Victor Maslin Yeates

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Victor Maslin Yeates (30 September 1897 — 15 December 1934), often abbreviated to VM Yeates, was an English RAF fighter pilot in World War I.

Yeates, who was born at Dulwich, joined the Inns of Court O.T.C. in 1916 and transferred to the Royal Flying Corps (later the Royal Air Force) in May 1917. Serving with No. 46 Squadron, to which he was posted in February 1918, he flew Sopwith Camels, was shot down twice and scored 5 victories. After the war, he died of tuberculosis in Fairlight Sanatorium at Hastings.

Yeates is now best known for his semi-autobiographical book Winged Victory, which remains well-regarded as an authentic depiction of World War I aerial combat. A biography of Yeates, "Winged Victor" by Gordon Atkin, is available from Springwater Books.