Lieutenant

Lieutenant

A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...

 Leonard Monteagle Barlow, MC

Military Cross

The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....

 and 2 Bars

Medal bar

A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...

, (5 June 1898 – 5 February 1918) was a British World War I flying ace. He was born in Islington

Islington

Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...

, 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...

 and studied electrical engineering prior to joining the Royal Flying Corps

Royal 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...

.

Barlow was posted to No. 56 Squadron

No. 56 Squadron RAF

Number 56 Squadron is one of the oldest and most successful squadrons of the Royal Air Force, with battle honours from many of the significant air campaigns of both World War I and World War II...

 and scored 20 victories whilst serving with the squadron, being awarded the Military Cross

Military Cross

The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....

 three times for his outstanding airmanship and bravery.

Dubbed 'The Gadget King', due to his inventiveness, Barlow developed an ingenious way of firing both of his SE5a aircraft's machine guns at the same time. On 25 September he claimed 3 Albatros fighters of Jasta 10

Jasta 10

Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 10 was a World War I "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, which was the forerunner to the Luftwaffe. Jasta 10, in its brief existence, was credited with 118 enemy planes and 33 enemy observation balloons destroyed...

, Lt. Weigand and Uzz. Werkmeister being killed and one other pilot wounded.

On 5 February 1918, Barlow was killed at Martlesham Heath

Martlesham Heath

Martlesham Heath village is situated 6 miles east of Ipswich, in Suffolk, England. This was an ancient area of heathland and latterly the site of Martlesham Heath Airfield...

 whilst test flying a Sopwith Dolphin which broke up in mid air.

His final tally consisted of 12 and 1 shared destroyed, 6 and 1 shared 'out of control'.

Honours and awards

• 25 August 1917 - 2nd Lieutenant Leonard Monteagle Barlow, MC, RFC, Special Reserve is awarded the Military Cross
  Military Cross
  The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
  
  :

• 16 October 1917 - 2nd Lieutenant Leonard Monteagle Barlow, MC, RFC, Special Reserve is awarded a bar to the Military Cross:

• 27 October 1917 - Lieutenant Leonard Monteagle Barlow, MC, RFC, Special Reserve Canadian Force is awarded a second bar the Military Cross.