Major Charles Edward Murray Pickthorn (born 20 September 1896, died 1938) was a World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

 flying ace

Flying ace

A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...

 credited with five aerial victories. His fourth victory resulted in the capture of Crown Prince Frederich of Prussia.

Pickthorn served with the Army Service Corps from September to December 1915. He was then seconded to the Royal Flying Corps

Royal Flying Corps

The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...

, and flew as an observer/gunner with 8 Squadron. On 29 June 1916, Lieutenant Vaisey was wounded in action and passed out; Pickthorn flew them home while morse-coding a message to have a doctor meet them. By the end of 1916, he had trained as a pilot and was ordered to 32 Squadron to fly an Airco DH.2

Airco DH.2

|-DH.2 aces:Distinguished pilots of the DH.2 included Victoria Cross winner Lanoe Hawker , who was the first commander of No 24 Squadron and ace Alan Wilkinson. The commander of No. 32 Squadron, Lionel Rees won the Victoria Cross flying the D.H.2 for single handedly attacking a formation of 10...

. In company with fellow aces James Robb

James Robb (RAF officer)

Air Chief Marshal Sir James Milne Robb GCB, KBE, DSO, DFC, AFC, RAF, was a senior Royal Air Force commander. After early service in the First World War with the Northumberland Fusiliers, Robb joined the Royal Flying Corps and became a flying ace credited with seven aerial victories...

, Frank Billinge

Frank Billinge

Captain Frank Billinge was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.Billinge was a founding member of No. 20 Squadron, flying as an observer/gunner in the rear seat of a FE.2b. He scored his first victory there, on 13 February 1916. He was transferred back to Home Establishment...

, and three other pilots, Pickthorn destroyed an enemy observation plane on 27 January 1917. He scored again on 26 February. He was wounded while winning on 6 March 1917. On 11 March, he drove down an Albatros D.I

Albatros D.I

|-See also:...

 emblazoned with a skull and crossbones; the pilot, who was shot and wounded fatally while escaping capture by Australian troops, was Crown Prince Frederich of Prussia. A Military Cross for Pickthorn followed, on 26 April 1917.

On 8 November 1918, three days before war's end, Pickthorn took command of 84 Squadron

No. 84 Squadron RAF

No. 84 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is at present a Search and Rescue Squadron based at RAF Akrotiri, it uses the Bell Griffin HAR.2 helicopter. It is currently part of the RAF's Search and Rescue Force-History:...

. Two days later, flying a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a, he scored his last win, destroying a Fokker D.VII

Fokker D.VII

The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...

.

Reference

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.