Philip F. Fullard
| Philip Fletcher Fullard | |
|---|---|
| Born |
27 May 1897 Wimbledon, Surrey, England |
| Died | 24 April 1984 (aged 86) Broadstairs, Kent, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1915–1946 |
| Rank | Air Commodore |
| Unit | |
| Commands held |
|
| Battles/wars |
First World War Mohmand campaign Second World War |
| Awards | |
Air Commodore Philip Fletcher Fullard CBE, DSO, MC*, AFC (27 May 1897 – 24 April 1984) was an English First World War flying ace, one of the most successful fighter pilots of the Royal Flying Corps, with a reputation as a superb combat leader. With 40 confirmed victories, he was the top scoring UK ace flying Nieuports, and overall the 6th highest scoring British pilot, and the 2nd highest to survive the war.
Fullard was born in Wimbledon, Surrey, the son of Thomas Fletcher Fullard. He was educated at Norwich Grammar School, where he was an accomplished sportsman, captaining the school hockey and football teams. It is claimed that he played as a centre half for Norwich City Football Club's reserve team while still at school, though the club has stated that they have no record of this.
Fullard joined the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps in 1915, and after receiving high marks in his examination was offered a commission in the Royal Irish Fusiliers, but was then selected for the Royal Flying Corps. He was commissioned as a probationary temporary second lieutenant for duty with the RFC on 5 August 1916. He trained at the No. 2 School of Military Aeronautics at Oxford, with No. 3/24 Reserve Squadron, and at the Central Flying School at Upavon, and on 26 December was appointed a flying officer and confirmed in his rank as a second lieutenant on the General List. Fullard soloed after only three hours flying time, and on account of his exceptional flying ability, he was retained as an instructor at Upavon, but was eventually sent to serve in No. 1 Squadron RFC in France in May 1917.
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