William Robinson Clarke

[PhilB]

This man was a West Indian driver who trained as a pilot and was wounded when attacked by several German aircraft. I couldn't find a previous mention through Search - can anyone add anything on him?

Found some more:-

"Sgt William Robinson Clarke was the first (possibly

the only) black West Indian to serve as a pilot in the

RFC. Born in 1895 he came to the UK from Jamaica

to enlist in the RFC as an air mechanic. After service

in France as a driver with a kite balloon unit, he was

accepted for pilot training and eventually flew RE8s

with No 4 Sqn. On 28 July 1917 he was wounded,

and rendered unconscious, in combat with five

German fighters. His observer, 2/Lt F P Blencowe,

managed to gain control of the aircraft and pull off a

forced landing, in which he too was injured, on the

right side of the lines"

And some comments on the introduction of sergeant pilots:-

"Having first consulted with Trenchard, Field

Marshal Haig eventually agreed to the

introduction of significant numbers of NCO

pilots with the proviso that the measure should

be tried“purely as an experiment, subject to a

further recommendation at some future date as

to its permanent adoption”. The CinC went on to

indicate that he was prepared to accept one

complete flight of NCO pilots in each of the

recently enlarged 24-aircraft corps reconnaissance

squadrons and up to 50% of all pilots in day

bomber squadrons. He was less enthusiastic about

NCOs flying fighters but, on a trial basis, he was

prepared to have one flight of sergeants in one two-

seater squadron and one flight in each of six single-

seater squadrons. For night bombing duties,

however, Haig considered that all pilots “must be

officers”. He imposed two other conditions. First,

that the influx of NCOs was to be provided in a

single group, not piecemeal, and, secondly, that

separate messing facilities for sergeant pilots were

to be provided on units associated with the trial."

Why might Haig have been dubious about sergeant fighter pilots & night bombers?

[daggers]

Clarke gets a brief mention in 'Fighter Heroes of WW1' by Joshua Levene [p.254] but with less detail than in yuor extract.

D

[centurion]

QUOTE (Phil_B @ Mar 26 2010, 03:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Why might Haig have been dubious about sergeant fighter pilots & night bombers?

Pure guesswork re night bombers but the RFC( and RAF) had adopted the principle that the pilot was in command in the air (The Germans still had the senior rank in this role). As the navigator on the HPs was usually a commissioned officer this meant that in the air a sergeant could be commanding a commissioned officer. Perhaps Haig couldn't get his head round this.

[PhilB]

But he was happy to have them in reconnaissance and day bombers?

[centurion]

QUOTE (Phil_B @ Mar 26 2010, 04:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

But he was happy to have them in reconnaissance and day bombers?

Two seaters with an gunner who could also be a sergeant (they'd probably pair them.

[per ardua per mare per terram]

Clarke has been mentioned on the forum, but not by name! See this thread:

His RAeC index cards are shown on Ancestry. He was neither the first nor only black British pilot of WWI.

 

[per ardua per mare per terram]

The RFC had had sergeant pilots since before the war, including William McCudden.

[centurion]

The RFC had had sergeant pilots since before the war, including William McCudden.

The key words are "in significant numbers"

[Simon Birch]

Clarke gets a brief mention in 'Fighter Heroes of WW1' by Joshua Levene [p.254] but with less detail than in yuor extract.

D

There is also a picture of him.

Simon

[per ardua per mare per terram]

There is also a picture of him.

He is also pictured among the Royal Aero Club Aviators’ Certificates (4837) on Ancestry.

[per ardua per mare per terram]

The key words are "in significant numbers"

Before 5th August 1914 there were already a surprisingly high number of NCO pilots in the RFC & RNAS. for another thread I found 4 pictured on the same RAeC album page who got their certificates in the last days of peace. I think more to the point is that the CinC BEF was taking an interest in the operational decisions of one of his corps.

[PhilB]

. I think more to the point is that the CinC BEF was taking an interest in the operational decisions of one of his corps.

Something that DH is not normally accused of.

Here`s a photo of Clarke:-

[centurion]

QUOTE (Phil_B @ Mar 27 2010, 08:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Something that DH is not normally accused of.

Here`s a photo of Clarke:-

[]

At the risk of starting yet another sterile Haig discussion (yawn, yawn, chunder) he certainly took an interest in the Tank Corps.

[PhilB]

One would expect the CinC to take an interest in all his units but I believe that one of DH`s claimed virtues was not interfering in their internal running? It may be that he thought that the principle of sergeants commanding officers was against basic ideas of command but I can`t see why he`d object to a sergeant (single seater) fighter pilot.

[centurion]

The text says "He was less enthusiastic about NCOs flying fighters" but it looks as if night bombers was the only area where he insisted on officer pilots.

[fetubi]

58 Squadron on night bombing FEs had a Sgt pilot - Eric Jones - he was the only one, but clearly considered by his comrades as one of their best pilots and served with th eunit for many months. He became a 2nd Lt in the second half of 1918. Off-hand I can't think of another, though.

Is there a source for this stated set of preferences of Haig's? I've not come across it before and would like to know more.

Regards,

Trevor

[PhilB]

http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/49...9178FBF3228.pdf

Page 94

[per ardua per mare per terram]

Overall an interesting article; the comments about pilots, initiative and the correlation with being an officer, round out the theme from the selective quote from the beginning of the thread.

[per ardua per mare per terram]

A bit surprising that he only mentions 2 of the 3 McCuddens who were Sjt pilots: William Thomas James McCudden

and James TB McCudden; overlooking John Anthony.

[SimonM]

The RAf Museum has a photocopy of a letter (1916?) by him written whilst serving with Kite ballons on the WF, as well as an obit (died 1980s) He was also Life President of the Jamaican RAFA I think (from hazy memories!).

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Simon Moody

[per ardua per mare per terram]

Thanks Simon I'll follow up those details.

[oxlade134]

Recently available RAF casualty records confirm that 2nd Lt.Francis Porter Blencowe (1895-1978) the Observer on this flight did indeed bring the aircraft back into friendly territory. Francis was 13 days out of graduating as a Forward Observation Officer (FOO) on 28th Jul 1917 when this incident took place.

see my blog @http://blencowesww1.blogspot.com/2014/10/francis-porter-blencowe-1895-1978.html