Cyril Ridley
| Cyril Burfield Ridley | |
|---|---|
| Born |
15 January 1895 Esher, Surrey, England |
| Died | 17 May 1920 (aged 25) Lindenthal, Cologne, Germany |
| Buried | Südfriedhof, Cologne (50°53′53″N 6°56′16″E / 50.89806°N 6.93778°ECoordinates: 50°53′53″N 6°56′16″E / 50.89806°N 6.93778°E) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | Royal Navy Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1916–1920 |
| Rank | Flight Lieutenant |
| Unit | |
| Battles/wars | World War I • Western Front |
Flight Lieutenant Cyril Burfield Ridley DSC (15 January 1895 – 17 May 1920) was a British World War I flying ace, who served in the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Air Force, before being killed in a flying accident in 1920.
Cyril Burfield Ridley was born in Esher, Surrey, on 15 January 1895, the son of Douglas and Victoria Ridley. He attended Arundel House School in Surbiton, where he became a keen member of the school's Aero Club. In 1910, when aged only 15 he designed and built a man-carrying Chanute-type biplane glider, with a wingspan of 18 feet. Ridley was also a builder of both powered and unpowered model aircraft, taking part in numerous events, often competing against his fellow Arundel Aero Club member Reginald F. Mann, and his teacher and Aero Club secretary, Robert P. Grimmer — who would go on to form their own model aircraft company in 1913, before moving on to a full size aircraft in 1915.
After leaving school Ridley worked for the Sopwith Aviation Company as an aeronautical engineer. While still working at Sopwith's, he learned to fly, and received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate No. 2474 after soloing a Maurice Farman biplane at the Hall School, Hendon, on 20 February 1916.
On 22 June 1916 Ridley joined the Royal Navy, and was appointed a probationary temporary flight sub-lieutenant, to serve in the Royal Naval Air Service. In early October he was confirmed in his rank, with seniority from 25 June.
Ridley then served with No. 1 Squadron RNAS in northern France, initially flying a Sopwith Triplane. On 29 April 1917 he gained the first of his 11 victories, sharing in the driving down of an Albatros D.III with Flight Sub-Lieutenant Herbert Rowley. He had gained a further three victories; driving down Albatros D.Vs on 17 July and 14 August, and a DFW Type C reconnaissance aircraft on 10 September, before being promoted to flight lieutenant on 1 October 1917. His squadron was then re-equipped with the Sopwith Camel, and on 6 December he gained his fifth aerial victory, driving down an Albatros D.V north of Passchendaele, to become an "ace". He went on to destroy enemy observation balloons on 12 March and 8 April 1918.
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