Leonard Henry Rochford

Leonard Henry ('Tich') Rochford DSC & Bar, DFC (10 November 1896 – 17 December 1986) was a British World War I Flying Ace with twenty-nine credited victories.^[1]

Involvement in World War I

Born in Enfield in 1896, Rochford attempted to join the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) at the start of war but was rejected as being too young. He learned to fly with London & Provincial Aviation Company, qualifying on 7 October 1915 and joined the RNAS in May 1916. After a period of training he was posted to 3 Naval Squadron in January 1917.^[2] He remained with this unit until the end of the war.

Rochford shot down his first enemy aircraft, an Albatros D-I scout, on 4 May 1917, whilst flying a Sopwith Pup.

His 29 claims consisted of 13 destroyed enemy craft (including 7 shared), and 16 driven down out of control (including 5 shared).^[3]

Aviation in World War I

People and aircraft	Commanders Aces Aircraft of the Entente Powers Aircraft of the Central Powers Zeppelins

Campaigns and battles	Strategic bombing German Cuxhaven Bombing of cities Aerial reconnaissance Fokker Scourge Flight over Vienna Bloody April Battles

Entente Powers air services	British air services Royal Flying Corps Royal Naval Air Service Royal Air Force Australian Flying Corps Canadian Air Force (1918–20) French Air Service Imperial Russian Air Service Royal Italian Air Corps United States Army Air Service Greek air services Army Air Service Naval Air Service

Central Powers air services	Imperial German Air Service Austro-Hungarian Imperial and Royal Aviation Troops Ottoman Aviation Squadrons Bulgarian Army Aeroplane Section

References

↑ O'Connor, M. “Airfields & Airmen of the Channel Coast”. Pen & Sword Military, 2005. p.103 ISBN 1-84415-258-8
↑ O'Connor, M. p. 103
↑ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/rochford.php Retrieved on 27 August 2010.

Shores, C., Franks, N., Guest, R. Above the Trenches. Grub Street, 1990. ISBN 0-948817-19-4