Francis Warrington Gillet | |
|---|---|
 Francis Warrington Gillet, 1918 | |
| Nickname | "Razors" |
| Born | (1895-11-28)28 November 1895 |
| Died | 21 December 1969(1969-12-21) (aged 74) Baltimore, Maryland |
| Allegiance | United States United Kingdom |
| Branch | United States Army British Army Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1917–1919 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps No. 79 Squadron RFC/RAF |
| Battles / wars | World War I |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar Croix de Guerre (Belgium) |
| Other work | Returned to service during World War II |
Francis Warrington GilletDFC* (28 November 1895 – 21 December 1969) was an Americanflying ace who served in both the American and British armed forces as a pilot duringWorld War I. With 20 credited aerial victories he was the highest scoring pilot flying theSopwith Dolphin,[1] and the second highest scoring American, only surpassed byEddie Rickenbacker.
Gillet was born inBaltimore, Maryland. He graduated from theUniversity of Virginia, before joining theAeronautical Division of theU.S. Signal Corps as a cadet in April 1917. On 31 May 1917 he entered the School of Military Aeronautics at theUniversity of Illinois for preliminary flight training, but obtained an honourable discharge on the grounds of dependency on 25 July 1917.[2]
He enlisted in theRoyal Flying Corps Canada using the nameFrederick Warrington Gillet (though British sources most often render his surname asGillett) to avoid any complications with 8U.S. Code § 1481[3] which would result in him forfeiting his American citizenship on enlisting in the armed forces of a foreign power.[4] After completing his basic flight training, on 29 December 1917 he received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate No. 7017,[1] and was commissioned as a second lieutenant the same day.[5] In England, after receiving advanced training as a fighter pilot, he was assigned toNo. 79 Squadron RFC in France on 29 March 1918.[1][6] Within days, on 1 April 1918, the Army's Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) were merged to form the Royal Air Force.
No. 79 Squadron was flying theSopwith Dolphin, an unusual biplane distinguished by its "negative stagger" wing arrangement, a type Gillet had not flown before. After becoming acclimated to the Dolphin and honing his combat skills, he scored his first victory on 3 August, destroying akite balloon north ofEstaires. He accounted for two aircraft towards the end of the month, then another balloon and six more aircraft in September, a balloon and five aircraft in October, and four aircraft in November, three of them early on the morning of the 10th, the day beforethe armistice. All were assessed as destroyed, which was extremely unusual, as most aces had numerous "out of control" credits.[1]
He was appointed acting-captain on 14 October 1918,[5] and served for a short time as the commanding officer of his squadron. His decorations include two awards of the BritishDistinguished Flying Cross, and the BelgianCroix de Guerre.
After the war, Gillet left the RAF, being transferred to the unemployed list on 7 March 1919.[7] He returned to the United States and obtained his release from the U.S. Army Signal Reserve Corps and entered the family business. Gillet pursued a successful, lengthy business career as a liquor importer, realtor, and banker, and died at the age of 74 on 21 December 1969 at theGreater Baltimore Medical Center.[6][8]
Gillet also received theCroix de Guerre from Belgium in July 1919.[11]
