Alan Bott (aviator)

Alan John Bott
Born 14 January 1893(1893-01-14)
Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England
Died 17 September 1952(1952-09-17) (aged 59)
Allegiance England
Service/branch Artillery, then flying services
Years of service ca 1916 - 1918
Rank Captain
Unit Royal Garrison Artillery, No. 70 Squadron RFC, No. 111 Squadron RAF
Awards Military Cross
Other work Founded Pan Books.

Captain Alan John Bott was a World War I flying ace who was credited with five aerial victories. He later became a journalist, and then founded Pan Books.[1][2]

Bott served with the Royal Garrison Artillery before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps. He flew as an observer/gunner in the rear seat of a Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter in 1916, usually teamed with Awdry Vaucour.[3] On one flight, he slapped out an inflight fire with his gloves; he was awarded his Military Cross partly for this action.[4] He also scored three victories during September 1916, all while teamed with Valcour in Strutter no. A892.[5][6]

In 1917, he learned to fly. He was promoted to captain. His first assignment as a pilot was to No. 111 Squadron, which was stationed in the Sinai Desert. He flew Nieuport fighter no. B3995 to destroy enemy reconnaissance machines on 14 and 15 April 1918. A week later, he was brought down in flames and taken prisoner.[7] After four months in a Turkish prison, he escaped.[8]

Bott later wrote several books under the pseudonym Contact. One of his books was "An Airman's Outing", since retitled "Cavalry of the Clouds".[9] He was also a journalist drama critic, and publisher. In 1944, he helped found Pan Books.[10]

Sources of information

  1. ^ Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. p. 82. 
  2. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/bott.php Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  3. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/bott.php Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  4. ^ Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. p. 82. 
  5. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/bott.php Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  6. ^ Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. p. 82. 
  7. ^ Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. p. 82. 
  8. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/bott.php Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  9. ^ Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. p. 82. 
  10. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/bott.php Retrieved 4 February 2010.

References

Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. Christopher F. Shores, Norman L. R. Franks, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1990. ISBN 0-948817-19-4, 9780948817199.