Noel Keeble

Noel Keeble
Born	6 April 1892 Peterborough, Northampton
Died	Unknown
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Navy Royal Air Force
Years of service	1915–1934 c.1939–1945
Rank	Wing Commander
Unit	No. 1 Wing RNAS No. 202 Squadron RAF No. 30 Squadron RAF No. 1 Armoured Car Company RAF
Battles/wars	First World War Western Front Second World War
Awards	Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Flying Cross Mentioned in Despatches Croix de guerre (France)

Noel Keeble DSC, DFC (born 6 April 1892, date of death unknown) was a British flying ace of the First World War, credited with six aerial victories.^[1]

First World War

Keeble entered the Royal Naval Air Service as a probationary flight sub-lieutenant, and on 2 August 1915 was confirmed in his rank of flight sub-lieutenant for temporary service.^[2] He was assigned to a squadron in No. 1 Wing, based at Saint-Pol-sur-Mer, Dunkirk, and gained his first victory while flying a Nieuport. On 25 January 1916 he forced down a German seaplane 7 mi (11 km) off Nieuwpoort. His second victory did not come until 23 October when, flying a Sopwith Pup, he destroyed another seaplane 10 mi (16 km) miles off Nieuwpoort.^[1] He was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, which was gazetted on 11 May 1917. His citation read:

Distinguished Service Cross

Flight-Lieutenant Noel Keeble, RNAS.

For conspicuous gallantry on the 23rd October 1916, when he attacked four German seaplanes and brought one of them down in a vertical nose-dive into the sea.^[3]

On 1 October 1916 he was promoted to flight lieutenant,^[4] and on 31 December 1917 appointed a flight commander.^[5]

On 1 April 1918, the Royal Naval Air Service was merged with the Army's Royal Flying Corps to form the Royal Air Force, and Keeble became part of No. 202 Squadron RAF, flying the DH.4 two-seater day bomber. With Captain Eric Betts as his observer/gunner he went on to gain four more aerial victories; firstly destroying a Pfalz D.III north of Essen on 5 June, then driving down out of control a Fokker D.VII over Bruges on 10 August. Finally, on 16 September, he destroyed a Pfalz D.III over Lissewege and a Fokker D.VII over Dudzele.^[1]

Keeble was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, which was gazetted on 20 September 1918. His citation read:

Distinguished Flying Cross

Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) Noel Keeble, DSC. (Sea Patrol).

This officer (with an observer) has obtained 1,000 invaluable photographs of enemy positions miles behind the lines, and has brought home extremely important new information during this period. He has destroyed eight enemy machines, including one biplane during the past month. Captain Keeble is a most capable and gallant flight commander.^[6]

Inter-war career

Post-war, Keeble was granted a short service commission as a flight lieutenant in the RAF,^[7] but this was later cancelled and he was granted a permanent commission from 1 August 1919.^[8] He served at No. 6 Flying Training School until being transferred to the School of Technical Training on 1 April 1922,^[9] but was soon transferred again, being posted to the RAF College Cadet Flying Wing at Cranwell on 8 August.^[10] On 23 February 1923 he was sent to Iraq to serve in No. 30 Squadron,^[11] before returning to England to serve at the Electrical and Wireless School at RAF Flowerdown from 20 August 1925.^[12] On 7 April 1927 he was posted to the RAF Depot at RAF Uxbridge.^[13] He later returned to Iraq to serve in No. 1 Armoured Car Company from 7 October 1930,^[14] and then at the Aircraft Depot at RAF Hinaidi from 2 May 1932.^[15] A few days later, on 6 May, he received a mention in despatches from Air Vice-Marshal Edgar Ludlow-Hewitt, Air Officer Commanding, Iraq Command, "for distinguished service rendered during operations in Southern Kurdistan, during the period October 1930–May 1931."^[16]

Keeble finally left the RAF, being placed on the retired list on 4 August 1934.^[17]

Second World War

Keeble returned to RAF service during the Second World War with the rank of flight lieutenant. On 1 March 1942 he was promoted to temporary squadron leader,^[18] and this was made war substantive on 6 November 1942.^[19] He reverted to the retired list on 31 October 1945, retaining the rank of wing commander.^[20]

References

Citations

1. "Noel Keeble". The Aerodrome. 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
2. The London Gazette: no. 29340. p. 10509. 26 October 1915.
3. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30066. p. 4626. 11 May 1917.
4. The London Gazette: no. 29772. p. 9558. 3 October 1916.
5. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30451. pp. 87–88. 28 December 1917.
6. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30913. p. 11252. 20 September 1918.
7. The London Gazette: no. 31642. p. 13805. 14 November 1919.
8. The London Gazette: no. 31620. p. 13139. 28 October 1919.
9. "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight XIV (697): 263. 4 May 1922. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
10. "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight XIV (713): 489. 24 August 1922. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
11. "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight XV (751): 271. 17 May 1923. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
12. "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight XVII (868): 529. 13 August 1925. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
13. "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight XIX (955): 230. 14 April 1927. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
14. "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight XXII (1139): 1179. 24 October 1930. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
15. "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight XXIV (1223): 499. 3 June 1932. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
16. The London Gazette: no. 33823. p. 2961. 6 May 1932.
17. The London Gazette: no. 34076. p. 5057. 7 August 1934.
18. The London Gazette: no. 35503. p. 1387. 27 March 1942.
19. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35773. p. 4809. 3 November 1942.
20. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 37482. p. 1135. 22 February 1946.

Bibliography

• Shores, Christopher F.; Franks, Norman & Guest, Russell F. (1990). Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.