Captain Sidney William Highwood (30 December 1896 – 1975) was a British World War I

flying ace A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace is varied, but is usually co ...

and

balloon buster Balloon busters were military pilots known for destroying enemy observation balloons. These pilots were noted for their fearlessness, as balloons were stationary targets able to receive heavy defenses, from the ground and the air. Seventy-seven f ...

credited with sixteen aerial victories.

Biography

Highwood was born in Marden, Kent, to William and Sarah Highwood, of Hertsfield Farm. He first served as a private in the Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). In 1917 he transferred to the

Royal Flying Corps "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colors = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = , decorations ...

, and on 11 October was commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant (on probation), being confirmed in his rank on 22 March 1918. He was posted to No. 84 Squadron on 20 May 1918, flying 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 fast ...

, where between 8 August and 30 October he accounted for nine enemy

observation balloon An observation balloon is a type of balloon that is employed as an aerial platform for intelligence gathering and artillery spotting. Use of observation balloons began during the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith during World War ...

s, five Fokker D.VII fighters, and two

Rumpler Rumpler-Luftfahrzeugbau GmbH, Rumpler-Werke, usually known simply as Rumpler was a German aircraft and automobile manufacturer founded in Berlin by Austrian engineer Edmund Rumpler in 1909 as Rumpler Luftfahrzeugbau.Gunston 1993, p.259 The fi ...

reconnaissance aircraft, for which he was twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. On 9 October 1918 he was appointed a flight commander with the acting rank of captain, but left the RAF after the end of the war, being transferred to the unemployed list on 2 March 1919. After the war Highwood returned to the family business of growing fruit and vegetables, acquiring Sheerland Farm in

Pluckley Pluckley is a village and civil parish in the Ashford district of Kent, England. The civil parish includes the adjacent hamlet of Pluckley Thorne. Geography The landscape of the area itself is the edge of a well-drained plain, with the lowest ...

, Kent, in 1929.

Honours and awards

;Distinguished Flying Cross :Lieutenant Sidney William Highwood ::"An Officer of exceptional skill and courage who, since 8 August, has accounted for nine enemy aircraft, driving down five kite balloons in flames, destroying two enemy machines, and shooting down two others out of control". ;Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross :Lieutenant (Acting Captain) Sidney William Highwood, DFC. ::"A courageous officer who has proved himself a skilful and bold fighter. Since 2 October he has destroyed three enemy machines and four kite balloons, and has in addition rendered valuable service in attacking enemy troops on the ground".

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Highwood, Sidney 1896 births 1975 deaths People from Marden, Kent Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment soldiers Royal Flying Corps officers British World War I flying aces Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) People from Pluckley Military personnel from Kent British Army personnel of World War I