Frank Tremar Sibly Menendez

Frank Tremar Sibly Menendez
Born (1896-01-26)26 January 1896
Nassau, Bahamas, British West Indies
Died 27 February 1973(1973-02-27) (aged 77)
Eastbourne, Sussex, England
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Royal Air Force
Years of service 1914–1919
Rank Lieutenant
Unit York and Lancaster Regiment
Gloucestershire Regiment
No. 57 Squadron RFC
Battles/wars World War I
 • Western Front
Awards Military Cross
Other work Civil Servant

Lieutenant Frank Tremar Sibly Menendez (26 January 1896 – 27 February 1973) was a British World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.[1]

Family background and education

Menendez was the only son of The Honourable F. M. Menendez, of Nassau, the Bahamas[2] and his wife Maud, the sister of G. W. Sibly, founder of Wycliffe College, Gloucestershire.[3] Menendez attended his uncle's school from 1909 to 1912, before going up to St John's College, Cambridge, to study law.[3]

Military service

In 1914 Menendez abandoned his studies to enlist in the Army. He was commissioned as temporary second lieutenant on 19 March 1915,[4] serving in the York and Lancaster Regiment, until transferring to the Gloucestershire Regiment on 10 September 1915.[5]

He was sent to France on 1 January 1916,[3] and was promoted to lieutenant on 20 April.[6] He was appointed an acting-captain while serving as a company commander from 29 July[7] to 17 December 1916,[8] during the Battle of the Somme. He also distinguished himself by leading trench raids at Neuve-Chapelle.[3]

On 11 August 1917 he was appointed a flying officer (observer), and transferred to General List of the Royal Flying Corps, with seniority from 28 May.[9] He was posted to No. 57 Squadron, flying the Airco D.H.4 two-seater day bomber. Paired with Australian pilot Second Lieutenant Arthur Thomas Drinkwater, Menendez gained his first aerial victory on 18 August by driving down an Albatros D.V out of control over Courtrai, repeating the feat two days later over Houthulst Forest. On 21 September he accounted for two more D.Vs, one destroyed and the other driven down, over Dadizeele. He gained another double victory on 12 November, driving down two D.Vs south-east of Houthulst.[1]

On 27 October 1917 Menendez was awarded the Military Cross,[10] which was gazetted on 15 March 1918. His citation read:

Temporary Lieutenant Frank Tremar Silby Menendez, General List and Royal Flying Corps.
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in carrying out photographic reconnaissances and bombing raids far behind the enemy lines. On one occasion, when attacked by five enemy scouts, he drove three of them down and the other two then withdrew. On two other occasions he has driven down enemy machines out of control."[11]

Menendez returned to England for flight training, being regraded from observer to pilot on 30 May 1918.[12] However, on 1 August, he was involved in a mid-air collision over Ipswich. He survived, but was seriously injured, losing one eye and requiring facial reconstruction.[3] On 5 June 1919 he relinquished his RAF commission on account of his injuries, but was permitted to retain his rank.[13]

Post-war career

After spending some time recuperating in the Bahamas, Menendez married, and had two children.[3] In August 1927 he joined the Civil Service, serving in the Department of Overseas Trade.[14] During World War II he served as a Lewis gunner in the Home Guard, and was also seconded to the Ministry of Economic Warfare.[3]

Menendez died in a nursing home in Eastbourne, Sussex, on 27 February 1973.[15]

References

  1. 1 2 "Frank Tremar Sibly Menendez". The Aerodrome. 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  2. ↑ "Personals: To be Married". Flight. X (481): 297. 14 March 1918. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Menendez, Fergus Tremar (1 August 2014). "Brave War Ace: The Great War". Independent School Parent. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  4. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 29109. p. 2853. 23 March 1915.
  5. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29306. p. 9410. 21 September 1915.
  6. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 29641. p. 6347. 27 June 1916.
  7. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 29804. p. 10425. 27 October 1916.
  8. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 29931. p. 1274. 6 February 1917.
  9. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30256. p. 8951. 28 August 1917.
  10. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30355. p. 11109. 26 October 1917.
  11. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30583. p. 3428. 15 March 1918.
  12. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 30781. p. 7945. 5 July 1918.
  13. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 31440. p. 8603. 8 July 1919.
  14. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33300. p. 5123. 25 August 1927.
  15. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 45925. p. 3262. 9 March 1973.
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