Flying Officer John Wilson Wallwork (1898 – 18 December 1922) was a British

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

flying ace A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviation, military aviator credited with shooting down a certain minimum number of enemy aircraft during aerial combat; the exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ...

credited with five aerial victories.

Biography

Wallwork was born Radcliffe,

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated ''Lancs'') is a ceremonial county in North West England. It is bordered by Cumbria to the north, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire to the east, Greater Manchester and Merseyside to the south, and the Irish Sea to ...

, the son of James and Marian Stuart Wallwork. He was commissioned from cadet to temporary second lieutenant (on probation) on the General List to serve in the

Royal Flying Corps The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was the air arm of the British Army before and during the First World War until it merged with the Royal Naval Air Service on 1 April 1918 to form the Royal Air Force. During the early part of the war, the RFC sup ...

on 20 April 1917, and appointed a flying officer and confirmed in his rank on 15 July. Wallwork was posted to No. 40 Squadron RFC to fly the

S.E.5a The Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 is a British biplane fighter aircraft of the First World War. It was developed at the Royal Aircraft Factory by a team consisting of Henry Folland, John Kenworthy and Major Frank Goodden. It was one of the ...

single-seat fighter, and gained his first aerial victory on 6 March 1918. He gained two more on 9 March and another on the 24th. His fifth and final victory, which made him an ace, came on 12 April 1918. He was subsequently awarded the

Military Cross The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level until 1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) Other ranks (UK), other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth of ...

, which was gazetted on 23 July 1918. His citation read: :Lieutenant John Wilson Wallwork, RAF. ::"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During recent operations he participated in many offensive low-flying and bombing attacks, and carried them out with great courage and determination. From very low altitudes he bombed enemy troops and transport, inflicting heavy casualties. He caused, while on offensive patrol, more than one enemy machine to crash, and brought down others out of control. He set a magnificent example of courage and skill."

List of aerial victories

Post-war career

Wallwork was granted a short service commission in the Royal Air Force with the rank of

flying officer Flying officer (Fg Offr or F/O) is a junior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. Flying officer is immediately ...

on 24 October 1919. In the 1922 annual RAF air display at

Hendon Aerodrome Hendon Aerodrome was an aerodrome in London, England, that was an important centre for aviation from 1908 to 1968. It was situated in Colindale, north west of Charing Cross. It nearly became a central hub of civil aviation ("the Charing Cros ...

Wallwork took part in an air race between various types of aircraft, from the

Sopwith Pup The Sopwith Pup is a British single-seater biplane fighter aircraft built by the Sopwith Aviation Company. It entered service with the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps in the autumn of 1916. With pleasant flying characteristi ...

single-seat fighter to the

Vickers Vimy The Vickers Vimy was a British heavy bomber aircraft developed and manufactured by Vickers Limited. Developed during the latter stages of the First World War to equip the Royal Flying Corps (RFC), the Vimy was designed by Rex Pierson, Vickers ...

twin-engined heavy bomber, in which he flew a prototype Westland Weasel two-seater. The eventual winner was another prototype, the

Avro 549 Aldershot The Avro 549 Aldershot was a British single-engined heavy bomber aircraft built by Avro. Development and design The Aldershot was designed to meet the 1920 British Specification 2/20 for a heavy long-range day and night bomber to be powered by ...

, with Wallwork coming second, closely followed by Flight Lieutenant A. H. Orlebar, in another Weasel. Wallwork died on 18 December 1922 from injuries sustained after the

Gloster Nightjar The Nightjar was a British carrier-based fighter aircraft of the early 1920s. It was a modification of the earlier Nieuport Nighthawk fighter produced by Gloster after the Nieuport & General company, which designed the Nighthawk, closed down. ...

that he was delivering to the

Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment The Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE) was a research facility for British military aviation from 1918 to 1992. Established at Martlesham Heath, Suffolk, the unit moved in 1939 to Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, where its wo ...

suffered an engine failure, and crashed at

Brockworth, Gloucestershire Brockworth is a village and parish in the Borough of Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England, situated on the old Roman road that connects the City of Gloucester with Barnwood. It is located southeast of central Gloucester, southwest of Chelte ...

. He was buried in the churchyard of

St Mary Mary was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Joseph and the mother of Jesus. She is an important figure of Christianity, venerated under various titles such as virgin or queen, many of them mentioned in the Litany of Loreto. ...

, Radcliffe, on 22 December 1922.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wallwork, John 1898 births 1922 deaths People from Radcliffe, Greater Manchester Royal Flying Corps officers Royal Air Force officers British World War I flying aces Recipients of the Military Cross Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in England Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1922 British Army personnel of World War I Military personnel from the Metropolitan Borough of Bury Burials in Greater Manchester