Douglas Arthur Davies facts for kids

Wing Commander Douglas Arthur Davies (1896–1992) was a brave officer in the British Royal Air Force. He was a skilled pilot during World War I, where he was officially credited with shooting down 10 enemy aircraft. This made him a "flying ace." He also served his country during World War II.

Early Life and Joining Up

Douglas Arthur Davies was born in Harrow, England, on January 12, 1896. He was the first son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Davies.

When World War I began, Douglas joined the army. In 1915, he became a second lieutenant in the Wiltshire Regiment. Later, in 1917, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, which was the air force at the time. He became a flying officer, ready to pilot planes.

A Flying Ace in World War I

By mid-1918, Douglas Davies was flying for No. 150 Squadron RAF in Salonika, Greece. He piloted a famous plane called the Sopwith Camel. This plane was known for its speed and ability to turn quickly in a fight.

His first aerial victories happened on June 12, 1918. He bravely attacked four enemy planes by himself. He shot down one Albatros D.V in flames and forced another to crash.

Becoming an Ace

Just over a month later, on July 17, Douglas had another amazing day. He destroyed two more Albatros D.Vs in a fierce air battle, also known as a dogfight. About an hour later, he forced another enemy plane to crash out of control. With these victories, he officially became a "flying ace," meaning he had shot down five or more enemy aircraft.

He continued to show great skill. On July 23, he worked with another pilot, John Preston, to destroy an enemy plane. On August 8, he forced two more enemy fighters to crash. Ten days later, on August 18, he finished his impressive streak by forcing two more Albatros D.Vs out of control.

For his incredible bravery and skill, Douglas Davies was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. This was a very important award for pilots who showed great courage in air combat.

Douglas Davies' Air Victories

Here is a list of the enemy planes Douglas Davies shot down or forced to crash during World War I while flying for No. 150 Squadron:

Between the World Wars

After World War I, Douglas Davies received another honor. In 1919, he was awarded the French Croix de guerre with a special "Palme" decoration. This was a French military award for bravery.

He left the Royal Air Force for a while in 1919. In 1923, it was announced that he was engaged to Muriel Wilson. Years later, in 1937, he rejoined the RAF Reserve as a pilot officer.

Service in World War II

When World War II began, Douglas Davies returned to active service. In 1940, he was confirmed as a pilot officer. He was later promoted to flight lieutenant. By 1944, he had risen to the rank of squadron leader in the RAF's Administration & Special Duties Branch. He continued to serve his country during this major global conflict.

After World War II

After World War II, Douglas Davies continued to serve in the RAF Volunteer Reserve for some years. He officially retired from the RAF Volunteer Reserve in 1954, holding the rank of Wing commander.

He later worked as an RAF representative in Kuwait from 1955 to 1958. He visited Kuwait again as a civilian in 1962 and 1965. Douglas Davies was known for his strong opinions on international events. For example, he supported Israel during the Six-Day War in 1967. He also warned against arming Iraq during the Iran–Iraq War. When Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, Davies strongly supported the actions taken by the U.S. and Britain to remove Saddam's forces during the Gulf War.