Thomas Hunter (aviator)
Encyclopedia
Captain Thomas Vicars Hunter was a World War I
flying ace
credited with five aerial victories. He had a leg amputated because of wounds suffered as an infantryman; he was the first known military pilot to qualify as a pilot and fly combat despite that disability.
Hunter was educated at Eton and RMC Sandhurst. He joined the Rifle Brigade and was commissioned in December 1914. The following month, he was so seriously wounded in battle that his leg had to be amputated. Early in 1917, he joined the Royal Flying Corps
. His nickname "Sticky" referred to his wooden leg; he was known to remove it during rowdy parties to keep it whole.
During his assignment to 66 Squadron, he used his Sopwith Pup
to score five triumphs between 12 July and 8 November 1917. He became a flight commander in September 1917. He was killed in a flying accident on 5 December, just after his squadron had shifted from the Western Front
to Italy.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
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 five aerial victories. He had a leg amputated because of wounds suffered as an infantryman; he was the first known military pilot to qualify as a pilot and fly combat despite that disability.
Hunter was educated at Eton and RMC Sandhurst. He joined the Rifle Brigade and was commissioned in December 1914. The following month, he was so seriously wounded in battle that his leg had to be amputated. Early in 1917, he joined 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...
. His nickname "Sticky" referred to his wooden leg; he was known to remove it during rowdy parties to keep it whole.
During his assignment to 66 Squadron, he used his 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...
to score five triumphs between 12 July and 8 November 1917. He became a flight commander in September 1917. He was killed in a flying accident on 5 December, just after his squadron had shifted from the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
to Italy.