William Mayes Fry
Encyclopedia
Captain William Mayes Fry MC
, RAF
(born 14 November 1896 – 4 August 1992) was a World War I Royal Flying Corps
and Royal Air Force fighter ace
. He was credited with eleven aerial victories, piloting no fewer than four different types of fighter plane. William Mayes Fry also has the distinction of being one of the few World War I airmen to survive to the 1990s.
. After his transfer to aviation, he piloted Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2
s in the beginning, for 12 Squadron, then for 11 Squadron through the Battle of the Somme. His C Flight was then put into 60 Squadron. He scored his first win on 2 May 1917; two days later, he shared a victory with Billy Bishop. His fifth victory, an Albatros D.III
driven down out of control on 16 June, was split with Keith Caldwell
. During this time, he flew Morane-Saulnier Is and Nieuport 17
s; another of his squadronmates was Albert Ball
. On 16 August 1917 he was awarded the Military Cross
:
After a transfer to 23 Squadron as Flight Commander of C Flight, he used a Spad VII for wins on 20 November and 12 December 1917. He upgraded to a Spad XIII for his next win, on 4 January 1918. Two days later, he was back in a Spad VII, hunting in company with Frank Granger Quigley
. They jointly shot down and killed Pour le Merite
winner Leutnant Walter von Bülow-Bothkamp
. Fry would score once more in a Spad XIII, flaming an Albatros on 23 January. He then switched into 79 Squadron. There he marked his last victim, using a Sopwith Dolphin to down a Fokker Triplane
on 11 May 1918. For his final tally, besides destroying the two enemy fighters in company with Bishop and Quigley and flaming the Albatros, Mays had destroyed two other enemy planes, captured one, and driven down four others.
before retirement.
In 1934 Fry became engaged to Katherine Mary Carrington, the daughter of Major General
Sir Frederick Carrington
, KCB
, KCMG
.
Fry returned to service for the duration of World War II, serving from 1939 through 1945.
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....
, RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
(born 14 November 1896 – 4 August 1992) was a World War I 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...
and Royal Air Force fighter 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...
. He was credited with eleven aerial victories, piloting no fewer than four different types of fighter plane. William Mayes Fry also has the distinction of being one of the few World War I airmen to survive to the 1990s.
World War I
Mays served in the infantry before transferring to the RFC in December 1915. On 7 June 1915 Fry was appointed a Temporary Second LieutenantSecond 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...
. After his transfer to aviation, he piloted Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2
Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2
The Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 was a British single-engine two-seat biplane which was in service with the Royal Flying Corps from 1912 until the end of World War I. The "Bleriot" in its designation refers to the fact that, like the Bleriot types it was of tractor configuration, with the...
s in the beginning, for 12 Squadron, then for 11 Squadron through the Battle of the Somme. His C Flight was then put into 60 Squadron. He scored his first win on 2 May 1917; two days later, he shared a victory with Billy Bishop. His fifth victory, an 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...
driven down out of control on 16 June, was split with Keith Caldwell
Keith Caldwell
Air Commodore Keith Logan "Grid" Caldwell CBE, MC, DFC & Bar was a New Zealand fighter ace of the Royal Flying Corps in World War I who also rose to the rank of Air Commodore in the Royal New Zealand Air Force during World War II.-Early life:Born in Wellington, the son of David Robert Caldwell and...
. During this time, he flew Morane-Saulnier Is and Nieuport 17
Nieuport 17
|-Specifications :-See also:-Bibliography:* Bruce, Jack. "Those Classic Nieuports". Air Enthusiast Quarterly. Number Two, 1976. Bromley, UK:Pilot Press. pp. 137–153....
s; another of his squadronmates was Albert Ball
Albert Ball
Albert Ball VC, DSO & Two Bars, MC was an English fighter pilot of the First World War and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British or Commonwealth armed forces...
. On 16 August 1917 he was 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....
:
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion duty. Diving to a very low altitude, and under heavy fire, he emptied all his ammunition into the retreating enemy. During the last month he has brought down four hostile machines. He has done consistent good work as a pilot."
After a transfer to 23 Squadron as Flight Commander of C Flight, he used a Spad VII for wins on 20 November and 12 December 1917. He upgraded to a Spad XIII for his next win, on 4 January 1918. Two days later, he was back in a Spad VII, hunting in company with Frank Granger Quigley
Frank Granger Quigley
Frank Granger Quigley DSO, MC & Bar was a Canadian World War I flying ace who was credited with 33 victories. He was notable for scoring the majority of his victories against German fighter planes.-Early life and service:...
. They jointly shot down and killed Pour le Merite
Pour le Mérite
The Pour le Mérite, known informally as the Blue Max , was the Kingdom of Prussia's highest military order for German soldiers until the end of World War I....
winner Leutnant Walter von Bülow-Bothkamp
Walter von Bülow-Bothkamp
Walter von Bülow-Bothkamp , Pour le Merite, Military Order of Saint Henry, Iron Cross was a German fighter ace from an aristocratic family who was credited with 28 victories.- Early life :...
. Fry would score once more in a Spad XIII, flaming an Albatros on 23 January. He then switched into 79 Squadron. There he marked his last victim, using a Sopwith Dolphin to down a 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...
on 11 May 1918. For his final tally, besides destroying the two enemy fighters in company with Bishop and Quigley and flaming the Albatros, Mays had destroyed two other enemy planes, captured one, and driven down four others.
Postwar
Fry remained in the RAF postwar, rising to Wing CommanderWing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
before retirement.
In 1934 Fry became engaged to Katherine Mary Carrington, the daughter of Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Sir Frederick Carrington
Frederick Carrington
Major General Sir Frederick Carrington KCB, KCMG , was a British soldier and friend of Cecil John Rhodes...
, KCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, KCMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
.
Fry returned to service for the duration of World War II, serving from 1939 through 1945.