Francis Dominic Casey
| Francis Dominic Casey | |
|---|---|
| Born |
3 August 1890 Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ireland |
| Died | 11 August 1917 |
| Adinkerke Military Cemetery | De Panne, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | Aviation |
| Rank | Flight Commander |
| Unit | No. 3 Naval Squadron RNAS |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Cross, Mentioned in Despatches |
Flight Commander Francis Dominic Casey, DSC was an Irish World War I flying ace of the Royal Naval Air Service credited with nine aerial victories. He won the Distinguished Service Cross for valour before his untimely death.
Early life
Francis Dominic Casey was born on 3 August 1890 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ireland.[1]
World War I
Casey served in the Royal Naval Air Service during World War I, joining during 1916. By early 1917, he was trained as a pilot and posted to 3 Naval Squadron. Between 17 March and 2 May 1917, he scored nine aerial victories.[2] On 12 May 1917 he was Mentioned in Despatches.[3] On 22 June 1917 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his exploits.[4] It was gazetted 29 June 1917:
Flight Lieutenant Francis Dominic Casey, R.N.A.S.
"For conspicuous bravery and skill in attacking hostile aircraft on numerous occasions. On April 21st, 1917, he attacked a hostile two-seater machine at a range varying from 40 to 100 yards, and brought it down completely out of control. On April 23rd, 1917, on four different occasions during one flight, he attacked hostile machines, one of which was driven down in a spinning nose dive and another turning over on its side went down completely out of control. This Officer has driven down four machines completely out of control, and forced many others down."[5]
Casey died in a flying accident during a test flight, on 11 August 1917.[6]
List of aerial victories
See also Aerial victory standards of World War I
| No. | Date/time | Aircraft | Foe | Result | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 March 1917 @ 1040 hours | Sopwith Pup serial number N6163 | Halberstadt D.II | Driven down out of control | Northeast of Bapaume | |
| 2 | 8 April 1917 @ 1500 hours | Sopwith Pup s/n N6182 | Albatros D.III | Driven down out of control | Northeast of Pronville | |
| 3 | 21 April 1917 @ 1730 hours | Sopwith Pup s/n N6182 | Albatros D.III | Destroyed | Hendecourt | |
| 4 | 21 April 1917 @ 1730 hours | Sopwith Pup s/n N6182 | Albatros D.III | Driven down out of control | Hendecourt | |
| 5 | 23 April 1917 @ 1730 hours | Sopwith Pup s/n N6182 | Albatros D.III | Driven down out of control | Cagnicourt | |
| 6 | 24 April 1917 @ 1650 hours | Sopwith Pup s/n N6182 | DFW reconnaissance plane | Captured | Morchies-Louveral | Victory shared with Herbert Travers, John Joseph Malone |
| 7 | 26 April 1917 @ 1915 hours | Sopwith Pup s/n N6182 | Albatros D.III | Driven down out of control | Cambrai | |
| 8 | 29 April 1917 @ 1100 hours | Sopwith Pup s/n N6182 | Albatros D.III | Set afire; destroyed | Between Bantouzelle and Cambrai | |
| 9 | 2 May 1917 @ 1120 hours | Sopwith Pup s/n N6182 | Albatros D.III | Driven down out of control | Moevres | [7] |
Endnotes
- ↑ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/ireland/casey.php Retrieved 2 July 2011.
- ↑ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/ireland/casey.php Retrieved 2 July 2011.
- ↑ http://www.worldwar1atsea.net/WW1NavyBritishLondonGazette1704.htm Retrieved 2 July 2011.
- ↑ http://www.worldwar1atsea.net/WW1NavyBritishLondonGazette1704.htm Retrieved 2 July 2011.
- ↑ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 29 June 1917, p. 6256) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30147/supplements/6256 Retrieved 2 July 2011.
- ↑ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/ireland/casey.php Retrieved 2 July 2011.
- ↑ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/ireland/casey.php Retrieved 25 June 2011.
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