H.D. Harvey-Kelly
Encyclopedia
Major
Hubert Dunsterville Harvey-Kelly (1891–1917) was a World War I
pilot who was credited with being the first RFC pilot to land in France in the war, and of being the first RFC pilot to down an enemy aircraft.
The aeroplane he flew while a Lieutenant, the Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2, along with a plaque, hangs in the main hall of the Imperial War Museum
in London
'Bay' was with No. 2 Squadron, RFC. They were ordered to cross the channel into France. He flew a Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 from Montrose in Scotland and a photograph of his aeroplane, with him lying next to a haystack smoking a cigarette, is in the main Hall of the Imperial War Museum
in London
. It reads "Lieutenant H D Harvey-Kelly, the first British pilot to land in France after the declaration of war, rests his BE2A near whitby, Yorkshire, in August 1914, during a stop in a flight south from Montrose"
Shortly after, on the 26th August 1914, he gained the first ever British victory in air-to-air combat despite flying an unarmed aircraft. By manoeuvring as if to hit the German Taube 2, other aggressive flying and using his pistol he forced the aircraft to the ground. Having chased off the crew he set fire to the plane and took off. In the early part of the war this method of taking victories became a fad.
) was not due to fly on the day of his final flight, 29 April 1917. Partly due to a rule that Squadron commanders did not fly (although many did) and partly due to a last minute switch., However because Richthofen was operating in the area he went up and became a victim of what the RFC called Bloody April
when they lost 245 aircraft.
In the attack HD Harvey-Kelly, with Lieutenants Hamilton and Applin, spotted eight Albatros D.III
s. Although outnumbered the attack was pressed when Harvey-Kelly spotted six Sopwith Triplanes of No 1 Sqn RNAS. However there are conflicting reports of whether these engaged of sheered away. During the dog fight Major Harvey-Kelly being shot down by Lt Kurt Wolff
of Jasta 11. Major Harvey-Kelly and Lieutenant Applin were reported as killed in action, although Harvey-Kelly died of head wounds three days later in a German Hospital. He is buired in the Browns Copse Cemetery, Roeux, France
Von Richthofen paid an unintended compliment to Harvey-Kelly as he perceived the new SPAD unit to have been a special squadron organised to deal with his Staffet
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Hubert Dunsterville Harvey-Kelly (1891–1917) 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...
pilot who was credited with being the first RFC pilot to land in France in the war, and of being the first RFC pilot to down an enemy aircraft.
The aeroplane he flew while a Lieutenant, the Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2, along with a plaque, hangs in the main hall of the Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum is a British national museum organisation with branches at five locations in England, three of which are in London. The museum was founded during the First World War in 1917 and intended as a record of the war effort and sacrifice of Britain and her Empire...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
Early life
HD Harvey-Kelly's family were from Roscommon and West Meath, Ireland. His brother, Lieutenant Colonel G.H Harvey Kelly survived the Great War and went on to fight the 1947-48 Kashmir war with Pakistan Army before retiring to West Meath in IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
Early War
At the beginning of World War IWorld 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...
'Bay' was with No. 2 Squadron, RFC. They were ordered to cross the channel into France. He flew a Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 from Montrose in Scotland and a photograph of his aeroplane, with him lying next to a haystack smoking a cigarette, is in the main Hall of the Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum is a British national museum organisation with branches at five locations in England, three of which are in London. The museum was founded during the First World War in 1917 and intended as a record of the war effort and sacrifice of Britain and her Empire...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. It reads "Lieutenant H D Harvey-Kelly, the first British pilot to land in France after the declaration of war, rests his BE2A near whitby, Yorkshire, in August 1914, during a stop in a flight south from Montrose"
Shortly after, on the 26th August 1914, he gained the first ever British victory in air-to-air combat despite flying an unarmed aircraft. By manoeuvring as if to hit the German Taube 2, other aggressive flying and using his pistol he forced the aircraft to the ground. Having chased off the crew he set fire to the plane and took off. In the early part of the war this method of taking victories became a fad.
Final Flight
Harvey-Kelly (by then having been awarded the DSODSO
DSO may refer to:Decorations* Distinguished Service Order refers to a number of decorationsMusic* Dallas Symphony Orchestra* Dark Star Orchestra* Deathspell Omega, a French black metal band* Detroit Symphony Orchestra...
) was not due to fly on the day of his final flight, 29 April 1917. Partly due to a rule that Squadron commanders did not fly (although many did) and partly due to a last minute switch., However because Richthofen was operating in the area he went up and became a victim of what the RFC called Bloody April
Bloody April
During the First World War, the month of April 1917 was known as Bloody April by the Royal Flying Corps . The RFC suffered particularly severe losses — about three times as many as the Imperial German Army Air Service over the same period — but continued its primary role in support of the ground...
when they lost 245 aircraft.
Albatros D.III
The Albatros D.III was a biplane fighter aircraft used by the Imperial German Army Air Service and the Austro-Hungarian Air Service during World War I. The D.III was flown by many top German aces, including Manfred von Richthofen, Ernst Udet, Erich Löwenhardt, Kurt Wolff, and Karl Emil Schäfer...
s. Although outnumbered the attack was pressed when Harvey-Kelly spotted six Sopwith Triplanes of No 1 Sqn RNAS. However there are conflicting reports of whether these engaged of sheered away. During the dog fight Major Harvey-Kelly being shot down by Lt Kurt Wolff
Kurt Wolff (aviator)
Oberleutnant Kurt Wolff was one of Imperial Germany's highest scoring fighter aces during World War I. After achieving 33 confirmed victories, he was killed in action at the age of 22.-Early life:...
of Jasta 11. Major Harvey-Kelly and Lieutenant Applin were reported as killed in action, although Harvey-Kelly died of head wounds three days later in a German Hospital. He is buired in the Browns Copse Cemetery, Roeux, France
Von Richthofen paid an unintended compliment to Harvey-Kelly as he perceived the new SPAD unit to have been a special squadron organised to deal with his Staffet
External links
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=567764