Captain James Fitz-Morris MC and Bar (6 April 1897 - 14 August 1918) was a British, World War I flying ace credited with 14 aerial victories. Records record his name in various spellings; Fitz-Morris, JF Morris, Fitzmorris or Fitzmaurice.
James Fitz-Morris alias James Fitzmorris, James Fitzmaurice, and others | |
---|---|
Born | April 6, 1897 |
Died | August 14, 1918 | (aged 21)
Place of birth | Polmont, Falkirk, Scotland |
Place of death | Cincinnati, Ohio, USA |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/branch | Aviation |
Rank | Captain |
Unit | No. 11 Squadron RFC, No. 25 Squadron RFC, No. 23 Squadron RAF |
Awards | Military Cross with Bar |
Early life and service[]
Born and raised in Polmont, Scotland, Fitz-Morris was trained as a motor engineer, joining the Royal Engineers in 1914.[citation needed] Shortly afterwards, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and was trained as an Observer. He flew on the Vickers Gunbus with 11 Squadron in 1915 as an observer, before retraining as a pilot.[1]
World War I service as a pilot[]
Sent to 1 Squadron, his operational career was curtailed after an injury in a flying accident in August 1916, fracturing his nose and suffering concussion.[citation needed] He then joined 25 Squadron in July 1917, flying the Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2d and then the Airco DH.4 bomber, claiming with his gunner David Luther Burgess some 7 aircraft shot down during July and August. They were both awarded the Military Cross for their deeds,[2] Fitz-Morris's being gazetted on 9 January 1918.[3] He then became a flight commander in 23 Squadron, flying the SPAD from early 1918 onward, winning the bar to the MC on 22 June 1918[4][5] by downing 7 enemy planes during March 1918. He was slightly wounded in his final engagement, on 24 March 1918, and grounded for a few days. He did not score again after his return to flying.[6]
Morris was then sent out to the British War Mission in Washington, DC, as an instructor to the USAS.[citation needed]
His final tally was 1 aircraft captured, 5 set afire, 4 more otherwise destroyed (including 1 shared), and 4 others driven down 'out of control'.[7][8][9]
Death in flying accident[]
At the age of just 21, he was killed in an accident flying a Sopwith Camel in Cincinnati Ohio USA on August 14, 1918. Captain Fitzmorris landed at the Western Hills Country Club along with two other British aviators. Upon take off his engine suddenly died and the plane plunged to the ground. His body was taken to Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati and then sent to Pittsburgh on September 5, 1918. Regarded as a local hero, his hometown of Polmont was in mourning following his tragic demise.[citation needed]
His father had great difficulty in persuading the American authorities to return his body. After more than a year, his funeral was finally held in November 1919, with more than a thousand people believed to have paid their respects on the day.[citation needed]
Citations for military honors[]
Military Cross
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on photographic and offensive patrols. On at least four occasions he has displayed great dash and courage in attacking hostile machines, two of which he completely destroyed, and has driven others down out of control."[10] Bar to Military Cross
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During operations he carried out many reconnaissances at a low altitude and obtained valuable information. On one occasion, while on a bombing patrol, he saw an enemy machine attacking our troops with machine gun fire from about 500 feet, and at once attacked it and drove it to the ground. He then attacked seven enemy scouts, one of which he drove down in flames inside our lines. He has also destroyed five other enemy machines and driven down two others out of control. He has always set a magnificent example of dash and determination."[11]
References[]
- Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920 Christopher F. Shores, Norman L. R. Franks, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1990. ISBN 0-948817-19-4, ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.
- SPAD XII/XIII aces of World War I. Jon Guttman. Osprey Publishing, 2002. ISBN. 1841763160, 9781841763163.
External links[]
|
Sources of information[]
- ↑ SPAD XII/XIII aces of World War I. pp. 22–23.
- ↑ SPAD XII/XIII aces of World War I. pp. 22–23.
- ↑ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 9 January 1918) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/1918-01-07;1918-01-11/page=604/start=1 Retrieved on 8 June 2010.
- ↑ http://www.theaerodrome.com/medals/gbritain/mc.php?pageNum_recipients=9&totalRows_recipients=348#recipients Retrieved on 3 May 2010.
- ↑ Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. pp. 156–157.
- ↑ SPAD XII/XIII aces of World War I. p. 23.
- ↑ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/scotland/fitzmorris.php Retrieved on 3 May 2010.
- ↑ Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. pp. 156–157.
- ↑ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 22 June 1918) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30761/supplements/7398 Retrieved on 8 June 2010.
- ↑ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 9 January 1918) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/1918-01-07;1918-01-11/page=604/start=1 Retrieved on 8 June 2010.
- ↑ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 22 June 1918) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30761/supplements/7398 Retrieved on 8 June 2010.
|
The original article can be found at James Fitz-Morris and the edit history here.