Sydney Pope
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Sydney Leo Gregory Pope was a World War I flying ace
credited with six aerial victories. He made the Royal Air Force his career, serving up until World War II. Retired 1946 after serving in Bomber command B5 Group
Officer Training Corps in 1916. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in May 1916. He was assigned to 60 Squadron in Bloody April
1917, where he originally flew a Nieuport
fighter. Pope scored twice with a Nieuport, on 8 and 20 June 1917. He then upgraded to a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5 and destroyed an Albatros D.III
on 16 September. Switching to a slightly improved SE.5a, he destroyed two reconnaissance planes on 8 November and a D.III on the 11th. One week later, he was wounded and forced to land near Saint Julien. He ended the war with a Military Cross.
as a Wing Commander
. He ended his career as an Air Commodore
.
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 made the Royal Air Force his career, serving up until World War II. Retired 1946 after serving in Bomber command B5 Group
World War I
Pope joined the Inns of CourtInns of Court
The Inns of Court in London are the professional associations for barristers in England and Wales. All such barristers must belong to one such association. They have supervisory and disciplinary functions over their members. The Inns also provide libraries, dining facilities and professional...
Officer Training Corps in 1916. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in May 1916. He was assigned to 60 Squadron in Bloody April
Bloody April
During the First World War, the month of April 1917 was known as Bloody April by the Royal Flying Corps . The RFC suffered particularly severe losses — about three times as many as the Imperial German Army Air Service over the same period — but continued its primary role in support of the ground...
1917, where he originally flew a Nieuport
Nieuport
Nieuport, later Nieuport-Delage, was a French aeroplane company that primarily built racing aircraft before World War I and fighter aircraft during World War I and between the wars.-Beginnings:...
fighter. Pope scored twice with a Nieuport, on 8 and 20 June 1917. He then upgraded to a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5 and destroyed 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...
on 16 September. Switching to a slightly improved SE.5a, he destroyed two reconnaissance planes on 8 November and a D.III on the 11th. One week later, he was wounded and forced to land near Saint Julien. He ended the war with a Military Cross.
Postwar service
He served in Iraq and Egypt. In 1932, he commanded 54 Squadron. He was awarded an Air Force Cross. By 1939, he was in command of RAF DebdenRAF Debden
RAF Debden is a former RAF airfield in England. The field is located 3 miles SE of Saffron Walden and approximately 1 mile north of the village of Debden in North Essex.-RAF Fighter Command:...
as a 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...
. He ended his career as an Air Commodore
Air Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
.