Thomas Gerrard (aviator)

Thomas Francis Netterville Gerrard
Nickname "Teddy"
Born 13 August 1897
Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor, Malaya
Died 14 July 1923
Unknown
Allegiance England
Service/branch Aviation
Years of service 1914–1923?
Rank Major
Unit A Squadron RNAS/No. 1 Squadron RNAS, No. 208 Squadron RAF
Commands held No. 209 Squadron RAF
Awards Distinguished Service Cross, French Croix de guerre

Major Thomas Francis Netterville Gerrard was an English World War I flying ace credited with 10 aerial victories. He died in a postwar equestrian accident.

Contents

Early life

Thomas Francis Netterville Gerrard was the son of Brigadier General E. L. Gerrard DSO. The younger Gerrard joined the Royal Naval Air Service in 1915.[1]

World War I

Gerrard first flew a FBA flying boat from the port of Dover. He was then transferred to "A" Squadron of the RNAS. While flying a Nieuport fighter plane for them, he scored his first victory.[2]

After a transfer to 1 Naval Squadron, Gerrard was assigned to fly Sopwith Triplanes; he would score eight victories with them.[3] On 5 December 1916, Flight Lieutenant Gerrard was appointed acting Flight Commander.[4]

Gerrard won a Distinguished Service Cross for his exploits. The citation for it ran in The London Gazette of 20 July 1917:

"In recognition of his services during an air fight on the 4th June, 1917. This officer led his flight against 15-20 hostile aeroplanes, and alone had ten engagements with these machines. He attacked one, and fired sixty rounds into its cockpit at point-blank range, the enemy machine rolling over and over for 3,000 feet, and then falling vertically out of control. He then attacked another enemy machine which had dived on to one of our machines from behind, and with the help of a Scout he shot it down, the enemy being seen to crash to the ground. Another hostile scout was then attacked by pilot, end-on, and received a long burst at very close range, the enemy going down in a spin, but apparently righting himself lower down. During this last encounter Flt. Cdr. Gerrard's machine was riddled with bullets, but, by fine piloting, he landed safely, although all but his lateral controls were shot away and his machine damaged to such an extent as to require return to Depot for complete rebuilding. This officer has now destroyed at least seven hostile aircraft. He was on active service in France and Belgium from April to September, 1916, and during that period performed much valuable work."[5]

During a brief posting with 208 Squadron, he used a Sopwith Camel to down his tenth victim.[6]

On 30 May 1918, Captain Gerrard was promoted to temporary major.[7]

Post World War I

On 22 April 1919,Gerrard relinquished his posting as acting major and reverted to the rank of captain.[8] On 1 August 1919, he granted a permanent commission as lieutenant during RAF's reorganization.[9]

On 1 January 1921, he was promoted to flight lieutenant.[10] On 5 March 1921, he hosted a reunion dinner for 209 Squadron, with 47 attendees.[11] On 29 June 1921, he attended the third annual reunion of RNAS veterans of Dunkirk Station.[12] Gerrard also participated in the Hendon Air Show in 1921, flying a Sopwith Snipe.[13]

On 21 October 1922, he transferred from the Central Flying School (Inland Area) to the No. 5 Flying Training School (Inland Area).[14]

On 23 February 1923, Gerrard transferred to No. 1 Squadron RAF in Iraq.[15]

Subsequent to that, he was stationed in India. He fell from a polo pony there in 1923; the fall proved fatal.[16] The date of his death is given as 14 July 1923; locale remains unknown.[17]

Reference

List of aerial victories

No. Date/time Aircraft Foe Result Location Notes
1 8 July 1916 @ 1405 hours Nieuport fighter Fokker Eindekker Driven down out of control Vicinity of Ostend, Belgium
2 14 April 1917 @ 0820 hours Sopwith Triplane serial number N5440 Enemy aircraft Driven down out of control Epinoy, France
3 24 April 1917 @ 1115 hours Sopwith Triplane s/n N5440 Albatros D.III fighter Destroyed Noyelles, France
4 24 April 1917 @ 1120 hours Sopwith Triplane s/n N5440 Albatros D.III Driven down out of control South of Wancourt, France
5 29 April 1917 @ 1110 hours Sopwith Triplane s/n N5440 Albatros D.III Driven down out of control Epinoy
6 19 May 1917 @ 1945 hours Sopwith Triplane s/n N5440 Albatros D.III Driven down out of control Henin-Lietard
7 4 June 1917 @ 0750 hours Sopwith Triplane s/n N5440 Albatros D.III Driven down out of control Moorslede-Menen, Belgium
8 4 June 1917 @ 0800 hours Sopwith Triplane s/n N5440 Albatros D.III Destroyed Mooreslede-Menen Victory shared with ace Philip Fullard
9 7 June 1917 @ 0600 hours Sopwith Triplane s/n N6291 Albatros D.III Destroyed Ypres, Belgium
10 6 April 1918 @ 1130 hours Sopwith Camel s/n B7196 Fokker Triplane fighter Driven down out of control Lens Victory shared with aces Wilfred Sneath, Gerald Cooper[18]

See also

Aerial victory standards of World War I

Endnotes

  1. ^ Franks, p. 10.
  2. ^ Franks, p. 10.
  3. ^ Franks, p. 10.
  4. ^ (Flight, 14 December 1916, p. 1088) http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1916/1916%20-%201096.html Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  5. ^ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 20 July 1917) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30194/supplements/7425 Retrieved 25 May 2011.
  6. ^ Franks, p. 10.
  7. ^ (Flight, 20 June 1918, p. 694) http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1918/1918%20-%200696.html Retrieved 24 May 2011. Note: such a promotion usually accompanied appointment to command a squadron.
  8. ^ (The London Gazette, 30 May 1919) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31365/pages/6657 Retrieved 23 May 2011.
  9. ^ (The London Gazette, 1 August 1919) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31486/pages/9864 Retrieved 23 May 2011.
  10. ^ (Flight, 13 January 1921, p. 32) http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1921/1921%20-%200032.html Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  11. ^ (Flight, 24 March 1921) http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1921/1921%20-%200215.html Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  12. ^ (Flight, 14 July 1921) http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1921/1921%20-%200475.html; http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1921/1921%20-%200476.html Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  13. ^ Franks, p. 10.
  14. ^ (Flight, 9 November 1922, p. 665) http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1922/1922%20-%200665.html Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  15. ^ (Flight, 15 March 1923, p. 151) http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1923/1923%20-%200151.html Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  16. ^ Franks, p. 10.
  17. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/gerrard.php Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  18. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/koch1.php Retrieved 28 May 2011.
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