William H. Farrow
Encyclopedia
Captain William Hastings Farrow was a World War I flying ace
credited with 10 aerial victories. He would pursue a military career well into the 1920s before resigning in 1926. Like many World War I aces, he returned to the military for World War II, rising to Wing Commander. He was honored for his feats by induction into the Order of the British Empire.
was commissioned second lieutenant
in the Royal Flying Corps
. On 28 July 1916, Flying Officer
Farrow was listed on general list of RFC, but not as an Engineer; he was no longer seconded. On 27 December 1916, he scored his first aerial victory while posted to 47 Squadron. Scoring one of the few wins ever credited to an Armstrong Whitworth F.K.3
, he and his observer teamed with another British aircrew to drive a German reconnaissance plane down out of control over Hudova.
Farrow spent from 8 December 1917–11 January 1918 posted to 28 Training Squadron. He then transferred to 64 Squadron as a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a pilot. Beginning on 11 May 1918, he fought and beat nine German fighter planes in aerial combat. By 5 September 1918, he had burned two German fighters, destroyed three, and driven four more down out of control.
His valor won him the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), which was gazetted 2 November 1918:
On 4 September 1923, he was granted probationary commission as a Flying Officer in the Class A Reserves of the RAF.
On 4 March 1924, he was confirmed in rank as a Pilot Officer
.
On 4 September 1926, he surrendered his commission upon completion of service.
.
On 9 September 1940, he was confirmed in rank as a Pilot Officer.
He was promoted from Squadron Leader to temporary Wing Commander
effective 1 September 1942.
On 1 January 1943, Wing Commander William Hastings Farrow of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
was appointed to the Order of the British Empire
. His fate after that is unknown.
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 10 aerial victories. He would pursue a military career well into the 1920s before resigning in 1926. Like many World War I aces, he returned to the military for World War II, rising to Wing Commander. He was honored for his feats by induction into the Order of the British Empire.
World War I
On 3 June 1916, William Hastings Farrow of the Royal EngineersRoyal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
was commissioned second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in 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...
. On 28 July 1916, Flying Officer
Flying 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...
Farrow was listed on general list of RFC, but not as an Engineer; he was no longer seconded. On 27 December 1916, he scored his first aerial victory while posted to 47 Squadron. Scoring one of the few wins ever credited to an Armstrong Whitworth F.K.3
Armstrong Whitworth F.K.3
-See also:...
, he and his observer teamed with another British aircrew to drive a German reconnaissance plane down out of control over Hudova.
Farrow spent from 8 December 1917–11 January 1918 posted to 28 Training Squadron. He then transferred to 64 Squadron as a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a pilot. Beginning on 11 May 1918, he fought and beat nine German fighter planes in aerial combat. By 5 September 1918, he had burned two German fighters, destroyed three, and driven four more down out of control.
His valor won him the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), which was gazetted 2 November 1918:
Post World War I
On 21 April 1919, Farrow transferred to the unemployed list of the RAF. On 11 April 1921 Flying Officer Farrow returned to active list for temporary duty, being returned to the unemployed list of the Royal Air Force on 5 June 1921.On 4 September 1923, he was granted probationary commission as a Flying Officer in the Class A Reserves of the RAF.
On 4 March 1924, he was confirmed in rank as a Pilot Officer
Pilot Officer
Pilot officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below flying officer...
.
On 4 September 1926, he surrendered his commission upon completion of service.
World War II
Farrow returned to his nation's service for World War II; he was commissioned as a probationary Flying Officer on 9 September 1939. On 22 December 1939, he was appointed as a War Substantive Flight LieutenantFlight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
.
On 9 September 1940, he was confirmed in rank as a Pilot Officer.
He was promoted from Squadron Leader to temporary Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
effective 1 September 1942.
On 1 January 1943, Wing Commander William Hastings Farrow of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
The Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve consists of a number of groupings of individual military reservists for the management and operation of the Royal Air Force's Air Training Corps and CCF Air Cadet formations, Volunteer Gliding Squadrons , Air Experience Flights, and also to form the...
was appointed to the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
. His fate after that is unknown.
List of aerial victories
| No. | Date/time | Aircraft | Foe | Result | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22 December 1916 @ 1030 hours | Armstrong Whitworth F. K. 3 serial number 5528 | Enemy reconnaissance plane | Driven down out of control | Hudova | Observer was F. C. Brooks. Shared victory. |
| 2 | 17 May 1918 @ 1925 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n C6458 | Fokker Triplane Fokker Dr.I The Fokker Dr.I Dreidecker was a World War I fighter aircraft built by Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. The Dr.I saw widespread service in the spring of 1918... fighter |
Destroyed by fire | Lagnicourt | |
| 3 | 27 May 1918 @ 1100 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n C6402 | 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.... fighter |
Driven down out of control | Cagnicourt Cagnicourt Cagnicourt is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais département in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A farming village located 11 miles southeast of Arras at the junction of the D13 with the D14E.-Population:... |
|
| 4 | 31 May 1918 @ 1940 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a | Pfalz D.III Pfalz D.III |-See also:-Bibliography:* Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962. ISBN 0-93385-271-1.* Grosz, Peter M. Pfalz D.IIIa . Berkhamsted, Herts, UK: Albatros Publications, 1995. ISBN 0-94841-425-1.* Guttman, Jon. Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1 ... fighter |
Destroyed | La Bassée La Bassée La Bassée is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.-Heraldry:-History:La Bassée was the birthplace of the painter and draftsman Louis-Léopold Boilly .-References:*... |
|
| 5 | 31 May 1918 @ 1942 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a | Pfalz D.III | Driven down out of control | La Bassée | |
| 6 | 21 August 1918 @ 1630 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n E5941 | Fokker D.VII Fokker D.VII The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft... |
Destroyed | Northeast of Douai Douai -Main sights:Douai's ornate Gothic style belfry was begun in 1380, on the site of an earlier tower. The 80 m high structure includes an impressive carillon, consisting of 62 bells spanning 5 octaves. The originals, some dating from 1391 were removed in 1917 during World War I by the occupying... |
|
| 7 | 22 August 1918 @ 2200 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n E5941 | Fokker D.VII | Destroyed by fire | Queant Quéant Quéant is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Quéant is situated southeast of Arras, at the junction of the D14 and D22 roads... |
|
| 8 | 25 August 1918 @ 0900 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n E5941 | Fokker D.VII | Driven down out of control | Haucourt Haucourt Haucourt is the name or part of the name of several communes in France:* Haucourt, Oise, in the Oise department* Haucourt, Pas-de-Calais, in the Pas-de-Calais department* Haucourt, Seine-Maritime, in the Seine-Maritime department... |
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| 9 | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n E5941 | Fokker D.VII | Driven down out of control | Aubencheul | ||
| 10 | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n C1874 | Fokker D.VII | Destroyed | Northeast of Cambrai Cambrai Cambrai is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Cambrai is the seat of an archdiocese whose jurisdiction was immense during the Middle Ages. The territory of the Bishopric of Cambrai, roughly coinciding with the shire of Brabant, included... |
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