Alan Rice-Oxley
| Alan Rice-Oxley | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Alan Rice Oxley |
| Born |
1 July 1896 Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, England |
| Died | 21 July 1961 (aged 65) |
| Buried at | St Mary Magdalene churchyard, Loders, Dorset, England (50°44′44.8″N 2°43′19.6″W / 50.745778°N 2.722111°WCoordinates: 50°44′44.8″N 2°43′19.6″W / 50.745778°N 2.722111°W) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
British Army Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1914–1921 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | |
| Battles/wars |
First World War • Western Front • Italian Front |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross |
| Other work | Police officer, North Borneo Farmer, Dorset |
Lieutenant Alan Rice-Oxley (1 July 1896 – 21 July 1961) was a British pilot during World War I. He became a flying ace in 1918, credited with six aerial victories.
He was born as Alan Rice Oxley in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire in July 1896. He was educated at Watford Grammar School for Boys, which he attended between January 1908 and July 1914.
Rice-Oxley first served as a private in the 21st (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (1st Surrey Rifles), until 5 February 1915 when he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 4th Battalion, The King's (Shropshire Light Infantry).
He was seconded for duty with the Royal Flying Corps, and appointed a flying officer on 10 September 1916. He trained as a pilot and initially served with No. 15 Squadron in France, tasked with artillery-spotting and reconnaissance. He was wounded in action during the Battle of the Somme in October 1916, and after recuperating became a fighter pilot. He was promoted to lieutenant on 1 July 1917. Subsequently, in 1918 he joined the Sopwith Camel equipped No. 45 Squadron on the Italian Front. He recorded his first victories in a combat on 12 July 1918. Piloting Camel D8240, he and Captain Cedric Howell engaged a formation of between ten and fifteen Austro-Hungarian aircraft in proximity to the town of Feltre. In the ensuing dogfight Rice-Oxley destroyed two of the enemy, and for his conduct in this action was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Over the course of the following three days, he destroyed another enemy aircraft and drove a further two down out of control. On 16 August he was appointed a flight commander with the temporary rank of captain, and achieved his sixth and final victory on 22 August.
Rice-Oxley was transferred to the RAF's unemployed list on 26 March 1919, and relinquished his commission in the King's Shropshire Light Infantry on 30 September 1921.
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