Robert Barbour (RAF officer)
| Robert Lyle McKendrick Barbour | |
|---|---|
| Born |
31 August 1895 Scotland |
| Died |
1980 (aged 84–85) Devon, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
British Army Royal Air Force |
| Rank | Group Captain |
| Unit |
King's Own Scottish Borderers Royal Flying Corps No. 205 Squadron RAF |
| Awards |
Distinguished Flying Cross Air Force Cross |
Group Captain Robert Lyle McKendrick Barbour DFC AFC was a Scottish World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.[1][2]
Biography
Barbour attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, as a Gentlemen Cadet, from where he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the King's Own Scottish Borderers on 27 October 1916.[3] On 22 December 1917 he was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps, receiving promotion to Lieutenant on 27 April 1918.[1] As a pilot with 205 Squadron RAF, he shot down six enemy aircraft between June and October 1918, the first three in a DH.4, and the second three in a DH.9A.[1][2]
Barbour resigned his army commission on 1 August 1919 in order to accept a permanent commission in the Royal Air Force.[1] He was promoted from Flying Officer to Flight Lieutenant in December 1925,[4] and was awarded the Air Force Cross in June 1928.[5] He received further promotions; to Squadron Leader on 1 October 1934,[6] to Wing Commander on 31 December 1937,[7] and to (Temporary) Group Captain on 1 September 1940.[8]
Honours and awards
- Distinguished Flying Cross
- Lieutenant Robert Lyle McKendrick Barbour
- This officer has carried out twenty-nine bombing raids and forty-seven photographic reconnaissances, displaying at all times marked courage and clear judgment. On 9th October, when on reconnaissance, he was attacked by ten Fokkers and forced to retire; on the disappearance of the Fokkers he again crossed the line; he was then attacked by three Fokkers, but these he drove off, shooting down one, which was seen to crash.[9]
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Robert Lyle McKendrick Barbour". theaerodrome.com. 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
- 1 2 Franks, Norman; Guest, Russell F.; Alegi, Gregory (1997). Above the War Fronts: The British Two-seater Bomber Pilot and Observer Aces, the British Two-seater Fighter Observer Aces, and the Belgian, Italian, Austro-Hungarian and Russian Fighter Aces, 1914-1918. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 978-1-898697-56-5. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29803. p. 10406. 24 October 1916.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 33119. p. 10. 29 December 1925.
- ↑ The Edinburgh Gazette: no. 14450. p. 671. 8 June 1928.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 34092. p. 6180. 2 October 1934.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 34468. p. 8194. 31 December 1937.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 34949. p. 5580. 20 September 1940.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 31170. pp. 2034–2035. 7 February 1919.