Francis S. Symondson
Encyclopedia
Captain Francis Stanley Symondson was a British World War I flying ace
credited with 13 confirmed aerial victories. He survived over three years of ground warfare and overcame early setbacks as a fighter pilot on the Western Front
to become an ace in Italy.
, although he first flew in June 1914 with Frank Gooden in a Bleriot
. He was commissioned on 18 March 1915, being raised from the position of Trumpeter in the artillery. On 21 May 1917, he was seconded to the RFC.
After training, he was stationed with 29 Squadron on 4 September 1917. He crashed three of the squadron's Nieuport
s in the next 16 days, and was remanded to England for further training. His next duty assignment took him to Italy to join 66 Squadron as a Sopwith Camel
pilot. At 1015 hours 7 March 1918, he set a kite balloon afire at Chiarano
for his first victory. It was the beginning of a string of a dozen enemy losses, as Symondson destroyed another observation balloon
and ten airplanes by 28 August 1918. On 15 September, he drove down an Austrian-Hungarian Berg D.I out of control for his thirteenth win. The following day, his Military Cross was gazetted. He was also awarded the Silver Medal of Valor by the Italians.
Symondson's victories included an observation balloon set afire, another destroyed, two Albatros D.V
fighters set aflame in flight, seven other opposing fighters destroyed, an enemy reconnaissance plane destroyed, and another driven down.
effective 11 April 1921. On 26 June 1924, he surrendered his commission as Lieutenant to enlist in the Territorial Army. By 1929, he was married to Betty Symondson; she was named to probate a will on 17 June 1929.
He remained a recreational pilot throughout the 1930s. He was both entrant and pilot of a Gypsy Moth with tail serial 'G-AARU' in the 5 July 1930 King's Cup Race
, but dropped out of the event en route. He was both entrant and pilot again in 1931, in the same plane. When the opportunity arose, he flew aerobatics
for His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales. He was entered in the King's Cup Race
of 5 July 1931 sponsored by the Royal Aero Club
. He placed as high as fifth place at one point.
He flew in Jubilee Week during May 1935. As late as 1938, he was still flying and stunting a Gypsy Moth at 200 feet altitude. In 1939, he was a flying instructor at Brooklands
and on the South Coast, where he was training pilots for the Civil Air Guard
.
Francis Stanley Symondson died in Bridport
, Dorset on 1 May 1975.
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 13 confirmed aerial victories. He survived over three years of ground warfare and overcame early setbacks as a fighter pilot on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
to become an ace in Italy.
Early life
Symondson's parents were Jesse Kate Uridge and Stanley Vernon Symondson, and he was born in Sutton. The census of 31 March 1901 found him boarding in Margate, Kent. He was one of two sons.World War I service
Symondson served three and a half years in the infantry before transferring to the Royal Flying CorpsRoyal 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...
, although he first flew in June 1914 with Frank Gooden in a Bleriot
Blériot Aéronautique
Blériot Aéronautique was a French aircraft manufacturer founded by Louis Blériot. It also made a few cyclecars from 1921 to 1922.After Louis Blériot became famous for being the first to fly over the English Channel in 1909, he established an aircraft manufacturing company. This company really took...
. He was commissioned on 18 March 1915, being raised from the position of Trumpeter in the artillery. On 21 May 1917, he was seconded to the RFC.
After training, he was stationed with 29 Squadron on 4 September 1917. He crashed three of the squadron's Nieuport
Nieuport
Nieuport, later Nieuport-Delage, was a French aeroplane company that primarily built racing aircraft before World War I and fighter aircraft during World War I and between the wars.-Beginnings:...
s in the next 16 days, and was remanded to England for further training. His next duty assignment took him to Italy to join 66 Squadron as a Sopwith Camel
Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...
pilot. At 1015 hours 7 March 1918, he set a kite balloon afire at Chiarano
Chiarano
Chiarano is a town in the province of Treviso, Italy. It has buildings and local commercial companies. It was part of the Venetian Republic until 1797 ....
for his first victory. It was the beginning of a string of a dozen enemy losses, as Symondson destroyed another observation balloon
Observation balloon
Observation balloons are balloons that are employed as aerial platforms for intelligence gathering and artillery spotting. Their use began during the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith during World War I, and they continue in limited use today....
and ten airplanes by 28 August 1918. On 15 September, he drove down an Austrian-Hungarian Berg D.I out of control for his thirteenth win. The following day, his Military Cross was gazetted. He was also awarded the Silver Medal of Valor by the Italians.
Symondson's victories included an observation balloon set afire, another destroyed, two Albatros D.V
Albatros D.V
|-See also:-Bibliography:*Bennett, Leon. Gunning for the Red Baron. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2006. ISBN 1-58544-507-X....
fighters set aflame in flight, seven other opposing fighters destroyed, an enemy reconnaissance plane destroyed, and another driven down.
Post World War I
Symondson stayed in the RAF after the war and was appointed a Flying OfficerFlying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
effective 11 April 1921. On 26 June 1924, he surrendered his commission as Lieutenant to enlist in the Territorial Army. By 1929, he was married to Betty Symondson; she was named to probate a will on 17 June 1929.
He remained a recreational pilot throughout the 1930s. He was both entrant and pilot of a Gypsy Moth with tail serial 'G-AARU' in the 5 July 1930 King's Cup Race
King's Cup Race
The King's Cup Race is an annual British handicapped cross-country air race, first contested on 8 September 1922. The event was open to British pilots only, but that did include members of the Commonwealth....
, but dropped out of the event en route. He was both entrant and pilot again in 1931, in the same plane. When the opportunity arose, he flew aerobatics
Aerobatics
Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in normal flight. Aerobatics are performed in airplanes and gliders for training, recreation, entertainment and sport...
for His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales. He was entered in the King's Cup Race
King's Cup Race
The King's Cup Race is an annual British handicapped cross-country air race, first contested on 8 September 1922. The event was open to British pilots only, but that did include members of the Commonwealth....
of 5 July 1931 sponsored by the Royal Aero Club
Royal Aero Club
The Royal Aero Club is the national co-ordinating body for Air Sport in the United Kingdom.The Aero Club was founded in 1901 by Frank Hedges Butler, his daughter Vera and the Hon Charles Rolls , partly inspired by the Aero Club of France...
. He placed as high as fifth place at one point.
He flew in Jubilee Week during May 1935. As late as 1938, he was still flying and stunting a Gypsy Moth at 200 feet altitude. In 1939, he was a flying instructor at Brooklands
Brooklands
Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England. It opened in 1907, and was the world's first purpose-built motorsport venue, as well as one of Britain's first airfields...
and on the South Coast, where he was training pilots for the Civil Air Guard
Civil Air Guard
The Civil Air Guard was a 1938 scheme in which the UK government subsidized training fees for members of flying clubs, in return for future military call-up commitments.-History:...
.
Francis Stanley Symondson died in Bridport
Bridport
Bridport is a market town in Dorset, England. Located near the coast at the western end of Chesil Beach at the confluence of the River Brit and its Asker and Simene tributaries, it originally thrived as a fishing port and rope-making centre...
, Dorset on 1 May 1975.
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.