D'Arcy Fowlis Hilton
D'Arcy Fowlis Hilton | |
|---|---|
| Born | 17 October 1889 Toronto, Canada |
| Died | October 1973 (aged 83-84) St Catharines, Ontario, Canada |
| Allegiance | George V of the British Empire |
| Service | Aviation |
| Years of service | 1917 - ca 1918 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | No. 29 Squadron RAF |
| Awards | Military Cross, Air Force Cross |
Lieutenant D'Arcy Fowlis Hilton was an American World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.[1]
Early life
D'Arcy Fowlis Hilton was the son of Francis Alfred and Isabel Grace Milligan Hilton.[2] Though born in Canada, he called Michigan home; he also lived in Youngstown, New York.[3]
On 28 January 1914, he married Gladys Caroline Woodruff in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada.[2][4] They separated in 1916, after a son was born, and he went to England and joined the Royal Flying Corps in November. He was commissioned a second lieutenant on 21 November 1916.[2]
World War I service
Hilton earned his Royal Aero Club Certificate No. 4717 on 17 May 1917. He was then assigned to fly a Nieuport 17 with 29 Squadron. On 31 July 1917, he destroyed an Albatros D.V fighter and an observation balloon. Over the next three and a half months, he proceeded to drive down out of control five more D.Vs and an observation plane, with the last victory coming on 13 November 1917.[1] He was gazetted the Military Cross on 17 December 1917.[5][6] Following his tour of combat, Fowler became a flight instructor in both England and Canada, and earned the Air Force Cross in the process.[7]
Post war
Gladys Caroline Woodruff sued him for divorce via act of legislature in 1922.[8] He was then estranged from his family until early in World War II when his son was killed in aerial combat.[1]
Honors and awards
Military Cross (MC)
2nd/Lt. D'Arcy Fowlis Hilton, R.F.C., Spec. Res.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in attacking enemy aircraft and engaging troops on the ground. While on patrol he attacked single-handed six two-seater machines, forcing one down and driving the rest back. He has driven down five other machines. Supplement to the London Gazette, 23 April 1918 (30645/4871)[1][9]
Endnotes
- ^ a b c d Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914-1918. p. 44.
- ^ a b c http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/hilton.php Retrieved 22 February 2010.
- ^ American Aces of World War 1. p. 42.
- ^ http://www.elginogs.ca/newsindexes/timesjournal/sttdailytimes1914jan&feb.htm Retrieved 22 February 2010.
- ^ http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30431/supplements/13181/page.pdf Retrieved 22 February 2010.
- ^ http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30431/supplements/13182/page.pdf Retrieved 22 February 2010.
- ^ Nieuport Aces of World War 1.. p. 22.
- ^ https://archive.org/stream/JSCe59_1922_uoft/JSCe59_1922_uoft_djvu.txt Retrieved 22 February 2010.
- ^ http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/issues/30645/supplements/4871/page.pdf Retrieved 22 February 2010.
References
- Nieuport Aces of World War 1. Norman Franks. Osprey Publishing, 2000. ISBN 1-85532-961-1, ISBN 978-1-85532-961-4.
- American Aces of World War 1 Harry Dempsey. Osprey Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84176-375-6, ISBN 978-1-84176-375-0.
- Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914-1918 Norman L. R. Franks, Frank W. Bailey. Grub Street, 1992. ISBN 0-948817-54-2, ISBN 978-0-948817-54-0.