Charles Sims (aviator)
| Charles John Sims | |
|---|---|
| Born |
20 December 1899 Bournemouth, England |
| Died | 30 December 1929 (aged 30) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | Royal Navy Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1917–1929 |
| Rank | Flight Lieutenant |
| Unit | No. 13 (Naval) Squadron RNAS No. 213 Squadron RAF No. 24 Squadron RAF |
| Battles/wars | World War I • Western Front |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross |
Flight Lieutenant Charles John Sims DFC (20 December 1899 – 30 December 1929) was an English World War I flying ace credited with nine aerial victories. His most notable victory saw him shoot down an enemy aircraft that crashed into another, giving Sims a double win. However, his Distinguished Flying Cross was awarded for his courage in ground attack missions.
Charles John Sims was born in Bournemouth, England on 20 December 1899.
Sims entered the Royal Naval Air Service as a probationary flight officer with seniority from 24 October 1917. He was assigned to No. 13 (Naval) Squadron, which later became No. 213 Squadron RAF when the RNAS was merged with the Army's Royal Flying Corps to form the Royal Air Force on 1 April 1918. Flying a Sopwith Camel single-seat fighter he was diligent in trench strafing and ground support missions. He also scored nine aerial victories between 9 July and 9 November 1918, just before the end of hostilities. His most notable wins were on 25 September, when one Fokker D.VII he downed spun into a second, taking it out also; and his triple win on 14 October. His final tally was a balloon and four German aircraft destroyed solo, two shared with other pilots, and two driven down out of control.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 2 November 1918. His citation read:
Sims stayed in RAF service post-war. On 1 August 1919, as the RAF reorganized for peacetime, he was granted a permanent commission as a lieutenant.
In November 1920 he was elected a student member of the Royal Aeronautical Society, and in October 1922 was selected for Aeronautical Research Course "C" at the Imperial College of Science and Technology in London. He finally presented his thesis in October 1925 and was awarded a Diploma of Imperial College for advanced study and research. He published a paper detailing his experiments with fuel additives for aircraft engines in May 1926.
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