Charles Chapman (RFC officer)

Charles Meredith Bouverie Chapman
Born	(1892-01-09)9 January 1892 Bridge, Kent, England
Died	1 October 1917(1917-10-01) (aged 25) Poperinghe
Buried	Mendinghem Military Cemetery, Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Infantry; aviation
Years of service	1913 - 1917
Rank	Major
Unit	East Kent Regiment, No. 24 Squadron RFC, No. 29 Squadron RFC
Commands held	No. 29 Squadron RFC
Awards	Military Cross, Belgian Order of Leopold and Croix de Guerre

Charles Meredith Bouverie Chapman, MC (9 January 1892 – 1 October 1917) was a British Flying Ace in World War I with seven credited victories.^[1]

Background

Chapman was born in Bridge, Kent, the son of a brewer.

Involvement in World War 1

Chapman served as a lieutenant in the East Kent Regiment from January 1913 but was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps on 1 July 1915. He qualified as a pilot on 31 July 1915 receiving military flying training at Shorham before being posted to No. 22 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps.^[2] On 1 April 1916, Chapman as part of this Squadron was sent to France, based eventually at Bertangles. However Chapman was transferred to 'B' Flight No. 24 Squadron, also based at Bertangles, using Airco DH.2 aircraft. Chapman was successful in destroying three enemy aircraft in a short period, commencing on 22 June 1916, for which he was awarded the Military Cross.

On detachment in the UK, Chapman served in a number of Training Units and on 1 November 1916 was promoted to the rank of Captain becoming a flight commander. In this capacity, he returned to France in May 1917 to join No. 29 Squadron at Le Hameau, flying Nieuport Scouts. Chapman was credited with all the rest of his victories flying this type of aircraft, like Georg Simon pilot in Manfred von Richthofen's Jagdstaffel 11.

He died of shrapnel injuries received on 1 October 1917 after a German bombing raid on No 29 Sqn's aerodrome at Poperinghe.^[3]

References

↑ O'Connor, M. Airfields & Airmen of the Channel Coast. Pen & Sword Military, 2005. p.77 ISBN 1-84415-258-8
↑ O'Connor, M. p.77
↑ Nieuport Aces of World War 1.. p. 21.

Shores, C., Franks, N., Guest, R. Above the Trenches. Grub Street, 1990. ISBN 0-948817-19-4

Aviation in World War I

People and aircraft	Commanders Aces Aircraft of the Entente Powers Aircraft of the Central Powers Zeppelins

Campaigns and battles	Strategic bombing German Cuxhaven Bombing of cities Aerial reconnaissance Fokker Scourge Flight over Vienna Bloody April Battles

Entente Powers air services	British air services Royal Flying Corps Royal Naval Air Service Royal Air Force Australian Flying Corps Canadian Air Force (1918–20) French Air Service Imperial Russian Air Service Royal Italian Air Corps United States Army Air Service Greek air services Army Air Service Naval Air Service

Central Powers air services	Imperial German Air Service Austro-Hungarian Imperial and Royal Aviation Troops Ottoman Aviation Squadrons Bulgarian Army Aeroplane Section

Franks, Norman. Nieuport Aces of World War 1. Osprey Publishing, 2000. ISBN 1-85532-961-1, ISBN 978-1-85532-961-4.

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