D'Arcy Fowlis Hilton

D'Arcy Fowlis Hilton
Born 17 October 1889
Toronto, Canada
Died October 1973 (aged 83-84)
St Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Allegiance George V of the British Empire
Service/branch Aviation
Years of service 1917 - ca 1918
Rank Lieutenant
Unit No. 29 Squadron RAF
Awards Military Cross, Air Force Cross

Lieutenant D'Arcy Fowlis Hilton was an American World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.[1]

Early life

D'Arcy Fowlis Hilton was the son of Francis Alfred and Isabel Grace Milligan Hilton.[2] Though born in Canada, he called Michigan home; he also lived in Youngstown, New York.[3]

On 28 January 1914, he married Gladys Caroline Woodruff in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada.[2][4] They separated in 1916, after a son was born, and he went to England and joined the Royal Flying Corps in November. He was commissioned a second lieutenant on 21 November 1916.[2]

World War I service

Hilton earned his Royal Aero Club Certificate No. 4717 on 17 May 1917. He was then assigned to fly a Nieuport 17 with 29 Squadron. On 31 July 1917, he destroyed an Albatros D.V fighter and an observation balloon. Over the next three and a half months, he proceeded to drive down out of control five more D.Vs and an observation plane, with the last victory coming on 13 November 1917.[1] He was gazetted the Military Cross on 17 December 1917.[5][6] Following his tour of combat, Fowler became a flight instructor in both England and Canada, and earned the Air Force Cross in the process.[7]

Post war

Gladys Caroline Woodruff sued him for divorce via act of legislature in 1922.[8] He was then estranged from his family until early in World War II when his son was killed in aerial combat.[1]

Honors and awards

Military Cross (MC)

2nd/Lt. D'Arcy Fowlis Hilton, R.F.C., Spec. Res.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in attacking enemy aircraft and engaging troops on the ground. While on patrol he attacked single-handed six two-seater machines, forcing one down and driving the rest back. He has driven down five other machines. Supplement to the London Gazette, 23 April 1918 (30645/4871)[1][9]

Endnotes

  1. 1 2 3 4 Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914-1918. p. 44.
  2. 1 2 3 http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/hilton.php Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  3. American Aces of World War 1. p. 42.
  4. http://www.elginogs.ca/newsindexes/timesjournal/sttdailytimes1914jan&feb.htm Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  5. http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30431/supplements/13181/page.pdf Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  6. http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30431/supplements/13182/page.pdf Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  7. Nieuport Aces of World War 1.. p. 22.
  8. https://archive.org/stream/JSCe59_1922_uoft/JSCe59_1922_uoft_djvu.txt Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  9. http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/issues/30645/supplements/4871/page.pdf Retrieved 22 February 2010.

References

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