Benjamin Roxburgh-Smith
| Benjamin Roxburgh-Smith | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | "Dad" |
| Born |
10 April 1884 Lee, London |
| Died | 1951 (aged 66–67) Rome, Italy |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army Royal Air Force |
| Rank | Flight Lieutenant |
| Unit |
Inns of Court Regiment No. 60 Squadron RFC No. 74 Squadron RFC/RAF |
| Battles/wars | World War I • Western Front World War II |
| Awards |
Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar Croix de guerre (Belgium) |
| Other work | Aviation pioneer in southern Africa |
Benjamin Roxburgh-Smith DFC* (1884–1951) was a British World War I fighter ace credited with 22 aerial victories. After the war, he pioneered aviation in southern Africa. He also served in World War II.
Roxburgh-Smith was born in Lee, London, on 10 April 1884. By the time World War I broke out he was working as a bank teller in Bromley, then still in Surrey. Though a married man with two children, and old enough to be nicknamed "Dad", he initially joined up as a private in the Inns of Court Regiment, which was then functioning as an officer cadet unit. Roxburgh-Smith was commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps on 12 August 1916. After completing pilot training he was posted to No. 60 Squadron RFC. In 1917, he was injured in the crash of a Nieuport Scout. Upon his return to service, he was assigned to flight instructor duty.
Roxburgh-Smith returned to combat duty in early 1918 to fly SE.5as with No. 74 Squadron RFC. He was promoted to lieutenant on 12 February 1918, and flew in Mick Mannock's "A" Flight.
He destroyed his first enemy, an Albatros D.V, on 12 April 1918, in conjunction with Mannock and three other pilots. By 26 May, he was an ace, destroying his fifth consecutive enemy fighter aircraft. After scoring his eighth victory on 19 July, he was shot down, suffering minor injuries in the process. He returned to duty, and having been appointed a flight commander with the acting rank of captain on 4 August 1918, he shot down four enemy aircraft in both August and September, and in October five; two on 5 October, and three on 14 October, rounding out his score at 22.
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