Richard Raymond-Barker
| Richard Raymond-Barker | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Dick |
| Born |
6 May 1894 Forest Gate, London, England |
| Died | 20 April 1918 (aged 23) Vicinity of Bois de Hamel (KIA) |
| Commemorated at | Arras Flying Services Memorial, Pas de Calais, France |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1914–1918 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit |
No. 6 Squadron RFC No. 11 Squadron RFC No. 16 Squadron RFC No. 48 Squadron RFC |
| Commands held | No. 3 Squadron RAF |
| Battles/wars | World War I • Western Front |
| Awards | Military Cross |
Major Richard Raymond-Barker MC (6 May 1894 – 20 April 1918) was a British World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories. He became Manfred von Richthofen's penultimate victim.
Richard Raymond-Barker was the third son, one of nine children, born to Edward Raymond-Barker and his wife Rose Mary (née Crawford) of Bisley, Gloucestershire. He was born in Forest Gate, London, lived in Bisley, Gloucestershire, and was educated at Wimbledon College.
Raymond-Barker was commissioned as a second lieutenant on 30 November 1914, serving in the 12th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. In mid-1915 he learned to fly at the Hall Flying School at Hendon Aerodrome, and was granted Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificate No. 1460 on 18 July.
He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps on 6 August 1915, completing his pilot training, and being appointed a flying officer on 19 October. He was posted to France on 22 November. On 1 April 1916, he was appointed a lieutenant in the RFC, and on 17 June was appointed a flight commander, with the temporary rank of captain. During this time, he served with No. 6 and No. 16 Squadrons, transferring on 29 December 1916.
On 12 May 1917, Raymond-Barker was posted to No. 48 Squadron as a flight commander, flying the Bristol F.2b two-seater heavy fighter. He gained his first victories on 20 May, driving down a pair of Albatros D.IIIs out of control over Brebières. On 26 May he destroyed another D.III, and on 5 June drove down an enemy reconnaissance aircraft near Bullecourt. On 1 July 1917, he was promoted to the substantive rank of lieutenant. He scored his final two triumphs soon after, on the 8th (with Sergeant Jack Mason as his observer) and 17th, bringing his total to two Albatros D.IIIs destroyed and four enemy aircraft driven down out of control. He was subsequently awarded the Military Cross, which was gazetted on 14 September 1917.
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