William Lewis Wells facts for kids

Captain William Lewis Wells MC & Bar (1895 – 6 May 1918) was a brave British pilot during World War I. He was known as a "flying ace" because he shot down ten enemy aircraft. His amazing courage earned him the Military Cross award not just once, but twice!

Early Life of William Wells

William Lewis Wells was born in 1895 in Hounslow, a town in Middlesex, England. When he was about 16 years old, in 1911, he started working as a clerk at the General Post Office.

Joining the War Effort

When World War I began, William Wells joined the British Army. He first served as a private in a special unit called the London Regiment. This unit was also known as the Post Office Rifles.

In March 1915, he became an officer, a second lieutenant, in the Middlesex Regiment. This was a big step up!

Becoming a Pilot

In September 1916, William Wells joined the Royal Flying Corps (RFC). This was the air force of Britain at the time. He became a "flying officer," which meant he was a pilot.

He was promoted to lieutenant in the RFC in February 1917. Flying was very dangerous during the war, and pilots like Wells were incredibly brave.

Aerial Victories and Awards

By early 1918, Wells was flying a Bristol F.2 Fighter. This was a two-seater plane, meaning it had a pilot and an observer/gunner. He was part of No. 22 Squadron.

On January 25, 1918, he achieved his first aerial victory. This means he shot down an enemy plane. By March 16, he had shot down six enemy aircraft!

Soon after, he was promoted to flight commander with the rank of captain. He moved to No. 48 Squadron. With this new squadron, he quickly scored more victories. On March 21, he got his seventh victory. Just two days later, he shot down three more planes in one day! This brought his total to ten victories.

The Military Cross

William Wells was recognized for his bravery with the Military Cross. This is a very important award for courage in battle.

His first Military Cross was announced on May 13, 1918. The official report said he had faced larger groups of enemy planes many times. He had shot down five enemy planes completely out of control and sent another crashing. The report praised his "greatest gallantry, courage, and determination."

He received a second award, called a Bar to his Military Cross, on June 22, 1918. This award was not just for air battles. He also bravely attacked enemy soldiers and vehicles on the ground. He would fly very low, even under heavy enemy fire. Once, he was badly wounded while flying low, but he still managed to bring his plane and his observer safely back.

Sadly, Captain Wells never knew about his awards. He died from his wounds on May 6, 1918, just a week before his first award was announced. He was buried in St. Sever Cemetery in Rouen, France.

William Wells's Combat Record

Captain Wells achieved ten aerial victories during World War I. Here is a list of his confirmed victories:

See also

• Aerial victory standards of World War I