Wing Commander William Mays Fry, MC, passed away in the hospital at Merton College in Blackheath, London on 4 Aug 1992.
Name: Fry, William Mayes
Cremation Date: 12 August 1992
Authority: London Borough of Lewisham
Location: Hither Green Crematorium (Lewisham)
Wing Commander William Mayes Fry MC was a First World War Royal Flying Corps/Royal Air Force fighter 'ace' who was credited with eleven aerial victories from 1916 to 1918.
*He initially enlisted in the army, first serving in France as a Territorial infantry private in 1914 until he was returned to England in December as being under age; later commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Somerset Light Infantry (10 June 1915). He also learned to fly at the Military Flying School in Birmingham where, on 24 May 1916, he was awarded the Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate No. 3003 after flying solo in a Maurice Farman biplane. On 16 June Fry transferred to the Royal Flying Corps; he first served in #12 Squadron and then #11 Squadron, flying during the Battle of the Somme.
*Lieutenant Fry was then posted to #60 Squadron where he scored his first win (2 May 1917); two days later, he shared a victory with Canadian 'ace', RCAF Air Marshal William ('Billy') Avery BISHOP VC, CB, DSO & Bar, MC, DFC, ED . He had solo victories (13 May, 19 May); and his fifth victory (16 June) was shared with Keith Caldwell. One of Fry's squadron-mates was Albert Ball.
*16 August 1917- awarded the Military Cross; his citation read: "Temporary Second Lieutenant (Temporary Lieutenant) William Mayes Fry, General List and Royal Flying Corps. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Diving to a very low altitude, and under heavy fire, he emptied all his ammunition into the retreating enemy. During the last month he has brought down four hostile machines. He has done consistent good work as a pilot."
*On 1 Sept 1917 he was made flight commander with the temporary rank of captain, and transferred to #23 Squadron to command its 'C' Flight. He continued to add to his successful attacks; on 4 Jan 1918, flying alongside Frank Granger Quigley, he helped bring down 'Pour le Merite' winner German Leutnant Walter von Bülow-Bothkamp [a German fighter ace from an aristocratic family who was credited with 28 victories].
*His next posting was to #79 Squadron; one of Fry's last victories was the downing of two enemy fighters-he shared this strike with Bishop and Quigley.
*Fry remained in the RAF after the war, promoted to Wing Commander before retiring.
*During the Second World War he returned to serve in the RAF from 1939-45.
*His autobiography, 'Air of Battle', published in 1974, is a lively memoir of the early days of the RFC/RAF.
On 4 Aug 1924, in Colesbourne, Gloucestershire, William Mays Fry married Katherine Mary Carrington, daughter of the late Major General Sir Frederick Carrington, KCB, KCMG, and the late Susan Margaret (née Elwes) (Carrington) Trepplin.
Name: Fry, William Mayes
Cremation Date: 12 August 1992
Authority: London Borough of Lewisham
Location: Hither Green Crematorium (Lewisham)
Wing Commander William Mayes Fry MC was a First World War Royal Flying Corps/Royal Air Force fighter 'ace' who was credited with eleven aerial victories from 1916 to 1918.
*He initially enlisted in the army, first serving in France as a Territorial infantry private in 1914 until he was returned to England in December as being under age; later commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Somerset Light Infantry (10 June 1915). He also learned to fly at the Military Flying School in Birmingham where, on 24 May 1916, he was awarded the Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate No. 3003 after flying solo in a Maurice Farman biplane. On 16 June Fry transferred to the Royal Flying Corps; he first served in #12 Squadron and then #11 Squadron, flying during the Battle of the Somme.
*Lieutenant Fry was then posted to #60 Squadron where he scored his first win (2 May 1917); two days later, he shared a victory with Canadian 'ace', RCAF Air Marshal William ('Billy') Avery BISHOP VC, CB, DSO & Bar, MC, DFC, ED . He had solo victories (13 May, 19 May); and his fifth victory (16 June) was shared with Keith Caldwell. One of Fry's squadron-mates was Albert Ball.
*16 August 1917- awarded the Military Cross; his citation read: "Temporary Second Lieutenant (Temporary Lieutenant) William Mayes Fry, General List and Royal Flying Corps. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Diving to a very low altitude, and under heavy fire, he emptied all his ammunition into the retreating enemy. During the last month he has brought down four hostile machines. He has done consistent good work as a pilot."
*On 1 Sept 1917 he was made flight commander with the temporary rank of captain, and transferred to #23 Squadron to command its 'C' Flight. He continued to add to his successful attacks; on 4 Jan 1918, flying alongside Frank Granger Quigley, he helped bring down 'Pour le Merite' winner German Leutnant Walter von Bülow-Bothkamp [a German fighter ace from an aristocratic family who was credited with 28 victories].
*His next posting was to #79 Squadron; one of Fry's last victories was the downing of two enemy fighters-he shared this strike with Bishop and Quigley.
*Fry remained in the RAF after the war, promoted to Wing Commander before retiring.
*During the Second World War he returned to serve in the RAF from 1939-45.
*His autobiography, 'Air of Battle', published in 1974, is a lively memoir of the early days of the RFC/RAF.
On 4 Aug 1924, in Colesbourne, Gloucestershire, William Mays Fry married Katherine Mary Carrington, daughter of the late Major General Sir Frederick Carrington, KCB, KCMG, and the late Susan Margaret (née Elwes) (Carrington) Trepplin.
Wing Commander William Mays Fry, MC, passed away in the hospital at Merton College in Blackheath, London on 4 Aug 1992.
Name: Fry, William Mayes
Cremation Date: 12 August 1992
Authority: London Borough of Lewisham
Location: Hither Green Crematorium (Lewisham)
Wing Commander William Mayes Fry MC was a First World War Royal Flying Corps/Royal Air Force fighter 'ace' who was credited with eleven aerial victories from 1916 to 1918.
*He initially enlisted in the army, first serving in France as a Territorial infantry private in 1914 until he was returned to England in December as being under age; later commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Somerset Light Infantry (10 June 1915). He also learned to fly at the Military Flying School in Birmingham where, on 24 May 1916, he was awarded the Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate No. 3003 after flying solo in a Maurice Farman biplane. On 16 June Fry transferred to the Royal Flying Corps; he first served in #12 Squadron and then #11 Squadron, flying during the Battle of the Somme.
*Lieutenant Fry was then posted to #60 Squadron where he scored his first win (2 May 1917); two days later, he shared a victory with Canadian 'ace', RCAF Air Marshal William ('Billy') Avery BISHOP VC, CB, DSO & Bar, MC, DFC, ED . He had solo victories (13 May, 19 May); and his fifth victory (16 June) was shared with Keith Caldwell. One of Fry's squadron-mates was Albert Ball.
*16 August 1917- awarded the Military Cross; his citation read: "Temporary Second Lieutenant (Temporary Lieutenant) William Mayes Fry, General List and Royal Flying Corps. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Diving to a very low altitude, and under heavy fire, he emptied all his ammunition into the retreating enemy. During the last month he has brought down four hostile machines. He has done consistent good work as a pilot."
*On 1 Sept 1917 he was made flight commander with the temporary rank of captain, and transferred to #23 Squadron to command its 'C' Flight. He continued to add to his successful attacks; on 4 Jan 1918, flying alongside Frank Granger Quigley, he helped bring down 'Pour le Merite' winner German Leutnant Walter von Bülow-Bothkamp [a German fighter ace from an aristocratic family who was credited with 28 victories].
*His next posting was to #79 Squadron; one of Fry's last victories was the downing of two enemy fighters-he shared this strike with Bishop and Quigley.
*Fry remained in the RAF after the war, promoted to Wing Commander before retiring.
*During the Second World War he returned to serve in the RAF from 1939-45.
*His autobiography, 'Air of Battle', published in 1974, is a lively memoir of the early days of the RFC/RAF.
On 4 Aug 1924, in Colesbourne, Gloucestershire, William Mays Fry married Katherine Mary Carrington, daughter of the late Major General Sir Frederick Carrington, KCB, KCMG, and the late Susan Margaret (née Elwes) (Carrington) Trepplin.
Name: Fry, William Mayes
Cremation Date: 12 August 1992
Authority: London Borough of Lewisham
Location: Hither Green Crematorium (Lewisham)
Wing Commander William Mayes Fry MC was a First World War Royal Flying Corps/Royal Air Force fighter 'ace' who was credited with eleven aerial victories from 1916 to 1918.
*He initially enlisted in the army, first serving in France as a Territorial infantry private in 1914 until he was returned to England in December as being under age; later commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Somerset Light Infantry (10 June 1915). He also learned to fly at the Military Flying School in Birmingham where, on 24 May 1916, he was awarded the Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate No. 3003 after flying solo in a Maurice Farman biplane. On 16 June Fry transferred to the Royal Flying Corps; he first served in #12 Squadron and then #11 Squadron, flying during the Battle of the Somme.
*Lieutenant Fry was then posted to #60 Squadron where he scored his first win (2 May 1917); two days later, he shared a victory with Canadian 'ace', RCAF Air Marshal William ('Billy') Avery BISHOP VC, CB, DSO & Bar, MC, DFC, ED . He had solo victories (13 May, 19 May); and his fifth victory (16 June) was shared with Keith Caldwell. One of Fry's squadron-mates was Albert Ball.
*16 August 1917- awarded the Military Cross; his citation read: "Temporary Second Lieutenant (Temporary Lieutenant) William Mayes Fry, General List and Royal Flying Corps. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Diving to a very low altitude, and under heavy fire, he emptied all his ammunition into the retreating enemy. During the last month he has brought down four hostile machines. He has done consistent good work as a pilot."
*On 1 Sept 1917 he was made flight commander with the temporary rank of captain, and transferred to #23 Squadron to command its 'C' Flight. He continued to add to his successful attacks; on 4 Jan 1918, flying alongside Frank Granger Quigley, he helped bring down 'Pour le Merite' winner German Leutnant Walter von Bülow-Bothkamp [a German fighter ace from an aristocratic family who was credited with 28 victories].
*His next posting was to #79 Squadron; one of Fry's last victories was the downing of two enemy fighters-he shared this strike with Bishop and Quigley.
*Fry remained in the RAF after the war, promoted to Wing Commander before retiring.
*During the Second World War he returned to serve in the RAF from 1939-45.
*His autobiography, 'Air of Battle', published in 1974, is a lively memoir of the early days of the RFC/RAF.
On 4 Aug 1924, in Colesbourne, Gloucestershire, William Mays Fry married Katherine Mary Carrington, daughter of the late Major General Sir Frederick Carrington, KCB, KCMG, and the late Susan Margaret (née Elwes) (Carrington) Trepplin.
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