Frederick Dudley Travers facts for kids

Captain Frederick Dudley Travers was an amazing English pilot who became a flying ace during World War I. This means he shot down at least five enemy aircraft. He was born on 15 February 1897 in York, England.

After the war, he continued to serve his country in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and also worked in civilian flying. He was a true pioneer, helping to create new air routes across Africa, the Middle East, and India. He also became an expert at flying flying boats, which are planes that can land on water.

During World War II, he bravely flew civilian planes into war zones. By the time he finished his career, he had flown over two million miles! That's like going around the world 80 times! He also had an incredible record of 19,000 hours of flying without a single accident. He served for almost 40 years before retiring from the Royal Air Force.

Early Life

Frederick Dudley Travers was born in York, England, on 15 February 1897.

World War I Hero

Frederick Travers started his military career in the Hertfordshire Yeomanry, which was a part of the British Army. He quickly moved up the ranks. In 1916, he joined the Royal Flying Corps, which was the air force at the time.

He first flew with No. 47 Squadron. His first aerial victory happened on 19 December 1917, while he was flying a B.E.12 with No. 17 Squadron RFC on the Macedonian front. Later, he joined No. 150 Squadron RAF and flew the S.E.5a and the Bristol M.1c.

He became a flying ace by shooting down nine enemy aircraft during the war. For his bravery, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross on 29 November 1918. This award recognized his courage and skill. His award citation said he was a "gallant and able officer" who was always ready to attack the enemy. It also mentioned an amazing fight where he and two other pilots attacked twelve enemy planes, shooting down four of them!

He also received the Croix de guerre from France in February 1919. This was another important award for his brave actions.

Between the World Wars

After World War I, Frederick Travers continued his service.

Military Service

In 1919, he became a flying officer in the Royal Air Force. He stayed in the RAF Reserve, which meant he could be called back to duty if needed. He held this reserve status until 1940, eventually becoming a flight lieutenant.

Pioneering Civilian Flights

Travers also started a career in civilian aviation. He began by flying "air taxis," which are small planes that take people on short trips. In 1924, he became a member of the Royal Aero Club, a famous flying club.

In 1926, he started flying for Imperial Airways, a major airline. He was a pioneer, opening up new air routes to Egypt. He flew between important cities like Cairo, Baghdad, and Basra. In 1929, he made the very first air mail flights to and from India, which was a huge step for connecting countries by air!

World War II and Beyond

During World War II, Frederick Travers continued to fly. He piloted large flying boats, carrying important supplies and people from the United Kingdom to places like India and West Africa. By 1942, he had flown an incredible two million miles!

In 1944, he was recognized for his "valuable service in the air" while working for British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), another big airline. This was part of the King's birthday honors.

By late 1945, he was still busy, even ferrying a Short Sunderland flying boat all the way to Buenos Aires, Argentina!

In May 1947, Captain Travers retired from BOAC after 30 years of flying. Everyone celebrated his amazing career, especially his record of 19,000 flying hours without a single accident. Even in retirement, he planned to help develop new Saunders-Roe flying boats.

Frederick Dudley Travers officially left the Royal Air Force Reserve in 1954. He then moved to Kenya. He was still alive in 1968 and even gave an interview to a famous aviation historian.