William H. Farrow
| William Hastings Farrow | |
|---|---|
| Born |
30 March 1893 London, England |
| Died |
11 July 1946 London, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
British Army Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | c.1916–1919, 1921 1939–c.1943 |
| Rank | Wing Commander |
| Unit |
No. 47 Squadron RFC No. 28 Flying Training Squadron RFC No. 64 Squadron RAF Far East Air Force |
| Battles/wars |
|
| Awards |
Order of the British Empire Distinguished Flying Cross |
Wing Commander William Hastings Farrow OBE, DFC (30 March 1893 – 11 July 1946) was a British World War I flying ace credited with 10 aerial victories. He would pursue a military career well into the 1920s before resigning in 1926. Like many World War I aces, he returned to the military for World War II, and was honoured by induction into the Order of the British Empire.
Farrow was serving as a corporal in the Royal Engineers, when he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps on 3 June 1916. On 28 July 1916 he was appointed a flying officer on the General List of the RFC. On 27 December 1916, he scored his first aerial victory while posted to 47 Squadron, serving as part of the British Salonika Army on the Macedonian Front. Scoring one of the few wins ever credited to an Armstrong Whitworth F.K.3, he and his observer teamed with another British aircrew to drive a German reconnaissance aircraft down out of control over Hudova.
On 5 April 1917, Farrow was wounded in an engagement with an Albatros Scout. He also knocked down the Albatros, but received no credit for it. Farrow spent from 8 December 1917 until 11 January 1918 posted to 28 Training Squadron. He then transferred to 64 Squadron as a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a pilot. Beginning on 11 May 1918, he fought and beat nine German fighter planes in aerial combat. Farrow was appointed a temporary captain on 3 July 1918. By 5 September 1918, he had burned two German fighters, destroyed three, and driven four more down out of control.
His valour won him the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), which was gazetted 2 November 1918:
A brilliant fighting Pilot, who never hesitates to engage the enemy, regardless of the latter's numerical superiority. His courage and tenacity sets a fine example to others in his formation. He has led numerous offensive patrols, and has personally destroyed five enemy machines and shot down two others out of control.
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