Ian Henderson (RAF officer)
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Ian Henderson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2 October 1896 London, England |
| Died | 21 June 1918 (aged 21) Turnberry, Ayr, Scotland |
| Buried | 55°14′11″N 4°51′33″W / 55.23639°N 4.85917°W |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | British Army Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1915–1918 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders No. 19 Squadron RFC No. 56 Squadron RFC |
| Battles/wars | First World War |
| Awards | Military Cross |
| Relations | Lieutenant General Sir David Henderson (father) |
Captain Ian Henry David Henderson, MC (2 October 1896 – 21 June 1918) was a British flying ace of the First World War, credited with seven aerial victories.[1]
Early life[edit]
Henderson was the only son of Lieutenant General Sir David Henderson, who served as Director-General of Military Aeronautics from 1914 to 1917,[2] and as General Officer Commanding, Royal Flying Corps (RFC) from 1914 to 1915, and his wife Dame Henrietta Caroline (née Dundas).
Military career[edit]
Henderson graduated from the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, on 13 January 1915, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Princess Louise's (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) regiment.[3] He was seconded to the RFC, and was appointed a flying officer on 21 August 1915.[4]
He was promoted to lieutenant in his regiment on 21 January 1916,[5] but had to wait until 1 June before receiving the same from the RFC.[6] On 1 July he was appointed a flight commander with the acting rank of captain.[7] Henderson was assigned to No. 19 Squadron, flying the B.E.12, gaining his first two victories in August,[1] and was subsequently awarded the Military Cross, which was gazetted in October 1916. His citation read:
2nd Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) Ian Henry David Henderson, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. For conspicuous gallantry and skill on several occasions. He drove down a machine out of control, and two days later dispersed six enemy machines which were attacking his formation. A few days later again he brought down an enemy biplane, the observer being apparently killed. A week after this he attacked and drove down another machine which had wounded his leader. He has also carried out several excellent contact patrols and attacked retiring artillery and a kite balloon.[8]
Henderson had to wait until November for his third victory, gained while flying a SPAD S.VII.[1] In 1917 he was posted to No. 56 Squadron, flying the S.E.5a, where in July, he shot down four Albatros D.Vs.[1] He was appointed to the General Staff as a 3rd Grade Officer, remaining there until March 1918,[9] when he was re-appointed a flight commander with the acting rank of captain.[10] However, on 21 June 1918, he and Harold Redler were killed in a flying accident, when their Airco DH.9 crashed at Turnberry. He is buried at Doune Cemetery, Girvan, Ayrshire.[11]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "Ian Henry David Henderson". The Aerodrome. 2015.
- ^ "Personals: Casualties". Flight. X (496): 710. 27 June 1918.
- ^ "No. 29038". The London Gazette. 12 January 1915. p. 387.
- ^ "No. 29283". The London Gazette. 3 September 1915. p. 8730.
- ^ "No. 29784". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 October 1916. p. 9925.
- ^ "No. 29702". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 August 1916. p. 7896.
- ^ "No. 29688". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 July 1916. p. 7554.
- ^ "No. 13001". The Edinburgh Gazette. 23 October 1916. pp. 1890–1891.
- ^ "No. 30749". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 June 1918. p. 7117.
- ^ "No. 30596". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 March 1918. p. 3730.
- ^ "Casualty Details: Henderson, Ian Henry David". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. 2015.
