Herbert Travers
| Herbert Gardner Travers | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Tiny |
| Born |
1 April 1891 Kensington, London, England |
| Died | 16 April 1958 (aged 67) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army Royal Navy Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1914–1919 1939–1945 |
| Rank | Squadron Leader |
| Unit |
Honourable Artillery Company No. 1 Wing RNAS No. 3 Squadron RNAS No. 11 Squadron RNAS/No. 211 Squadron RAF |
| Commands held | No. 11 Squadron RNAS/No. 211 Squadron RAF |
| Battles/wars | World War I • Western Front |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Cross |
| Other work | Test pilot, flight instructor & airline pilot |
Squadron Leader Herbert Gardner Travers DSC (1 April 1891 – 16 April 1958) was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories. Post-war, he worked in civil aviation. He returned to service during World War II.
Travers was born in Kensington, London. In 1910 he joined the family firm of Joseph Travers and Sons Ltd., but left to enlist into the Army on the outbreak of World War I in 1914.
He served in France as a member of the Machine Gun Section of 1st Battalion, Honourable Artillery Company, before entering the Royal Navy in December 1915 as a probationary flight sub-lieutenant to serve in the Royal Naval Air Service. He was confirmed in his rank on 14 December 1915, and received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate No. 2556 on 23 January 1916.
On 27 May 1916, he joined No. 1 Wing RNAS, flying reconnaissance missions on the Western Front. He was promoted to flight lieutenant on 1 October 1916, and after a rest at the end of the year, was assigned to No. 3 (Naval) Squadron in early 1917, flying a Sopwith Pup single-seat fighter. He gained his first victory on 11 March 1917 driving down an Albatros reconnaissance aircraft out of control over Bapaume. Three more enemy aircraft, all Albatros D.III fighters, were driven down on 17 March, 8 and 21 April, and finally on 24 April, Travers, John J. Malone and Francis D. Casey shared in the capture of DFW reconnaissance aircraft at Morchies. On 7 May 1917 he was appointed an acting flight commander.
His award of the Distinguished Service Cross was gazetted on 22 June 1917, his citation reading:
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