Desmond Fitzgibbon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Desmond Fitzgerald Fitzgibbon
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| Born | 1 November 1890 Hampstead, London, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
Royal Navy Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1916–1919 1921–c.1924 1939–1945 |
| Rank | Flight Lieutenant |
| Unit | No. 3 Wing RNAS No. 10 Squadron RNAS |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Cross |
Desmond Fitzgerald Fitzgibbon was a brave British pilot who became a flying ace during World War I. This means he shot down at least five enemy aircraft. He flew for the Royal Naval Air Service, which was part of the British Navy. Desmond Fitzgibbon achieved eight aerial victories. He also served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) in the 1920s and during World War II.
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Early Life of a Pilot
Desmond Fitzgerald Fitzgibbon was born in Hampstead, London, England. His birthday was November 1, 1890. He was the younger son of Gerald and Margaret FitzGibbon.
World War I Adventures
Desmond Fitzgibbon joined the Royal Naval Air Service on May 28, 1916. He learned to fly and earned his pilot's certificate that August. Soon after, he became a flight sub-lieutenant.
He was sent to No. 3 Wing RNAS in March 1917. This unit was based in France. Their job was to fly bombing missions. Fitzgibbon took part in a final mission to bomb Freiburg. He dropped his bombs even with heavy enemy anti-aircraft fire. On his way back, his engine had problems. He lost his group but landed safely. After this, No. 3 Wing was closed down.
Becoming a Flying Ace
In May 1917, Fitzgibbon joined No. 10 Squadron RNAS. He flew a Sopwith Triplane, a plane with three wings. He scored his first two victories on June 5, 1917. He shot down two enemy planes. He achieved two more victories on June 15. His fifth victory came on August 25. With five victories, he became a "flying ace."
Later, his squadron started flying the Sopwith Camel. This was a famous British fighter plane. He scored his last three victories in September. On October 1, he was promoted to flight-lieutenant. Soon after, he returned to England.
Awarded for Bravery
Desmond Fitzgibbon received the Distinguished Service Cross. This award is given for great bravery in battle. His award was announced on November 2, 1917.
His award citation said he showed "exceptional courage and determination." He led his patrols against enemy planes, even when they were outnumbered. For example, on September 14, 1917, he and seven other planes attacked eight enemy scouts. They shot down three enemy planes without losing any of their own. Fitzgibbon shot down one of these planes himself.
On September 26, 1917, he and his patrol of eight planes attacked fifteen enemy scouts. Fitzgibbon fought four different enemy planes. He managed to shoot one down.
Fitzgibbon's Victories in the Sky
Here are the enemy planes Desmond Fitzgibbon shot down:
| No. | Date/time | Aircraft | Foe | Result | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 June 1917 @ 0850 hours |
Sopwith Triplane | Albatros C two-seater | Set afire; destroyed | Wervik, Belgium | Shared with other pilots |
| 2 | 5 June 1917 @ 0900 hours |
Sopwith Triplane | Albatros C two-seater | Driven down out of control | Northeast of Poelcapelle | Shared with another pilot |
| 3 | 15 June 1917 @ 1055 hours |
Sopwith Triplane | Halberstadt D.II | Driven down out of control | Saint-Julien | |
| 4 | 15 June 1917 @ 1740 hours |
Sopwith Triplane | Albatros D.V | Driven down out of control | Moorslede, Belgium | |
| 5 | 25 August 1917 @ 1930 hours |
Sopwith Triplane | Albatros D.V | Driven down out of control | North of Polygon Wood, Belgium | |
| 6 | 14 September 1917 @ 1630 hours |
Sopwith Camel | Albatros D.V | Driven down out of control | Tenbrielen, Belgium | |
| 7 | 26 September 1917 @ 1100 hours |
Sopwith Camel | Albatros D.V | Driven down out of control | Westrozebeke | |
| 8 | 27 September 1917 @ 1610 hours |
Sopwith Camel | Albatros D.V | Driven down out of control | Northeast of Westrozebeke |
After World War I
After the war, Fitzgibbon was promoted to captain. He left the Royal Air Force (RAF) in April 1919.
He returned to the RAF for a short time two years later. He served as a flying officer starting in February 1921. After several years, he joined the Reserve of Air Force Officers. He finally left the service in February 1929.
Later, he lived in Sri Lanka, which was then called Ceylon. He got married there to Phyllis Muriel. His son, Gerald Maurice Fitzgibbon, was also baptized there.
World War II Service
Desmond Fitzgibbon returned to serve his country again during World War II. He joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on September 1, 1939. He was a flight lieutenant in a special administrative role.
He was promoted to temporary squadron leader in March 1942. In January 1945, he was mentioned in official reports for his good work. This is called a "mention in despatches."
