Frederick Powell
| Frederick James Powell | |
|---|---|
| Born |
13 August 1895 Patricroft, Manchester, Lancashire, England |
| Died | May 1992 (aged 96–97) Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 British Army Royal Air Force
|
| Years of service | 1913–1927 1939–1945 |
| Rank | Wing Commander |
| Unit |
Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry Manchester Regiment No. 5 Squadron RFC No. 40 Squadron RFC No. 28 Squadron RAF |
| Commands held | No. 43 Training Squadron RFC No. 41 Squadron RFC |
| Battles/wars | World War I • Western Front World War II |
| Awards |
Order of the British Empire Military Cross |
Wing Commander Frederick James Powell OBE, MC (13 August 1895 – May 1992) was a British World War I flying ace credited with six confirmed and nine unconfirmed aerial victories. He remained in the RAF post-war, serving until 1927, then returned to military service during World War II.
Powell was born in Patricroft, Manchester, in 1895, but by 1901 was living in Great Crosby, Lancashire. His 1915 Aviators' Certificate lists his address as The Vicarage, South Shore, Blackpool.
Powell began his military service in August 1913, when he joined the Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry, a unit of the Territorial Force. On 21 September 1914, soon after the outbreak of the war, he transferred to the 18th (Service) Battalion (3rd City) of the Manchester Regiment, part of the New Army, as a second lieutenant. He then promptly volunteered for service in the Royal Flying Corps, and was transferred in November.
Powell trained as a pilot at Farnborough, and was promoted to lieutenant on 2 February 1915. He was granted Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificate No. 1130 on 2 March, after soloing a Maurice Farman biplane, and then completed his training at Netheravon. Powell was appointed a flying officer on 25 May, and transferred to the General List.
Powell was posted to No. 5 Squadron, based at Abele, Belgium, serving in "B" Flight. He staked his first two claims for aerial victories on 19 September 1915 while flying a Vickers Gunbus, one claim being confirmed. He had a string of four unconfirmed claims during October and November, and on 15 December he was appointed a flight commander with the temporary rank of captain. He gained his second confirmed victory on 19 December. He had one more unconfirmed claim while flying the Gunbus, on 2 January 1916, and was awarded the Military Cross, on 14 January. As the commander of "B" Flight, he then flew the first FE.8 to go into action in France, No. 7457. He was rather proprietorial about it, supposedly refusing leave to monopolize flying it on a daily basis. He scored his first win with the new aircraft on 17 January 1916; by 12 March, he had three unconfirmed wins, and three more triumphs credited to him, including one with Gilbert W. M. Green serving as his gunner/observer.
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