Harold Day (aviator)
Encyclopedia
Flight Sub-Lieutenant Harold Day (17 April 1897–5 February 1918), DSC
was a Welsh-born World War I flying ace
credited with 11 confirmed aerial victories.
pilot for 10 Naval Squadron. He scored his first aerial victory with them, sending an Albatros D.V
down out of control on 12 August 1917. He then switched to 8 Naval Squadron and a Sopwith Camel
for his remaining ten victories. During December 1917, he teamed with Guy William Price
to drive down DFW
two-seater reconnaissance planes on three different days. Fighting solo, Day destroyed one enemy plane and drove down three others during January 1918. On 2 February 1918, he joined Robert J. O. Compston
and three other RNAS pilots in destroying a German recon plane, and in driving down an Albatros D.V later in the day. On 5 February, he joined three other RNAS pilots in destroying a reconnaissance machine; that brought his total to one enemy plane destroyed solo, two more shared, and eight driven down out of control. He then dived on another German plane. Day's Camel came to pieces during the dive, plummeting him to his death. Günther Schuster of Jasta 29
was credited with the victory over Day.
Day was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, which was gazetted 22 February 1918.
Fit. Sub-Lieut. Harold Day, R.N.A.S.
In recognition of the skill and determination shown by him in aerial combats, in the course of which he has done much to stop enemy artillery machines from working. On the 6th January, 1918, he observed a new type enemy aeroplane. He immediately dived to attack, and after a short combat the enemy machine went down very steeply, and was seen to crash. On several other occasions he has brought down enemy machines out of control.
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
was a Welsh-born World War I 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 11 confirmed aerial victories.
World War I
Harold Day originally served as a Sopwith TriplaneSopwith Triplane
The Sopwith Triplane was a British single seat fighter aircraft designed and manufactured by the Sopwith Aviation Company during the First World War. Pilots nicknamed it the Tripehound or simply the Tripe. The Triplane became operational with the Royal Naval Air Service in early 1917 and was...
pilot for 10 Naval Squadron. He scored his first aerial victory with them, sending an 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....
down out of control on 12 August 1917. He then switched to 8 Naval Squadron and 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...
for his remaining ten victories. During December 1917, he teamed with Guy William Price
Guy William Price
Flight Commander Guy William Price was a Royal Naval Air Service flying ace during World War I. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and Bar within a 22 day period.-World War I:...
to drive down DFW
DFW
DFW may refer to:*Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport*Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, a metropolitan area in north Texas*Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources*Division of Fisheries and Wildlife...
two-seater reconnaissance planes on three different days. Fighting solo, Day destroyed one enemy plane and drove down three others during January 1918. On 2 February 1918, he joined Robert J. O. Compston
Robert J. O. Compston
Major Robert John Orton Compston DSC**, DFC was an English fighter pilot credited with 25 victories during World War I...
and three other RNAS pilots in destroying a German recon plane, and in driving down an Albatros D.V later in the day. On 5 February, he joined three other RNAS pilots in destroying a reconnaissance machine; that brought his total to one enemy plane destroyed solo, two more shared, and eight driven down out of control. He then dived on another German plane. Day's Camel came to pieces during the dive, plummeting him to his death. Günther Schuster of Jasta 29
Jagdstaffel 29
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 29, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 29, was a World War I "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, which was the forerunner of the Luftwaffe...
was credited with the victory over Day.
Day was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, which was gazetted 22 February 1918.
Reference
- Franks, NormanNorman FranksNorman Leslie Robert Franks is an English writer who specialises in aviation books on the pilots and squadrons of World Wars I and II.-Biography:...
, Sopwith Camel Aces of World War 1: Volume 52 of Aircraft of the Aces. Osprey Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1841765341, 9781841765341.
Honors and awards
Text of citation accompanying award of the Distinguished Service CrossFit. Sub-Lieut. Harold Day, R.N.A.S.
In recognition of the skill and determination shown by him in aerial combats, in the course of which he has done much to stop enemy artillery machines from working. On the 6th January, 1918, he observed a new type enemy aeroplane. He immediately dived to attack, and after a short combat the enemy machine went down very steeply, and was seen to crash. On several other occasions he has brought down enemy machines out of control.