David John Weston
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant David John Weston (born 14 November 1898, date of death unknown) was a World War I flying ace
credited with thirteen aerial victories. All of his wins were over enemy fighter planes.
Weston was commissioned 12 August 1917. He joined 20 Squadron at about the same time, late 1917.
Weston scored his victories with either one of two observer aces—Walter Noble
or Ernest Deighton
—manning the guns in the rear seat. Weston and Noble scored a double victory on 25 January 1918 to begin both their victory rolls. Weston later scored triple victories on 19 May 1918, with Deighton, and 30 June, again with Noble; his last triumph was on 2 July, when he destroyed a Fokker D.VII
over the Gheluvelt-Menen
Road. His final tally was seven enemy fighter planes destroyed, and six driven down out of control. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions, which was gazetted 3 August 1918.
Lt. David John Weston.
A bold and skilful airman, who has accounted for six enemy machines.
He has been generally engaged against superior numbers and always with success.
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 thirteen aerial victories. All of his wins were over enemy fighter planes.
Weston was commissioned 12 August 1917. He joined 20 Squadron at about the same time, late 1917.
Weston scored his victories with either one of two observer aces—Walter Noble
Walter Noble
Lieutenant Walter Noble was a World War I flying ace credited with twelve aerial victories.-Early life:Walter Noble was originally from Stowmarket, Suffolk. He was an tea planter in India from 1911 through 1915...
or Ernest Deighton
Ernest Deighton
Sergeant Ernest Arthur Deighton was a World War I flying ace observer/gunner credited with 15 confirmed aerial victories; all but one of them was against enemy fighters....
—manning the guns in the rear seat. Weston and Noble scored a double victory on 25 January 1918 to begin both their victory rolls. Weston later scored triple victories on 19 May 1918, with Deighton, and 30 June, again with Noble; his last triumph was on 2 July, when he destroyed 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...
over the Gheluvelt-Menen
Menen
Menen is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Menen proper and the towns of Lauwe and Rekkem. The city is situated on the French/Belgian border. On January 1, 2006, Menen had a total population of 32,413...
Road. His final tally was seven enemy fighter planes destroyed, and six driven down out of control. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions, which was gazetted 3 August 1918.
Honors and awards
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)Lt. David John Weston.
A bold and skilful airman, who has accounted for six enemy machines.
He has been generally engaged against superior numbers and always with success.
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.