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Francis Warrington Gillet
Nickname Razors
Place of birth Baltimore, Maryland
Place of death Baltimore, Maryland
Allegiance USA
Service/branch Aviation
Rank Captain
Unit No. 79 Squadron RAF
Awards Distinguished Flying Cross with Bar, Belgian Croix de Guerre
Other work Returned to service during World War II

Francis Warrington Gillet (28 November 1895 – 21 December 1969) was an American flying ace who served in both the American and British armed forces as a pilot during World War I.

Biography[]

He was born in Baltimore, Maryland on 28 November 1895. He graduated from the University of Virginia before joining the U.S. Army Signal Corps as an aviation cadet. After preliminary flight training, he was given a conditional discharge as too young to be commissioned an officer. He then enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps (soon Royal Air Force) in Canada using the name Frederick. There he finished his basic flight training, received his pilot's wings and was commissioned a second lieutenant. In England, after receiving advanced training as a fighter pilot, he was assigned to No. 79 Squadron in France on 29 March 1918.[1][2] The squadron was flying the Sopwith 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 in August. From then to November 1918, Gillet was credited with 17 German airplanes and three observation balloons, all assessed as destroyed.[2] The 100% ratio of destroyed was extremely unusual, as most British Commonwealth aces had numerous "out of control" credits.

Though he flew exclusively with the British, Gillet's record of 20 victories ranked him second among all American fliers in the Great War, behind Eddie Rickenbacker.[2] He was promoted to captain and served for a short time as the commanding officer of his squadron. His decorations include the British Distinguished Flying Cross and bar and the Belgian Croix de Guerre.

After the war, 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 and died at age 74 on 21 December 1969.[1]

See also[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 American Aces of World War 1. p. 40. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Francis Gillet". theaerodrome.com. http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/usa/gillet.php. Retrieved 11 April 2010. 

Further reading[]

  • Norman Franks and Frank W. Bailey (1992). Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the U.S. and French Air Services, 1914-1818.
  • Ministry of Defense, Service Record of Francis Warrington Gillet
  • "Maryland in the World War 1917-1918, Military and Naval Service Records" Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore,Maryland
  • War Department, Office of the Quartermaster General of the Army memo. Jan 18 1919 confirming Capt. F.W. Gillet's discharge from the "Sig. R. Corps"
  • Obituary from the Baltimore Sun date December 22, 1969
  • F. W. Gillet's letters written in 1917-1918
  • American Aces of World War 1 Harry Dempsey. Osprey Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84176-375-6, ISBN 978-1-84176-375-0.
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