Frank Ransley

Frank Cecil Ransley
Born 10 June 1897(1897-06-10)
Caversham, Berkshire, England
Died 12 July 1992(1992-07-12) (aged 95)
Alton, Hampshire, England
Allegiance England
Service/branch Aviation
Rank Captain
Unit No. 48 Squadron RAF
Awards Distinguished Flying Cross, Belgian Croix de guerre

Captain Frank Cecil Ransley was a World War I flying ace credited with nine aerial victories. He would survive the war to become one of its eldest aces before dying at 95 years of age.

Contents

Early life

Frank Cecil Ransley was born in Caversham, Berkshire, England on 18 October 1897. He entered World War I as a gunner (regimental number 19867) in the Royal Garrison Artillery.[1]

World War I

On 30 May 1917, Ransley was one of the cadets appointed to the General List of the Royal Flying Corps as a temporary second lieutenant on probation.[2] He was confirmed in his rank on 29 September 1917.[3]

Ransley was posted to 48 Squadron in late 1917 as a pilot. His gunner scored an aerial victory for them on 28 January 1918. Ransley scored his second victory personally two months later. He would continue on to mount a total of nine victories by 27 June 1918. He was appointed a Flight Commander in June. He also earned a Distinguished Flying Cross during June, though it was not gazetted until 3 August 1918:[4]

"This officer displays conspicuous gallantry and skill. On a recent occasion, while on patrol he was attacked by seven enemy scouts; he and his observer drove down two, and by skilful manoeuvre and dash he rallied his formation, which were being driven down, and succeeded in driving off the remaining enemy scouts. He has, in all, destroyed three hostile machines and driven down three others completely out of control.[5]

List of aerial victories

No. Date/time Aircraft Foe Result Location Notes
1 28 January 1918 @ 1240 hours Bristol F.2 Fighter serial number B1193 Rumpler reconnaissance plane Driven down out of control Beaurevoir Ransley's gunner/observer was Robert Herring
2 27 March 1918 @ 1520 hours Bristol F.2 Fighter s/n C4628 LVG reconnaissance plane Destroyed Morlancourt Ransley's gunner/observer was Joseph Michael John Moore
3 12 April 1918 @ 1040 hours Bristol F.2 Fighter s/n C4886 Pfalz D.III Destroyed West of Moreuil Woods Ransley's gunner/observer was L. W. Davies
4 1 June 1918 @ 1805 hours Bristol F.2 Fighter s/n C786 Albatros D.V Set afire; destroyed North of Lamotte Ransley's gunner/observer was G. Dixon
5 1 June 1918 @ 1805 hours Bristol F.2 Fighter s/n C786 Albatros D.V Driven down out of control Lamotte Ransley's gunner/observer was G. Dixon
6 10 June 1918 @ 1745 hours Bristol F.2 Fighter Albatros D.V Set afire; destroyed Roye Victory shared with John Elmer Drummond, Charles Steele, Harold Anthony Oaks
7 14 June 1918 @ 1530 hours Bristol F.2 Fighter s/n C786 LVG reconnaissance plane Driven down out of control East of Albert Ransley's gunner/observer was W. Lauder
8 25 June 1918 @ 1145 hours Bristol F.2 Fighter s/n C786 Fokker D.VII Driven down out of control Foucaucourt-Rosières Ransley's gunner/observer was L. W. Davies
9 27 June 1918 @ 1800 hours Bristol F.2 Fighter s/n C808 Fokker D.VII Set afire; destroyed East of Lamotte. Ransley's gunner/observer was L. W. Davies[6][7]

Post World War I

Nothing further is known of his life except that he survived until New Year's Eve, 1992.[8]

Reference

Endnotes

  1. ^ http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=4977873&queryType=1&resultcount=1 Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  2. ^ (Flight, 7 June 1917, p. 567.) http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1917/1917%20-%200567.html Retrieved 3 September 1918.
  3. ^ (Flight, http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1917/1917%20-%201119.html Retrieved 3 September 1918.
  4. ^ Shores, et al, p. 313. Note|Appointment as a Flight Commander typically was accompanied by a promotion to the rank of acting Captain.
  5. ^ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 3 August 1918, p. 9202.) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30827/supplements/9202 Retrieved 3 September 1918.
  6. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/ransley.php Retrieved 1 September 2011.
  7. ^ Shores, et al, p. 313.
  8. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/ransley.php Retrieved 3 September 2011.
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