John C. B. Firth
Encyclopedia
Major John Charles Bradley Firth was a British World War I flying ace
credited with 11 aerial victories.
, Hants.
J. C. B. Firth of the Shropshire Light Infantry was appointed a Flying Officer
on 17 April 1917 and transferred to the General List of the Royal Flying Corps
. Having been assigned to 45 Squadron as a Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter pilot, he scored his first win on 12 July 1917; he helped drive down a German Albatros D.III
fighter out of control east of Messines
. Ten days later, he would drive another one down over Menin
. The squadron then re-equipped with Sopwith Camel
s; Firth would use this craft for his remaining nine victories.
He began by driving down an Albatros two-seater reconnaissance plane over Passchendaele on 25 September 1917. The next day, he destroyed an Albatros D.III in the same vicinity.
On 8 October 1917, Firth was appointed a Flight Commander, with an accompanying promotion to temporary captain. He set an Albatros D.III aflame on 26 October, to become an ace. On 31 October, he and Peter Carpenter
shared in the destruction of a German recon plane. He scored three "out of control" victories during November to end the year 1917 with nine wins. No. 45 Squadron then moved theaters, to Italy.
On the second day of the new year, Firth shared in the destruction of an enemy recon plane east of Conegliano
and became a double ace. On 18 February 1918, he was awarded the Military Cross for his heroics. "He has on various occasions, during a period of two months, completely destroyed two enemy planes and shot down out of control seven others. The latter, by reason of the manner
in which they were observed to go to earth, were probably all rendered useless for further service. He has set a very fine example as a patrol leader, and has displayed much skill and courage."
Firth would score one more time, driving down an Albatros D.V
over Ceggia
on 27 March 1918. On 4 September 1918, Firth was promoted to temporary major
while posted to the Central Flying School
as an instructor.
He was also awarded the Italian Bronze Medal of Military Valor
on 2 November 1918.
.
At the time of Firth's death on 23 August 1931, he was in business as a steel manufacturer and residing at Spiral House, Blyth
, Worksop
, Nottingham.
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 11 aerial victories.
Early life
Firth was the younger son of Mr. and Mrs. Bradley Firth of Bishops SuttonBishops Sutton
Bishops Sutton is a village and civil parish in the City of Winchester district of Hampshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 419....
, Hants.
World War I
Temporary LieutenantLieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
J. C. B. Firth of the Shropshire Light Infantry was appointed a 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...
on 17 April 1917 and transferred to the General List of 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...
. Having been assigned to 45 Squadron as a Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter pilot, he scored his first win on 12 July 1917; he helped drive down a German 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...
fighter out of control east of Messines
Battle of Messines
The Battle of Messines was a battle of the Western front of the First World War. It began on 7 June 1917 when the British Second Army under the command of General Herbert Plumer launched an offensive near the village of Mesen in West Flanders, Belgium...
. Ten days later, he would drive another one down over Menin
Menin
Menin may refer to:*Menin , office in Ancien Régime France*Umberto Menin, Italian artist*The French name for the Belgian town of Menen *Menin, a tumor suppressor associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1....
. The squadron then re-equipped with Sopwith Camel
Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...
s; Firth would use this craft for his remaining nine victories.
He began by driving down an Albatros two-seater reconnaissance plane over Passchendaele on 25 September 1917. The next day, he destroyed an Albatros D.III in the same vicinity.
On 8 October 1917, Firth was appointed a Flight Commander, with an accompanying promotion to temporary captain. He set an Albatros D.III aflame on 26 October, to become an ace. On 31 October, he and Peter Carpenter
Peter Carpenter
Captain Peter Carpenter was a fighter ace in World War I credited with 24 victories.-Early life:Peter Carpenter was born in Cardiff, Wales to Peter S. and Jane Carpenter, who had eight other children....
shared in the destruction of a German recon plane. He scored three "out of control" victories during November to end the year 1917 with nine wins. No. 45 Squadron then moved theaters, to Italy.
On the second day of the new year, Firth shared in the destruction of an enemy recon plane east of Conegliano
Conegliano
Conegliano is a town and comune of the Veneto region, Italy, in the province of Treviso, about north by rail from the town of Treviso. The population of the city is of around 36,000 people. The remains of a castle that was built in the 10th century remain on a nearby hill...
and became a double ace. On 18 February 1918, he was awarded the Military Cross for his heroics. "He has on various occasions, during a period of two months, completely destroyed two enemy planes and shot down out of control seven others. The latter, by reason of the manner
in which they were observed to go to earth, were probably all rendered useless for further service. He has set a very fine example as a patrol leader, and has displayed much skill and courage."
Firth would score one more time, driving down an 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....
over Ceggia
Ceggia
Ceggia is a town in the province of Venice, Veneto, Italy. SP58 and SS14 go through it....
on 27 March 1918. On 4 September 1918, Firth was promoted to temporary major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
while posted to the Central Flying School
Central Flying School
The Central Flying School is the Royal Air Force's primary institution for the training of military flying instructors. Established in 1912 it is the longest existing flying training school.-History:...
as an instructor.
He was also awarded the Italian Bronze Medal of Military Valor
Bronze Medal of Military Valor
The Bronze Medal of Military Valor is an Italian medal for gallantry.It was established by Charles Albert of Sardinia on March 26, 1833, along with the higher ranking Gold and Silver Medals for Military valor...
on 2 November 1918.
Post World War I
On 14 February 1919, Firth was transferred to the unemployed list of the Royal Air Force. On 29 April 1919, he married a minister's daughter, Ruth Ellen Hodgson, at Winchester CathedralWinchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral at Winchester in Hampshire is one of the largest cathedrals in England, with the longest nave and overall length of any Gothic cathedral in Europe...
.
At the time of Firth's death on 23 August 1931, he was in business as a steel manufacturer and residing at Spiral House, Blyth
Blyth, Nottinghamshire
Blyth is a village in the Bassetlaw district of the county of Nottinghamshire, in the East Midlands, north west of East Retford, on the River Ryton.-Geography:...
, Worksop
Worksop
Worksop is the largest town in the Bassetlaw district of Nottinghamshire, England on the River Ryton at the northern edge of Sherwood Forest. It is about east-south-east of the City of Sheffield and its population is estimated to be 39,800...
, Nottingham.