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Ernest Antcliffe

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Ernest Antcliffe
Born(1898-10-12)12 October 1898
Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England
Died1974 (aged 75–76)
Worksop, Yorkshire, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchRoyal Flying Corps
Royal Air Force
RankSergeant
UnitNo. 88 Squadron RAF
Battles / warsWorld War I
AwardsDistinguished Flying Medal

Sergeant Ernest Antcliffe DFM (12 October 1898 – 19 June 1974) was a World War I flying ace gunner who, in conjunction with his pilots, was credited with seven aerial victories between 25 June 1918 and the end of the war.[1]

Antcliffe was originally a private in the 270th Infantry Battalion before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps. He then served as an observer/gunner in the rear seat of a Bristol F.2 Fighter in 88 Squadron. Three of his seven victories came while he was being piloted by Allan Hepburn. In total, he was credited with three Fokker D.VIIs set afire in midair, two others destroyed, and two driven down out of control.[2]

Ernest Antcliffe won the Distinguished Flying Medal for his service; it was gazetted on 3 June 1919.[3] He then faded into obscurity.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Ernest Antcliffe". theaerodrome.com. 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  2. ^ Franks et.al. (1997), p. 3.
  3. ^ "No. 31378". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 May 1919. p. 7035.
  • Franks, Norman; Guest, Russell F.; Alegi, Gregory (1997). Above the War Fronts: The British Two-seater Bomber Pilot and Observer Aces, the British Two-seater Fighter Observer Aces, and the Belgian, Italian, Austro-Hungarian and Russian Fighter Aces, 1914–1918. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 978-1-898697-56-5.