Group Captain William Victor Strugnell (23 July 1892 - 1977) was a 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 six aerial victories. He went on to a long career in the Royal Air Force, eventually rising to Group Captain

Group Captain

Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...

 and serving through World War II.

Pre-World War I service

Strugnell's father was a sergeant major. At age 15, Strugnell joined the Royal Engineers

Royal 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....

 as a bugler. He then transferred to the Hampshire Regiment as a sapper before 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...

. He was a prewar pilot, having been the third noncommissioned officer in the British military to receive a pilot's license, in 1912. He served with both 3 and 5 Squadrons before the war began. Once the war started, he went to France as a member of 1 Squadron.

World War I

Effective 27 June 1915, Sergeant Strugnell was commissioned a second lieutenant. On 5 February 1916, he piloted a Morane-Saulnier

Morane-Saulnier

Aéroplanes Morane-Saulnier is a French aircraft manufacturing company formed in October 1911 by Raymond Saulnier and the Morane brothers, Leon and Robert...

 that drove down an Aviatik C.I

Aviatik C.I

-References:*van Wyngarden, G. Early German Aces of World War 1. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2006. ISBN 1-84176-997-5*Taylor, Michael J H. Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. Portland House, 1989. ISBN 0-517-69186-8...

 reconnaissance plane for his first victory. On 2 June 1916, he was awarded a Military Cross.

He spent some time on instruction duty before returning to action flying a Sopwith Pup

Sopwith Pup

The Sopwith Pup was a British single seater biplane fighter aircraft built by the Sopwith Aviation Company. It entered service with the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service in the autumn of 1916. With pleasant flying characteristics and good maneuverability, the aircraft proved very...

 in 54 Squadron as flight commander of A Flight. On 19 March 1917, he shared in the setting afire of a German reconnaissance plane. On 14 April and 1 May, he sent another recon plane and 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...

 down out of control. On 11 May 1917, he cooperated with fellow aces Oliver Sutton

Oliver Sutton (aviator)

Captain Oliver Manners Sutton was a World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.-Early life:Sutton's parents were Algernon Charles and Winifred Alice Sutton of "Woodcroft", Tunbridge Wells, Kent.-World War I service:...

, Maurice D. G. Scott

Maurice D. G. Scott

Captain Maurice Douglas Guest Scott was a British World War I flying ace credited with 12 official victories while a member of the Royal Flying Corps. He scored as both an aerial observer and a pilot; he was successful while serving with three different squadrons.-Early life:Scott's origins are murky...

, and three other pilots in destroying a recon plane; Strugnell then singlehandedly destroyed an Albatros D.III. He finished the war as a major.

Post World War I

Strugnell remained in the Royal Air Force, serving in Iraq and Egypt. He was promoted from Squadron Leader

Squadron Leader

Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...

 to 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...

 on 1 July 1928. He was promoted to Group Captain on 1 July 1934. He retired in 1945. As of 12 February 1951, he was still being carried as a Flight Lieutenant

Flight 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"...

 in the reserves. Exactly eight years later, on 12 February 1959, he finally gave up his commission.

Honours and awards

Military Cross (MC) awarded 2 June 1916.

Military Cross (MC) Bar

"Lt. (temp. Capt.) William Victor Strugnell, M.C., Hamps. E. and R.F.C.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. While leading an offensive patrol he attacked and brought down a hostile machine. Later, in the same patrol, he brought down a second machine. In all he has accounted for five machines and a kite balloon. (M.C. gazetted June 3rd, 1916.)"

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 0948817194, 9780948817199.
• Sopwith Pup Aces of World War 1. Norman Franks. Osprey Publishing, 2005. ISBN 1841768863, 9781841768861.