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Francis Mansel Kitto

No Photo Available

Victories : 9
-----------------------------
Country : UK
Fought in : WW1
Fought for : Allied (Entente) Powers
Died : ?



Born 1st January 1897, Francis Kitto flew Sopwith 1.5 Strutters with 43 Squadron, claiming three victories between March and August 1917. By March 1918, he was flying Sopwith Camels with 54 Squadron, claiming the remaining 6 of his 9 victories between then and July 1918. He was awarded the Military Cross, gazetted on 22nd June 1918.

London Gazetee entry for award of Military Cross, 22nd June 1918

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. While engaged in attacking ground targets with machine-gun fire and bombs he observed a large party of troops, amongst whom he dropped the remainder of his bombs with the most excellent results. On a later occasion he attacked a formation of enemy scouts, and having caused one of these to crash to the ground, he pursued another and, attacked it eleven miles behind the enemy's lines, bringing it to the ground and destroying it. In addition to these he has shot down two other hostile machines, and has shown throughout, the greatest determination and dash.


Latest Allied (Entente) Powers Aviation Artwork !
On the 11th of August 1918, the Armstrong Whitworth FK8 C8602 of Ferdinand 'Freddie' West and his observer / gunner John Haslam was one of hundreds of aircraft tasked with locating German reserves on the ground to assist the Army. A gap in the clouds revealed a concentration of German troops - they dived low to assess their number but coming under intense fire returned to the clouds. Not satisfied that the enemy positions had been identified correctly, West dived again. Attacked by several aircraft and wounded, West pressed on with his low flight to gather further intelligence. Finding 'troops, guns and vehicles in all directions', they knew they had found the German reserves. Turning for home they encountered more German scouts. This time, the attack left their aircraft badly damaged and West was hit in the leg by five bullets, one of which severed an artery. With Haslam taking aim at the fighters while West tried to take evasive action, they managed to escape. Half fainting through blood loss, West fashioned a tourniquet from a leg of his shorts, and drifting into semi-consciousness, landed the aircraft behind Allied lines. He insisted that he should personally pass on the intelligence to his No.8 Sqn superiors, and lost consciousness after doing so. Sir John Salmond, in charge of the Air Force in France, put him forward for the Victoria Cross which was awarded for 'unparalleled pluck and endurance. The valour displayed by this officer has throughout been a magnificent example to his flight, which he has inspired with his devotion, courage and power of endurance.' Despite losing his leg, with an artificial limb he returned to flying duties after the war and remained in the Royal Air Force until the end of World War Two. He died in 1988.

Tribute to Freddie West VC by Ivan Berryman.		 Pilot Joseph Frantz and his observer Louis Quénault have the unique distinction of recording the first ever aerial victory by an aircraft using weaponry. On 5th October 1914, Quénault used magazines of ammunition of the machine gun mounted on their Voisin III craft, with its incredibly primitive appearance, and continued with rifle fire once it had failed. Their prey, an Aviatik returned fire, but was observed to crash into trees following the combat - the first recorded aircraft to be shot down by another.

The First Victory by Ivan Berryman.		 Known as Freddie, West was the first pilot of the newly formed Royal Air Force to be awarded the Victoria Cross. He is shown here during a bombing mission to Merricourt on 19th June 1918. Jumped by enemy fighters, he was forced to evade his assailants by weaving through German barrage balloons. Successfully shaking off the Fokkers in Armstrong-Whitworth FK.8 C8594, he continued to his intended target. Less than two months later, and in a similar aircraft, he undertook the mission which earned him his VC, but cost him an amputated leg. He remained in the RAF until the end of World War Two and lived until 1988, aged 92.

Tribute to Ferdinand West VC by Ivan Berryman.		 The airship was formidable as an anti-submarine weapon in the latter stages of World War One. The British formed patrols guarding the coasts of the British Isles and significantly reduced the toll on shipping that the German U-boats were taking. Here, the C or Coastal Class airship C-9, commanded by Flight Commander (later Major) James G Struthers has discovered and successfully bombed another victim - one of seven in total he claimed during he war. C-9 was the most successful airship of her class, flying over 2,500 hours and covering 68,201 miles in her four year career. Her commander, James G Struthers, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and two Bars.

Tribute to James G Struthers RNAS by Ivan Berryman.

Francis Mansel Kitto

Squadrons for : Francis Mansel Kitto
A list of all squadrons known to have been served with by Francis Mansel Kitto. A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name.
SquadronInfo

No.43 Sqn RAF


Country : UK
Founded : 15th April 1916

Gloria finis - Glory is the end

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No.43 Sqn RAF

Full profile not yet available.

No.54 Sqn RAF


Country : UK
Founded : 15th May 1916

Audax omnia perpeti - Boldness to endure anything

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No.54 Sqn RAF

No. 54 Squadron was formed on the 5th of May 1916 at Castle Bromwich. The squadron was equipped with BE2C's and Avro 504's and was part of the home defence force. Shortly after 54 squadron changed to day fighter duties and moved to France then equipped with Sopwith Pups. Their role was to escort bombers and attack observation balloons. Near the end of the great war 54 squadron was re -quipped with Sopwith Camels and tasked with ground attack as well as fighter sorties. In February 1919, the squadron returned to RAF Yatesbury and on 2nd October 1919 54 squadron was disbanded. On the 15th of January 1930, 54 squadron was reformed at RAF Hornchurch as a fighter squadron equipped initially with Siskin aircraft. The Siskins were subsequently replaced with Bulldog fighters and in September 1936 54 squadron was re-equipped with Gloster Gauntlets and in April 1937, they recieved Gloster Gladiators. In March 1939 the squadron recieved the new Supermarine Spitfire. After the outbreak of world war two, 54 Squadron was given the duties of patrolling the Kent coast, until having to support and give air cover to the evacuation of Dunkirk in May and June 1940. The squadron was heavily involved during the Battle of Britain until November 1940 and after the Battle of Britain had ceased the squadron moved in November 1940 to RAF Castletown where its duties were coastal patrols. In June 1942 the squadron moved to RAF Wellingore to prepare for the squadron moving to Australia. In January 1943 54 squadron joined No.1 Wing of the Royal Australian Air Force. The Spitfires of the squadron were given the role of air defence duties against Japanese air attacks in the Darwin area. After the war had ended 54 squadron was disbanded in Melbourne on the 31st of October 1945, although the squadron name continued when on the 15th of November 1945 No.183 Squadron was renumbered 54 Squadron and flew initially Hawker Tempests. Taking up jet aircraft, the squadron subsequently used Vampires, Meteors, Hunters, Phantom and Jaguars before disbanding on 11th March 2005. 54 Squadron reformed on 5th September 2005 as an ISTAR (Intelligence Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance ) unit equipped with Sentry, Nimrod and Sentinel aircraft.
Aircraft for : Francis Mansel Kitto
A list of all aircraft associated with Francis Mansel Kitto. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name.
SquadronInfo

Camel




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Manufacturer : Sopwith
Production Began : 1916
Number Built : 5714

Camel

SOPWITH CAMEL: was the most successful fighter of World War one. Claiming almost 3,000 air victories. The prototype of the Sopwith camel first flew in December 1916, and its first combat mission began in June 1917. joined 4 squadron RNAS based near Dunkirk. The first Royal Flying Corp squadron to receive the aircraft was no. 70 squadron. The Sopwith camel was the first designed fighter to have two forward firing machine guns. Its design gave it amazing maneuverability and aerobatic qualities. and was perfectly suited for aerial dog fighting. Squadron after squadron was re equipped with the camel and by the end of February 1918 13 squadrons were fully operational with the aircraft along the western front. Also used on the Italian Front with 3 squadrons equipped. This figure increased with a total of 19 squadrons equipped on the western front by August 1918. This included two squadrons no. 151 and 152 for night fighter duties. in June 1918. There was also a naval version of the Sopwith camel. the 2F.1s which gradually replaced the Sopwith Pup and other naval aircraft. The Naval version most memorable fete was done by Lt S D Culley who took off from a towed wood platform and destroyed the Zeppelin L.53 on the 10th August 1918. also on the 18th July six aircraft took off from the forward deck of HMS Furious to bomb the Zeppelin base at Tondern which they successfully did destroying two Zeppelins L.54 and L.60. This was the first time carrier borne aircraft had destroyed a land base installation. In total 5597 F.1s and 317 2F.1s were ordered but there may have been 200 less built. Performance. speed: 113mph at 10,000 feet. service ceiling 19,000 feet. Armament: two fixed forward firing Vickers .303 machine Guns. or one .303 forward firing and one .303 Lewis Gun

Sopwith 1.5 Strutter




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Manufacturer : Sopwith

Sopwith 1.5 Strutter

Full profile not yet available.

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