Air Vice Marshal Arthur Lee

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Lee_(RAF_officer)

Air Vice Marshal Arthur Stanley Gould Lee, MC (31 August 1894 – 21 May 1975) was a senior officer of the Royal Air Force (RAF). He began his flying career in the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War, scoring seven confirmed victories to become a flying ace and rising to the rank of captain. He continued his service in the RAF, serving throughout the Second World War before retiring in 1946 to devote himself to writing, including several volumes of autobiography.

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Pilot shot down three times in nine days!

Arthur Stanley Gould Lee

Arthur was born in Boston, Lincolnshire in August 1894.

He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in February 1915 and joined the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment.

He subsequently transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in January 1917.

During training he broke a leg which delayed his deployment to the front. This delay enabled him to acquire many more flying hours that most new arrivals in France.

He was posted to 46 Squadron on 22nd May 1917 to fly Sopwith Pups. Four days after his arrival and very much a novice he was lucky to survive a surprise attack from an enemy two seater that wounded him in the leg.

On 1st July he was promoted to Lieutenant.

He fought throughout the summer and autumn of 1917 during which time he was credited with sending five enemy aircraft down out of control. Two of these victories were shared with other pilots.

The battle of Cambrai started on 20th November 1917 and 46 Squadron who were now flying a mixture of Pups and Sopwith Camels were heavily engaged.

During the battle he flew bombing missions, some at 50 feet in fog, and was brought down by ground fire three times in nine days.

For his actions during this very hectic period Arthur was awarded the Military Cross.

The citation published in the London Gazette read as follows:-
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He bombed an enemy battery and fired on their gunners with his machine gun, and then attacked and drove off three enemy machines. While flying in very low clouds he lost his way, and could not steady his compass, and after flying for some distance, in what he believed to be the direction of our lines, he landed in open country, and was at once attacked and fired on by enemy cavalry. He had kept his engine running and succeeded in getting off, and, having fired on the enemy, found his position and returned to our lines. On another occasion he made a flight in a very thick mist, drove down an enemy machine, bombed an enemy position, and assisted the infantry to repel an enemy attack. He showed splendid courage and initiative”

He destroyed two enemy aircraft on 30th November 1917.

In total he spent eight months flying at the front during which time he accumulated 222 hours in 118 operational flights and participated in combat 56 times.

He had a long and distinguished career in the RAF eventually retiring in 1946 with the rank of Air Vice Marshal.

He wrote about his First World War experiences in two excellent books No Parachute and Open Cockpit.

Arthur Stanley Gould Lee died in 1975 aged 80.