Lieutenant Richard Frank Hill (28 April 1899 – 17 September 1918) 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 seven aerial victories.

Biography

Hill was born in Redcar, Yorkshire, the son of Frank Hill, and grandson of Richard Hill. He was educated at the Grange School in

Crowborough Crowborough is a town and civil parish in East Sussex, England, in the Weald at the edge of Ashdown Forest and the highest town in the High Weald AONB, High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is located south-west of Royal Tunbridge ...

, East Sussex, and at

Charterhouse School Charterhouse is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school (English independent boarding school for pupils aged 13–18) in Godalming, Surrey, England. Founded by Thomas Sutton in 1611 on the site of the old Carthusian monastery in Charter ...

, Surrey. He left school at Easter 1917, about the time of his 18th birthday, and joined the Royal Flying Corps. From cadet he was commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant (on probation) on 21 June, and on 25 August was appointed a flying officer (observer) and confirmed in his rank, with seniority from 22 July. Posted to No. 20 Squadron, Hill gained his first victory on 19 August, in a F.E.2d, piloted by Second Lieutenant C. B. Simpson, by driving down 'out of control' an

Albatros D.V The Albatros D.V is a fighter aircraft of the German aircraft manufacturer ''Albatros Flugzeugwerke''. It was the final development of the Albatros D.I family and the last Albatros fighter to see operational service with the (Imperial German A ...

over

Comines Comines may refer to: * Comines-Warneton, a town in Hainaut, Belgium * Comines, Nord, a municipality in the Nord department, France * Philippe de Commines Philippe de Commines (or de Commynes or "Philippe de Comines"; Latin: ''Philippus Cominaeu ...

. For all his subsequent victories, which were all over D.Vs, he was in a Bristol F.2b piloted by Lieutenant Harry Luchford. They were all gained in a three-week period from 9 September and 1 October. Hill was 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 ...

on 27 October, which was

gazetted A gazette is an official journal, a newspaper of record, or simply a newspaper. In English and French speaking countries, newspaper publishers have applied the name ''Gazette'' since the 17th century; today, numerous weekly and daily newspapers ...

on 15 March 1918. His citation read: :Temporary Second Lieutenant Richard Frank Hill, General List and Royal Flying Corps. ::"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has carried out a great deal of useful observation work, and has proved himself an excellent fighting observer. On one occasion, when acting as observer on a photographic reconnaissance, he and his pilot shot down and destroyed two enemy scouts. He has also destroyed three other hostile machines." Hill then returned to England, and on 14 May 1918 his status was changed from Lieutenant (Observer Officer) to Lieutenant (Aeroplane & Seaplanes), signifying that he had qualified as a pilot. However, Hill died on 17 September 1918, after undergoing two operations for appendicitis. He is buried at Holy Trinity Church, High Hurstwood,

Buxted Buxted is a village and civil parish in the Wealden District, Wealden district of East Sussex in England. The parish is situated on the Weald, north of Uckfield; the settlements of Five Ash Down, Heron's Ghyll and High Hurstwood are included wit ...

, Sussex.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hill, Richard F. 1899 births 1918 deaths Military personnel from North Yorkshire Royal Air Force officers Burials in East Sussex People from Redcar People educated at Charterhouse School Royal Flying Corps officers Royal Air Force personnel of World War I British World War I flying aces Recipients of the Military Cross Deaths from appendicitis

Biography

See also

References