Louis Strange
| Louis Arbon Strange | |
|---|---|
.jpg)
Louis Strange pictured in 1914
|
|
| Born |
27 July 1891 Tarrant Keyneston, Dorset, England |
| Died | 15 November 1966 (aged 75) Poole, Dorset, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1914–1921 1940–1945 |
| Rank | Wing Commander |
| Unit |
Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry Dorsetshire Regiment No. 5 Squadron RFC No. 6 Squadron RFC No. 24 Squadron RAF |
| Commands held |
No. 23 Squadron RFC No. 80 Wing RAF No. 1 Parachute Training School RAF Merchant Ship Fighter Unit RAF Valley RAF Hawkinge |
| Battles/wars | World War I • Western Front World War II |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Order Officer of the Order of the British Empire Military Cross Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar Bronze Star Medal (United States) |
| Other work | Businessman & farmer |
Louis Arbon Strange DSO, OBE, MC, DFC* (27 July 1891 – 15 November 1966) was an English aviator, who served in both World War I and World War II.
Louis Strange was born in Tarrant Keyneston, Dorset, and was educated at St Edward's School, Oxford, joining the school's contingent of the Dorset Yeomanry. Strange spent his childhood at Tarrant Keynstone Mill on the River Stour. His family farmed 600 acres (2.4 km2) at Spetisbury in Dorset.
He had seen military aircraft and the airship Beta flying over Dorset during the summer manoeuvres of 1912 when serving with the Dorsetshire Yeomanry and determined in May 1913 to become a pilot. He joined the Ewen School of flying at Hendon Aerodrome in July and gained his Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificate, No. 575, on 5 August. On 8 October 1913 he was commissioned as a second lieutenant (on probation) in the Royal Flying Corps (Special Reserve).
Just after obtaining his licence he won his first cross-country race and then won the Hendon March Meeting 17-mile (27 km) race, beating his old instructor into second place. In the latter part of 1913 and early 1914, Strange flew many hours from Hendon, instructing trainee pilots. On 4 April 1914 he appeared in Flight magazine as one of five pilots who had recently joined the "Upside Down Club" by performing a loop.
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