John Todd (RAF officer)

Captain John Todd MBE, MC, DFC (1899–1980) was a Scottish First World War flying ace credited with 18 aerial victories.[1]

John Todd
Born(1899-01-12)12 January 1899
Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland
Died1980 (aged 8081)
St Cyrus, Kincardineshire, Scotland
Buried
St Cyrus, Scotland
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Royal Air Force
Years of service1917–1919
RankCaptain
UnitNo. 70 Squadron RFC/RAF
Battles/warsWorld War I
  Western Front
AwardsOrder of the British Empire
Military Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross
Other workMissionary doctor

Military service

Todd was a medical student at the University of Edinburgh[2] before he joined the Royal Flying Corps as a cadet. He was commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant (on probation) on the General List on 2 August 1917,[3] and was confirmed in his rank on 3 November.[4]

He was posted to No. 70 Squadron RFC to fly the Sopwith Camel single-seat fighter, and scored his first victory on 22 January 1918. Further victories followed, and Todd had brought his score up to five by the end of March, to make him an ace.[1] On 1 April 1918, the Royal Flying Corps was merged with the Royal Naval Air Service to form the Royal Air Force, and his unit became No. 70 Squadron RAF. He gained three more victories by the end of the month,[1] and on 7 May he was appointed a flight commander with the acting rank of captain.[5] As such he gained six more victories in May, three in June, and his 18th and last on 1 July 1918.[1] His final total was ten enemy aircraft destroyed (two shared), seven driven down out of control (one shared), and one captured. Fourteen of them were fighters and four were reconnaissance aircraft.[1]

Todd was posted back to the Home Establishment in Britain to serve as an instructor in July 1918.[2] On 3 August his award of the Distinguished Flying Cross was gazetted,[6] followed by his Military Cross on 16 September.[7] On 5 January 1919 he was transferred to the RAF's unemployed list.[8]

A replica of the F.1 Sopwith Camel B7320 flown by Todd is on permanent display at Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre in Montrose, Angus[9]

List of aerial victories

Combat record[1]
No. Date/Time Aircraft/
Serial No.
Opponent Result Location Notes
122 January 1918
@ 1430
Sopwith Camel
(B3890)
Albatros D.VDestroyedNorth-East of Houthoulst ForestShared with Captain Frank Quigley.
228 January 1918
@ 1550
Sopwith Camel
(B3890)
Fokker Dr.IOut of controlNorth-West of Menen
318 February 1918
@ 1215
Sopwith Camel
(B7320)
Albatros D.VOut of controlStaden
412 March 1918
@ 1245
Sopwith Camel
(C8213)
Albatros D.VOut of controlNorth of Menen
522 March 1918
@ 1550
Sopwith Camel
(C8213)
Fokker Dr.IOut of controlSouth-West of Cambrai
622 April 1918
@ 1630
Sopwith Camel
(C1670)
Type CDestroyedSouth-East of Wancourt
723 April 1918Sopwith Camel
(C1670)
Two-seaterDestroyed
829 April 1918
@ 1910
Sopwith Camel
(C1670)
Type CCapturedNorth-East of Querrieu
927 May 1918
@ 1000
Sopwith Camel
(C1670)
Albatros D.VOut of controlRibemontShared with Lieutenants Carl Falkenberg, Hugh Saunders, & V. C. Chapman.
1027 May 1918
@ 1155
Sopwith Camel
(C1670)
LVG CDestroyed in flamesRibemont
1130 May 1918
@ 1110
Sopwith Camel
(C1670)
Albatros D.VDestroyed in flamesAlbertBruayShared with Lieutenant Sydney Liversedge.
12Albatros D.VDestroyed
1331 May 1918
@ 1000
Sopwith Camel
(C1670)
Albatros D.VDestroyedSouth-East of Albert
1431 May 1918
@ 1800
Sopwith Camel
(C1670)
Albatros D.VDestroyed in flamesSouth-East of Albert
1527 June 1918
@ 2045
Sopwith Camel
(C1670)
Albatros D.VDestroyed½ mi East of Lakes at Albert
1630 June 1918
@ 1835–1840
Sopwith Camel
(C1670)
Albatros D.VOut of controlBray
17Fokker Dr.IDestroyedSouth of Bray
181 July 1918
@ 0920
Sopwith Camel
(C1670)
Albatros D.VOut of controlBray

Post-war career

After the war Todd returned to his medical studies. After graduating in 1922, he went to Livingstonia, Nyasaland, as a medical missionary.[1] His work was rewarded by being made a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1955 Birthday Honours "for medical and missionary services in Northern Rhodesia."[10]

Awards and citations

Distinguished Flying Cross
Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) John Todd, MC. (formerly No. 70 Squadron).
"With four other officers he engaged ten enemy scouts, shooting down one; later, on the same day, he shot down another in flames. In addition to these, during the last two months he has shot down seven enemy machines. His gallantry in leading his flight into action against enemy patrols of superior numbers has been an inspiring example.[6]
Military Cross
Second Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) John Todd, R.A.F.
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During recent operations he destroyed three enemy aircraft, forced one to land in our lines, and drove four down out of control. He did very fine work."[7]

References

  1. "John Todd". The Aerodrome. 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  2. Franks (2003), p. 64.
  3. "No. 30249". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 August 1917. pp. 8782–8783.
  4. "No. 30401". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 November 1917. p. 12334.
  5. "No. 30702". The London Gazette. 24 May 1918. p. 6110.
  6. "No. 30827". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 August 1918. p. 9204.
  7. "No. 30901". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 September 1918. p. 11025.
  8. "No. 31131". The London Gazette. 17 January 1919. p. 906.
  9. "Heritage Centre Layout". Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre. Ian McIntosh Memorial Trust. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  10. "No. 40497". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 June 1955. pp. 3280–3284.

Bibliography

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