Lt. (later Major) Frederick James Powell MC : 18th Bn. Manchester Regt. & RFC
This officer was commissioned in the Manchester Regt. in September 1914 and was later to transfer to the Royal Flying Corps, serving in their squadrons numbered 5, 40, & 41. After hostilities, he served with No. 28 Squadron RAF, the unit being stationed in India. I note that he qualified as a pilot in March 1915 and the squadrons' records available indicate that he took part in numerous operations in the Salient in 1915/16 piloting Vickers FB5 aircraft, his flying expertise when in contact with the enemy leading to him being classified as an "Air Ace" with 6 "victories" to his name.
There is a gap in the records I have been able to access for the period 1917/18, but it would seem likely that whilst in the UK during those years, he qualified as a pilot suitable for operating single-seat fighter aircraft, as his war time flying ended when he was wounded and made POW whilst piloting such a type of machine, namely the SE5a.
In passing, it is a tribute to aircrews (e.g. Lts. Powell & Lubbock) of the RFC that they contemplated air combat at an altitude of of 10,000 feet, a height, where in the years to come, operations at that altitude would warrant the need for an oxygen supply.
Selected Squadron Reports concerning Lt. Powell :-
19th September 1915
During the early morning, Lt. Powell was in successful combat with enemy aircraft at 6,000 feet, AM1 J.Shaw acting as his gunner and on one occasion was compelled to "chase down" an enemy 'plane on account of a "gun jam".
3rd October 1915
Again Powell was airborne with AM1 Shaw when they were in close combat with a German LVG aircraft at 4,800 feet and thereafter with an Albatros machine.
llth October 1915
Once again Lt. Powell had AM1 Shaw aboard as his gunner when they engaged an enemy biplane at 5,000 feet. However, their aircraft was hit by AA fire and forced to land where it was discovered that AM Shaw had been wounded in the leg.
4th November 1915
With Lt. E.F.P.Lubbock as his Observer, Powell was flying at 7,000 feet near Ypres when attacked on 3 occasions by enemy aircraft, but nevertheless the two officers were able to return to base unscathed.
28th November 1915
Again flying with Lubbock and whilst on a photographic patrol, Powell engaged in combat with an Aviatik type aircraft climbing to 10,000 feet to do battle. Frustratingly, at the crucial moment the aircraft's gun jammed.
19th December 1915
In action again with Lubbock, these two officers engaged in air combat once more, this time with an Aviatik, a LVG and a Fokker aircraft, at one time involving a "chase down" from an altitude of 8,000 feet down to 1,000 feet at which height their aircraft was unfortunately hit by AA fire and they were compelled to return to base.
2nd February 1918
By this date Powell was holding the rank of Major with No. 41 Squadron RFC which was equipped with SE5a machines. Flying No. B8273 he was involved in a fight at 6,000 feet with 3 enemy aircraft and was wounded and forced to land (Auberchicourt - N of Cambrai), where he was made a POW. The German pilot involved is said to be Lt. Kuhn of Jasta 10.
PhilipG.
