D'Urban Armstrong

Captain D'Urban Victor Armstrong DFC was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.

D'Urban Armstrong
Birth nameD'Urban Victor Armstrong
Born(1897-07-26)26 July 1897
Natal, South Africa
Died13 November 1918(1918-11-13) (aged 21)
Near Bouvincourt-en-Vermandois, France
Buried
Tincourt, New British Cemetery, East of Peromme
Allegiance United Kingdom
 Union of South Africa
Service/branchRoyal Flying Corps
Years of serviceca 1915 - 1918
RankCaptain
Unit
AwardsDistinguished Flying Cross

Born in Natal, South Africa on 26 July 1897, and educated at Hilton College, Armstrong joined the Royal Flying Corps in 1915. He was assigned to No. 60 Squadron the following year; while with them, he scored a kill on 9 November 1916. His next posting was to No. 44 Squadron on home defense duties. In 1917, he was transferred to No. 78 Squadron to lead a flight. His final assignment was with No. 151 Squadron.[1]

He was one of the first night fighter victors in aerial warfare, as 151 Squadron was the Royal Air Force's first night fighter squadron, 151 Squadron. Armstrong was credited with four nighttime victories between 29 June and 17 September 1918, including a Gotha G bomber on 24 August near Bouvincourt-en-Vermandois, France.[2][3] Two days after war's end, Armstrong was killed in a flying accident while flying aerobatics in his Sopwith Camel.

References

  1. 151 Squadron official website; accessed 9 July 2020.
  2. Shores, Christopher F. (1990). Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. Grub Street. p. 52. ISBN 0-948817-19-4.
  3. The Aerodrome, theaerodrome.com; accessed 9 July 2020.
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