Walbanke Ashby Pritt facts for kids

Walbanke Ashby Pritt was a brave British pilot during the First World War. He was known as a "flying ace" because he shot down five enemy planes. He was born on January 31, 1897, and passed away on January 27, 1928. He earned the Military Cross for his courage in battle.

Early Life and Education

Walbanke Ashby Pritt was born in Leamington Spa, England. He grew up there with his parents, Walter and Marguerite. From 1909 to 1916, he went to St Peter's School in York. In 1916, he tried to join the Sandhurst officer training program. However, he was not accepted because he was too small.

Becoming a Pilot in World War I

After being turned down by Sandhurst, Walbanke decided to become a pilot. In September 1916, he passed his flying test. He flew a Caudron plane at a school in Bournemouth. Soon after, he joined the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) as a cadet. He trained at special schools in Denham and Oxford.

In March 1917, he officially became a temporary second lieutenant in the RFC. He continued his training and earned his RFC wings, which meant he was a qualified pilot. By July 1917, he was sent to France to join No. 66 Squadron.

Flying Ace Achievements

From July to November 1917, Walbanke flew Sopwith Pup planes with No. 66 Squadron. During this time, he became a "flying ace." This means he was officially credited with destroying five enemy aircraft. He also showed great bravery and was awarded the Military Cross in September 1917.

His award citation mentioned his amazing courage. It said he attacked an enemy airfield with great speed and determination. He dropped bombs from a very low height. Then, he attacked and destroyed two enemy planes right after they took off. He even attacked a machine-gun post on the airfield. He faced heavy enemy fire on his way to and from the mission. Another time, he attacked a car and shot one of the people inside from only 50 feet up. He also attacked enemy soldiers marching, causing many casualties. The citation praised his constant bravery and strong fighting spirit.

In February 1918, Walbanke was flying a Sopwith Camel plane for No. 44 Squadron. He had an engine problem at 500 feet over Hainault Farm. His plane stalled and crashed, and he was injured.

Life After the War

After the war, in April 1920, Walbanke joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a flying officer. He tried to become a flight instructor in August 1920 but was found unsuitable. He resigned from the RAF in December 1920.

In April 1921, he joined the 5th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, which was part of the Territorial Army. He became a temporary lieutenant.

Walbanke got married in 1925. He worked as a commercial artist and a poultry farmer. Sadly, he died on January 27, 1928, at the age of 30. He was in a car accident near Bagby in North Yorkshire.