Arthur Rex Hurden Noss
Born(1897-01-22)22 January 1897
Hornsey, London, England
Died15 September 1917(1917-09-15) (aged 20) (DOW)
Buried
Zuydcoote Military Cemetery, Nord, France
51°03′40″N 2°29′05″E / 51.06111°N 2.48472°E / 51.06111; 2.48472
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
RankSecond Lieutenant
UnitNo. 48 Squadron RFC
AwardsMilitary Cross

Second Lieutenant Arthur Rex Hurden Noss MC (22 January 1897 – 15 September 1917) was a British World War I flying ace credited with nine aerial victories. He won a Military Cross as Keith Park's gunner, and was killed in a flying accident shortly thereafter.[1]

Early life

Arthur Rex Hurden Noss was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Alfred Noss of Crouch End. He was educated at Kent Coast College, Herne Bay, winning eight athletic prizes in his final year.[2]

World War I

Noss began his military service as a gunner (regimental number 625052) in the Honourable Artillery Company.[3]

On 4 April 1917, Noss was commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant on probation.[4] Noss was on the General List of the Royal Flying Corps when he was appointed as a flying officer (observer) on 20 June 1917. His seniority date of appointment was set at 16 May 1917, indicating he began actual duties as an observer/gunner then.[5]

Noss was assigned to No. 48 Squadron as an observer/gunner in Bristol F.2 two-seater fighters in March 1917.[6] He scored his first aerial victory on 27 May 1917, and would score one more before pairing up with Keith Park. On 19 July, this aircrew suffered a magneto failure and a crash-landing that injured Noss.[7] On 2 August 1917, Flight magazine reported Noss had been wounded.[8]

Noss and Park would go on to score seven victories in August 1917, with an outstanding performance on the 17th. That was the day that Park went to the rescue of a Sopwith Camel being attacked by three German Albatros D.IIIs. In the process of driving the three Germans away, Noss and Park were assailed by two more of the enemy. Noss fired at the attacking pair; when they overran his fighter, Park took his turn and shot them both down. At that point, another trio of Germans attacked; Noss spun one of them out with machine gun fire. Park chased after the falling German; still another three Germans attacked, but they also overran the British crew. Park then saw a second Sopwith Camel under attack from a German, and pumped 100 rounds of machine gun ammunition into the German from 50 yards range. The German spun out, for the British crew's fourth win of the day.[9] They would win the Military Cross for this action; the award was announced on 26 September 1917.[10]

Noss family grave in Highgate Cemetery

Second Lieutenant Arthur Rex Noss was injured in a crash on 15 September 1917, died as a result of his injuries that evening or the following day.[6][11] He is buried in plot I. E. 1, Zuydcoote Military Cemetery, Nord, France.[12]

Noss's Military Cross was gazetted posthumously on 9 January 1918. His citation read:

Temporary Second Lieutenant Arthur Rex Hurden Noss, General List & R.F.C.
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During an engagement with several large hostile formations the two machines with which he was patrolling were put out of action. In spite, however, of being left alone he continued to attack, and engaged the enemy in so determined a manner that he and his pilot between them destroyed one and drove three others down completely out of control. He has performed several other fine feats and has at all times set a most inspiring example by his dash and tenacity."[13][14]

He is also commemorated on the family grave of his grandparents on the west side of Highgate Cemetery.

List of aerial victories

Combat record[1][6]
No. Date/time Aircraft Foe Result Location Notes
1 26 May 1917
@ 1945 hours		 Bristol F.2 Fighter
serial number A7117		 Albatros D.III Driven down out of control Southeast of Douai Pilot: H. M. Frazer
2 11 June 1917
@ 1100 hours		 Bristol F.2 Fighter
s/n A7137		 German two-seater airplane Destroyed Vitry Pilot: H. Smithers
3 12 August 1917
@ 1045 hours		 Bristol F.2 Fighter
s/n A7176		 Albatros D.III Driven down out of control South of Slype Pilot: Keith Park
4 16 August 1917
@ 1130 hours		 Bristol F.2 Fighter
s/n A7182		 DFW reconnaissance plane Driven down out of control Slype Pilot: Keith Park
5 17 August 1917
@ 0655 hours		 Bristol F.2 Fighter
s/n A7182		 Albatros D.V Driven down out of control West of Slype Pilot: Keith Park
6 17 August 1917
@ 0655 hours		 Bristol F.2 Fighter
s/n A7182		 Albatros D.V Destroyed West of Slype Pilot: Keith Park
7 17 August 1917
@ 0715 hours		 Bristol F.2 Fighter
s/n A7182		 Albatros D.V Driven down out of control Off Slype Pilot: Keith Park
8 17 August 1917
@ 0725 hours		 Bristol F.2 Fighter
s/n A7182		 Albatros D.V Driven down out of control Slype Pilot: Keith Park
9 25 August 1917
@ 2000 hours		 Bristol F.2 Fighter
s/n A7213		 Albatros D.V Set afire; destroyed South of Slype Pilot: Keith Park

References

Citations
  1. 1 2 "Arthur Rex Hurden Noss". The Aerodrome. 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  2. ↑ "Personals: Casualties". Flight. IX (458): 1035. 4 October 1917. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  3. ↑ "WO 372/15/12927: Medal card of Noss, Arthur Rex Hurden, General List attached Royal Flying Corps". The National Archives. 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  4. ↑ "No. 30035". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 April 1917. p. 3925.
  5. ↑ "No. 30181". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 July 1917. pp. 7050–7051.
  6. 1 2 3 Franks et.al. (1997), p.40.
  7. ↑ Guttman (2007), pp.13–14.
  8. ↑ "The Roll of Honour: Wounded". Flight. IX (449): 786. 2 August 1917. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  9. ↑ Guttman (2007), p.14.
  10. ↑ "No. 30308". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 September 1917. p. 9978.
  11. ↑ "Died of Wounds". Flight. IX (458): 1028. 4 October 1917. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  12. ↑ "Casualty Details: Noss, Arthur Rex Hurden". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  13. ↑ "No. 30466". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 January 1918. p. 632.
  14. ↑ "No. 30530". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 February 1918. p. 2163.
Bibliography
  • 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.
  • Guttman, Jon (2007). Bristol F2 Fighter Aces of World War I. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-201-1.
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