Frederick Cecil Stanton | |
|---|---|
| Born | 30 October 1895 Emberton, Buckinghamshire, England |
| Died | 20 March 1979 (aged 83) Newport, Pembrokeshire, Wales |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | British Army Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1914–1919 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry No. 24 Squadron RAF No. 22 Squadron RAF |
| Battles/wars | World War I • Western Front |
| Awards | Distinguished Conduct Medal Croix de guerre (France) |
Lieutenant Frederick Cecil Stanton DCM (30 October 1895 – 20 March 1979) was a British World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.[1]
Military service
Stanton was born in Emberton, Buckinghamshire, the son of William Charles and Kate Dunkley Stanton, who ran the post office there. He enlisted on 2 September 1914 into the 6th Battalion of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, and served in France from 22 July 1915 to 16 March 1917.[1]
On 24 November 1916 he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. His citation read:
- 12636 Lance Corporal F. C. Stanton, Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.
- "For conspicuous gallantry in action. When the enemy began sniping at his men from a trench to his right rear, he immediately took some of his men and bombed the enemy down this trench, thereby allowing the neighbouring troops to capture the position."[2]
Stanton was promoted to sergeant on 3 September 1916,[1] and on 1 May 1917 he was given permission to wear the Croix de guerre awarded to him by France.[3]
He then joined the Royal Flying Corps as a cadet, being commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant (on probation) on 26 September 1917,[4] and was confirmed in his rank on 18 March 1918.[5]
He was first posted to No. 24 Squadron, but on 29 May was transferred to No. 22 Squadron. Between 10 July and 27 August, flying a Bristol F.2b two-seater fighter with Lieutenant Clifford Tolman as his observer/gunner, he accounted for seven enemy aircraft, three driven down out of control, and four destroyed.[1]
Stanton was transferred to the RAF unemployed list on 14 June 1919.[6]
List of aerial victories
| No. | Date/Time | Aircraft/ Serial No. |
Opponent | Result | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 July 1918 @ 1015–1030 | Bristol F.2b (D8089) | Pfalz D.III | Destroyed | South of Lille |
| 2 | Pfalz D.III | Destroyed | |||
| 3 | DFW C | Driven down out of control | |||
| 4 | 13 August 1918 @ 1120 | Bristol F.2b (D8089) | Fokker D.VII | Destroyed | Auberchicourt |
| 5 | Fokker D.VII | Destroyed in flames | |||
| 6 | 21 August 1918 @ 1945 | Bristol F.2b (E2500) | Two-seater | Driven down out of control | Albert |
| 7 | 27 August 1918 @ 1400 | Bristol F.2b (E2500) | Fokker D.VII | Driven down out of control | South-east of Senlemont |
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Frederick Cecil Stanton". The Aerodrome. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- ↑ "No. 29837". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 November 1916. p. 11561.
- ↑ "No. 30043". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 May 1917. p. 4160.
- ↑ "No. 30347". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 October 1917. pp. 10886–10887.
- ↑ "No. 30630". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 April 1918. pp. 4508–4509.
- ↑ "No. 31458". The London Gazette. 15 July 1919. p. 9005.