John Letts (aviator)
Encyclopedia
Captain John Herbert Towne Letts was a British World War I flying ace
credited with 13 confirmed victories.
.
, Letts and his observer helped another British two-seater crewed by Alan Wilkinson
and Laurence W. Allen
to drive two German Albatros D.III
fighters down out of control east of Arras
for his first two victories.
Letts next changed to a Bristol F.2 Fighter
and scored on 4 May 1917. A week later, he was shot down and slightly wounded in the course of winning his fourth victory. He promptly shot down two Albatros D.III
s the following day to become an ace. He continued to amass victories, reaching thirteen by 15 September 1917. During this period, he was awarded the Military Cross on 16 August 1917.
2nd Lt. (T./Capt.) John Herbert Towne-
Letts, Line. R. and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty. He attacked four large two-seaters,
driving two down out of control and forcing;
the remaining two down. He has helped to
destroy eight machines, and throughout has
set a splendid example.
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 victories.
Early life
Letts was the sole child of Helen and Walter Letts of Steep Hill House, Lincoln. He attended RMC Sandhurst before serving in the Lincolnshires. He then transferred to the predecessor of the RAF, 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...
.
Aerial service
It is not known when or where he became a pilot, but he flew with 27 Squadron in 1916. He transferred to 48 Squadron as it moved to the front in France. He was appointed a Flight Commander on 5 April 1917, after the squadron's first flight, in which William Leefe-Robinson was lost. In the afternoon of 9 April, flying a two-seater Bristol FighterBristol Fighter
Bristol Fighter may refer to:*Bristol F.2 Fighter aircraft*Bristol Beaufighter aircraft*Bristol Fighter , an automobile by Bristol Cars...
, Letts and his observer helped another British two-seater crewed by Alan Wilkinson
Alan Wilkinson (aviator)
Lieutenant Colonel Alan Machin Wilkinson became a flying ace early in World War I.-Early life and service:...
and Laurence W. Allen
Laurence W. Allen
Laurence Wilfred Allen was an English World War I flying ace. He was credited with ten confirmed victories while serving as an observer/gunner in Bristol F.2 Fighters.-World War I:...
to drive two German Albatros D.III
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...
fighters down out of control east of Arras
Arras
Arras is the capital of the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. The historic centre of the Artois region, its local speech is characterized as a Picard dialect...
for his first two victories.
Letts next changed to a Bristol F.2 Fighter
Bristol F.2 Fighter
The Bristol F.2 Fighter was a British two-seat biplane fighter and reconnaissance aircraft of the First World War flown by the Royal Flying Corps. It is often simply called the Bristol Fighter or popularly the "Brisfit" or "Biff". Despite being a two-seater, the F.2B proved to be an agile aircraft...
and scored on 4 May 1917. A week later, he was shot down and slightly wounded in the course of winning his fourth victory. He promptly shot down two Albatros D.III
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 the following day to become an ace. He continued to amass victories, reaching thirteen by 15 September 1917. During this period, he was awarded the Military Cross on 16 August 1917.
Death
Letts was apparently withdrawn from action at some point after this. He returned to the front in 1918, being assigned to a Flight Commander's position on 64 Squadron, but on loan to 87 Squadron. On 11 October 1918, he took off in a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a belonging to No. 32 Squadron RAF. It rolled in and crashed during the takeoff, killing Letts instantly. He is buried in grave VI. A. 30 in Bar-de-Sud British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.Awards and honors
Military Cross2nd Lt. (T./Capt.) John Herbert Towne-
Letts, Line. R. and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty. He attacked four large two-seaters,
driving two down out of control and forcing;
the remaining two down. He has helped to
destroy eight machines, and throughout has
set a splendid example.
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.