ "No. 38071". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 September 1947. p. 4335.
Bibliography
  • Shores, Christopher F.; Franks, Norman; Guest, Russell F. (1990). Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help); Unknown parameter |lastauthoramp= ignored (|name-list-style= suggested) (help)
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