Charles Robson (RAF officer) facts for kids

Lieutenant Charles Crichton Robson was a brave Scottish soldier and pilot from World War I. He was born in 1895. He became known as an "observer ace" because he helped shoot down eight enemy aircraft.

A World War I Flying Hero

Charles Crichton Robson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. His parents were Charles and Maggie Robson. When World War I began, he joined the army. He became a private in the 9th Battalion of The Royal Scots. He served in France starting in February 1915.

Joining the Air Force

In August 1915, Charles became a second lieutenant. This meant he was an officer. He then moved to the 12th Royal Scots battalion. On July 1, 1917, he was promoted to lieutenant. Later that year, in December, he joined the Royal Flying Corps. This was the air force of the time. He became a "flying officer (observer)." This meant he flew in planes and helped spot enemies. He also helped shoot them down.

Flying into Battle

Robson joined No. 11 Squadron. He flew in a Bristol F.2b plane. This was a two-seater fighter plane. His pilot was Lieutenant Herbert Sellars. Together, they were a strong team.

First Victories in the Sky

On March 12, 1918, Robson got his first aerial victory. He shot down an enemy LVG C.VI plane. It went down in flames. Over the next six days, he helped force down three Albatros D.V planes. These planes were "driven down out of control." This means they crashed or landed because they were damaged.

On March 21, he helped take down two more Albatros planes. One of these planes belonged to a German pilot named Ludwig Hanstein. On April 2, 1918, something big happened. The Royal Flying Corps joined with the Royal Naval Air Service. Together, they formed the Royal Air Force (RAF). On that same day, Robson helped force down a Fokker Dr.I plane.

Final Flight and Capture

His eighth and last victory was on May 15. He helped force down another Fokker Dr.I. But soon after, his own plane was shot down. A German pilot named Josef Mai shot them down. Sadly, Lieutenant Sellars, his pilot, was killed in the crash. Charles Robson survived the crash. However, he was taken prisoner by the enemy.

Awarded for Bravery

Charles Robson was awarded the Military Cross. This is a very important award for bravery. The award was announced on June 21, 1918. His award citation praised his courage. It said he completed a long flight in bad weather. He brought back very important information. It also said he was "very cool and resourceful" in tough situations. This means he stayed calm and found ways to solve problems.