Anthony Arnold

Group Captain Anthony Rex Arnold DSC DFC (26 August 1896 – 25 May 1954) was a British World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.[2][3]

Anthony Rex Arnold
Born(1896-08-26)26 August 1896
Fareham, Hampshire, England
Died25 May 1954(1954-05-25) (aged 57)
Mozambique
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Flying Corps
Royal Air Force
Years of service1914 – after 1936
RankGroup Captain
UnitNo. 8 Squadron RNAS
Commands heldNo. 79 Squadron RAF
AwardsDistinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross
Belgian Croix de Guerre[1]
Other workServed as Group Captain in 1936

Early life

Arnold was born to Mary Delamere Tylor and Charles Lowther Arnold on 26 August 1896,[4] in Fareham, Hampshire, England, a great-great-grandson of Gen. Benedict Arnold.[2]

Early service

Arnold was confirmed in the rank of Flight Sub-Lieutenant, effective from 1 August 1914, when he was assigned to HMS Pembroke on 5 October 1914.[5] He was granted aviators certificate No. 876 on 28 August 1914.[6] He was promoted to Flight Lieutenant on 31 December 1914.[7][8] Arnold was elected to membership of the Royal Aero Club on 5 October 1915.[9]

Aerial victories

Assigned to No. 8 Naval Squadron RNAS, he began his victory string on 8 April 1917 and finished with his fifth win on 13 June 1917. He flew a Sopwith Triplane for all five wins. He then was posted to instructor duty and promoted Major in the newly formed RAF. His majority brought him command of No. 79 Squadron.[2][10]

On 26 April 1918 Arnold was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross,[11] and received the Distinguished Flying Cross on 1 January 1919.[12]

Post World War I

He remained in the postwar RAF. On 1 January 1930, he was promoted from Squadron Leader to Wing Commander,[13] and was promoted to Group Captain on 1 January 1936.[14][15]

By the 1950s, he was working for a bank. He died in Mozambique in 1954.[3]

References
  1. "World War I Military Medals and Decorations - Belgium - Croix de Guerre (War Cross)". theaerodrome.com. 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  2. "Anthony Rex Arnold". theaerodrome.com. 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  3. "Anthony Rex Arnold". Ancestry.co.uk. 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  4. "Genealogy File: Anthony Rex Arnold, 26 Aug 1896 - ?". royalblood.co.uk. 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  5. "Royal Naval Air Service: Announcements". Flight. VI (304): 1058. 23 October 1914. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  6. "Aviator's Certificates". Flight. VI (296): 900. 28 August 1914. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  7. "The Royal Naval Air Service: Promotions". Flight. VII (315): 20. 8 January 1915. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  8. "No. 29024". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 1914. p. 6.
  9. "Election of Members". Flight. VII (352): 760. 8 October 1915. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  10. Shores et.al. (1990), p.53.
  11. "No. 30654". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 April 1918. p. 5059.
  12. "No. 31098". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1918. p. 96.
  13. "New Year Promotions". Flight. XXII (1097): 92. 3 January 1930. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  14. "No. 34237". The London Gazette. 31 December 1935. p. 8407.
  15. "Half Yearly Promotions". Flight. XXIX (1141): 50. 9 January 1936. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  • Shores, Christopher F.; Franks, Norman; Guest, Russell (1990). Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 0-948817-19-4.
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