Robert Barbour (RAF officer)

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Robert Lyle McKendrick Barbour
Born(1895-08-31)31 August 1895
Scotland
Died1980 (aged 84–85)
Devon, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Royal Air Force
RankGroup Captain
UnitKing's Own Scottish Borderers
Royal Flying Corps
No. 205 Squadron RAF
AwardsDistinguished Flying Cross
Air Force Cross

Group Captain Robert Lyle McKendrick Barbour, DFC, AFC (31 August 1895 – 1980) was a Scottish airman and a flying ace of the First World War credited with six aerial victories.[1][2]

Biography[edit]

Barbour attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, as a Gentlemen Cadet, from where he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the King's Own Scottish Borderers on 27 October 1916.[3] On 22 December 1917 he was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps, receiving promotion to lieutenant on 27 April 1918.[1] As a pilot with No. 205 Squadron RAF, he shot down six enemy aircraft between June and October 1918, the first three in a DH.4, and the latter three in a DH.9A.[1][2] For his efforts, Barbour was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. The citation for the award read:

This officer has carried out twenty-nine bombing raids and forty-seven photographic reconnaissances, displaying at all times marked courage and clear judgment. On 9th October, when on reconnaissance, he was attacked by ten Fokkers and forced to retire; on the disappearance of the Fokkers he again crossed the line; he was then attacked by three Fokkers, but these he drove off, shooting down one, which was seen to crash.[4]

Barbour resigned his army commission on 1 August 1919 in order to accept a permanent commission in the Royal Air Force.[1] He was promoted from flying officer to flight lieutenant in December 1925,[5] and was awarded the Air Force Cross in June 1928.[6] He received further promotions; to squadron leader on 1 October 1934,[7] to wing commander on 31 December 1937,[8] and to temporary group captain on 1 September 1940.[9]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "Robert Lyle McKendrick Barbour". theaerodrome.com. 2014. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  2. ^ a b 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.
  3. ^ "No. 29803". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 October 1916. p. 10406.
  4. ^ "No. 31170". The London Gazette. 7 February 1919. pp. 2034–2035.
  5. ^ "No. 33119". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 1925. p. 10.
  6. ^ "No. 14450". The Edinburgh Gazette. 8 June 1928. p. 671.
  7. ^ "No. 34092". The London Gazette. 2 October 1934. p. 6180.
  8. ^ "No. 34468". The London Gazette. 31 December 1937. p. 8194.
  9. ^ "No. 34949". The London Gazette. 20 September 1940. p. 5580.
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