Robert Barbour (RAF officer)
Robert Lyle McKendrick Barbour | |
---|---|
Born | Scotland | 31 August 1895
Died | 1980 (aged 84–85) Devon, England |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | British Army Royal Air Force |
Rank | Group Captain |
Unit | King's Own Scottish Borderers Royal Flying Corps No. 205 Squadron RAF |
Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross Air Force Cross |
Group Captain Robert Lyle McKendrick Barbour DFC AFC was a Scottish World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.[1][2]
Biography
Barbour attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, as a Gentlemen Cadet, from where he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the King's Own Scottish Borderers on 27 October 1916.[3] On 22 December 1917 he was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps, receiving promotion to Lieutenant on 27 April 1918.[1] As a pilot with 205 Squadron RAF, he shot down six enemy aircraft between June and October 1918, the first three in a DH.4, and the second three in a DH.9A.[1][2]
Barbour resigned his army commission on 1 August 1919 in order to accept a permanent commission in the Royal Air Force.[1] He was promoted from Flying Officer to Flight Lieutenant in December 1925,[4] and was awarded the Air Force Cross in June 1928.[5] He received further promotions; to Squadron Leader on 1 October 1934,[6] to Wing Commander on 31 December 1937,[7] and to (Temporary) Group Captain on 1 September 1940.[8]
Honours and awards
- Distinguished Flying Cross
- Lieutenant Robert Lyle McKendrick Barbour
- This officer has carried out twenty-nine bombing raids and forty-seven photographic reconnaissances, displaying at all times marked courage and clear judgment. On 9th October, when on reconnaissance, he was attacked by ten Fokkers and forced to retire; on the disappearance of the Fokkers he again crossed the line; he was then attacked by three Fokkers, but these he drove off, shooting down one, which was seen to crash.[9]
References
- ^ a b c d "Robert Lyle McKendrick Barbour". theaerodrome.com. 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
- ^ a b Franks, Norman; Guest, Russell F.; Alegi, Gregory (1997). Above the War Fronts: The British Two-seater Bomber Pilot and Observer Aces, the British Two-seater Fighter Observer Aces, and the Belgian, Italian, Austro-Hungarian and Russian Fighter Aces, 1914-1918. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 978-1-898697-56-5. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
- ^ "No. 29803". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=
(help)). 24 October 1916. - ^ "No. 33119". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=
(help)). 29 December 1925. - ^ "No. 14450". The Edinburgh Gazette. 8 June 1928.
- ^ "No. 34092". The London Gazette. 2 October 1934.
- ^ "No. 34468". The London Gazette. 31 December 1937.
- ^ "No. 34949". The London Gazette. 20 September 1940.
- ^ "No. 31170". The London Gazette. 7 February 1919.