515:
393:
33:
461:
Sergeant Clowes has displayed courage and determination in many combats against the enemy. He has destroyed at least six enemy aircraft. On 14th June, 1940, he led his section in combat against five
Messerschmitt 109's and destroyed one. He then observed, above him, three further enemy aircraft and,
265:. He later commanded fighter squadrons in Egypt and Libya but his operational flying career came to an end in September 1943 when he lost sight in one eye due to an accident. In the postwar period, he remained in the RAF in an administrative role but died of liver cancer in 1949, aged 37.
420:
on 23 May, although this could not be confirmed. Over the following weeks, the squadron began to retreat, repeatedly shifting from airfield to airfield as it moved to the west. On 14 June, Clowes destroyed a Bf 109, by which time, the squadron was operating from
673:
Clowes is credited with the shooting down of ten aircraft, one of which was shared with other pilots. A share in the destruction of one additional aircraft was unconfirmed. He is also credited with three aircraft probably destroyed and two damaged.
514:
602:, and operated Hurricanes on patrol duties and also occasionally being scrambled to intercept incoming Luftwaffe bombers. The squadron went to the Far East in February 1942, but Clowes was posted at this time to the Middle East. He commanded
1120:
565:
This officer has displayed great skill in his engagements against the enemy and has destroyed at least 11 of their aircraft. His coolness and judgment on all occasions have been an inspiration to his fellow
404:
commenced on 10 May, No. 1 Squadron was immediately heavily engaged. Clowes was away in
England on leave at the time, and did not rejoin his unit until a few days later. Promptly in action, he destroyed a
369:
was spotted; Clowes destroyed two while the other two pilots of the section claimed the third. This was the first success over a Bf 110 for RAF pilots and the commander of the RAF forces in France,
462:
before they could attack his flight, he engaged them. He succeeded in damaging one and in causing the other two to disperse in the clouds. He has displayed great skill and power of leadership.
1125:
642:. His period in command, and his operational flying career, ended in September when he received an injury to one of his eyes, permanently losing his vision in the affected eye.
319:. In December 1937, Clowes was involved in a midair collision in December 1937 which saw two other pilots killed. The following year, the squadron began to reequip with the
293:(RAF) in early 1929 for training as ground crew. He qualified as a metal rigger in late 1931. He subsequently volunteered for training as a pilot and once he had gained his
544:
518:
Clowes standing next to his
Hurricane, which he had painted with a bee as his personal insignia; the stripes on the abdomen indicated his tally of aerial victories
358:
fighter collided with his
Hurricane, damaging its tail. Clowes safely crash-landed back at the airfield at Vassincourt. While patrolling with his section near
241:, Clowes joined the RAF in 1929 to train in ground crew duties. Qualifying as a metal rigger two years later, he subsequently trained as a pilot. Serving with
1130:
552:
215:
194:
1110:
1105:
1135:
396:
Pilots of No. 1 Squadron inspect a German machine gun outside the officer's mess at their airfield at
Vassincourt; Clowes stands on second right
1076:
535:
to France. Clowes was involved with one of the squadron's earliest missions, leading a detachment to strafe German infrastructure near
1057:
1038:
1019:
332:
651:
343:. On 23 November Clowes, who was nicknamed 'Taffy' was flying as part of a section of three Hurricanes which pursued a
650:
Clowes was transferred to the secretarial branch of the RAF in
September 1945 as a squadron leader. He later attended
551:
as an instructor, and then moving to No. 53 OTU to fulfil a similar role there. By this time, he had been awarded the
454:
222:
198:
392:
1140:
667:
96:
32:
426:
355:
631:
614:
role, from August 1942 to March 1943. During the early part of the year, the squadron operated as part of
496:
286:
258:
202:
1050:
Aces High: A Tribute to the Most
Notable Fighter Pilots of the British and Commonwealth Forces in WWII
615:
1100:
1095:
607:
603:
453:. A few days later, in recognition of his services during the fighting in France, he was awarded the
406:
363:
160:
663:
627:
623:
584:
262:
164:
156:
84:
986:
870:
850:
830:
991:
935:
915:
895:
875:
855:
835:
557:
298:
282:
278:
242:
238:
146:
67:
234:(RAF) during the Second World War. He was credited with having shot down at least ten aircraft.
1072:
1053:
1034:
1015:
611:
580:
475:
Clowes damaged a Bf 110 and He 111 on 30 August, and the following day probably destroyed two
254:
182:
1115:
930:
910:
890:
659:
508:
401:
320:
316:
250:
177:
425:. Later in the month, it was evacuated from France and reassembled at Tangmere. Clowes was
591:
381:
290:
231:
136:
118:
331:
At the beginning of
September 1939, No. 1 Squadron was deployed to France as part of the
619:
540:
488:
373:
351:
344:
302:
294:
246:
1089:
527:
No. 1 Squadron returned to the south of
England at the start of 1941. Operating from
500:
492:
476:
446:
410:
366:
347:
38:
249:
at the time of the outbreak of the Second World War, he flew extensively during the
595:
438:
309:
437:
No. 1 Squadron, still based at
Tangmere but shortly to move to the RAF station at
588:
450:
413:
370:
336:
313:
639:
548:
528:
484:
480:
274:
227:
441:, resumed operational duties in late July. On 16 August Clowes destroyed two
655:
442:
340:
261:. After a period of instructing duties in mid-1941, he was given command of
729:
487:
as also probably destroyed. On 7 September he shot down a Bf 110 over the
599:
504:
495:
for a period of rest and recuperation. Shortly afterwards, Clowes was
257:. During this time, he achieved several aerial victories and had been
536:
532:
422:
281:
on 16 August 1912. His father served in the First World War with the
339:
and patrolling the French-German border, occasionally engaging the
635:
513:
457:. This was gazetted on 20 August and the published citation read:
417:
391:
377:
1069:
Men of the Battle of Britain: A Biographical Directory of the Few
707:
359:
705:
703:
701:
699:
697:
695:
693:
691:
689:
687:
285:, and was killed in action on 1 July 1917. Clowes, who went to
1121:
Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
606:, based at advanced landing airfields in Egypt and operating
789:
787:
785:
783:
781:
779:
622:
role. After attending No. 1 Middle East Training School at
503:. He shared in the shooting down of a Do 17 to the east of
543:
on 3 February, he was rested two months with a posting to
507:
on 24 October. By this time he was one of the squadron's
416:
on 14 May. He shared in the destruction of a He 111 near
583:
on 10 December and subsequently appointed to command of
308:
At the time of his posting, No. 1 Squadron was based at
630:. This operated a mix of Hurricanes and Spitfires from
626:
for a refresher course, in June he assumed command of
666:. He died there on 7 December 1949 and was buried at
766:
764:
762:
760:
758:
756:
754:
752:
750:
658:. He developed liver cancer and was hospitalised at
190:
170:
152:
142:
132:
124:
112:
104:
91:
74:
54:
46:
23:
491:. Two days later No. 1 Squadron shifted north to
226:(16 August 1912 – 7 December 1949) was a British
1031:Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft
563:
459:
711:
354:. Immediately after he shot it down, a French
1048:Shores, Christopher; Williams, Clive (1994).
995:(Supplement). 25 November 1947. p. 5581.
879:(Supplement). 19 November 1940. p. 6633.
8:
1126:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Medal
531:, it carried out bomber escort missions and
859:(Supplement). 20 August 1940. p. 5091.
31:
20:
839:(Supplement). 11 July 1940. p. 4268.
973:
961:
949:
793:
730:"The Airmen's Stories – P/O A V Clowes"
683:
817:
805:
255:aerial campaign over southeast England
724:
722:
720:
449:medium bomber respectively, over the
273:Arthur Victor Clowes was born in the
7:
770:
483:and claimed a Bf 110 shot down near
287:Long Eaton Council Elementary School
1131:Deaths from liver cancer in England
376:, treated the section to dinner in
335:. By October it was operating from
14:
1033:. London: MacDonald & James.
1012:Fighter Boys: Saving Britain 1940
939:. 30 December 1941. p. 7379.
734:Battle of Britain London Monument
1111:British World War II flying aces
1106:Royal Air Force squadron leaders
545:No. 56 Operational Training Unit
380:as a reward. He was promoted to
1136:People from Sawley, Derbyshire
899:. 8 August 1941. p. 4572.
1:
1071:. Barnsley: Frontline Books.
555:. The citation, published in
362:on 29 March 1940, a group of
919:. 13 May 1941. p. 2745.
594:. His new unit was based at
37:Portrait of Clowes, made by
470:, No. 34927, 20 August 1940
333:Advanced Air Striking Force
1157:
712:Shores & Williams 1994
634:, in Libya, in sorties to
553:Distinguished Flying Cross
455:Distinguished Flying Medal
199:Distinguished Flying Medal
195:Distinguished Flying Cross
16:British flying ace of WWII
1067:Wynn, Kenneth G. (2015).
1014:. London: HarperCollins.
402:German invasion of France
30:
1010:Bishop, Patrick (2003).
574:, No. 35161, 13 May 1941
97:Brampton, Cambridgeshire
1052:. London: Grub Street.
1029:Rawlings, John (1976).
579:Clowes was promoted to
427:mentioned in despatches
577:
519:
473:
445:bombers, a He 111 and
397:
517:
395:
203:Mention in Despatches
125:Years of service
608:Supermarine Spitfire
479:medium bombers near
407:Messerschmitt Bf 109
384:shortly afterwards.
364:Messerschmitt Bf 110
350:to the northeast of
230:who served with the
976:, pp. 228–230.
964:, pp. 472–476.
952:, pp. 194–195.
820:, pp. 137–138.
85:Ely, Cambridgeshire
992:The London Gazette
936:The London Gazette
916:The London Gazette
896:The London Gazette
876:The London Gazette
856:The London Gazette
836:The London Gazette
638:and beyond to the
558:The London Gazette
520:
398:
283:Sherwood Foresters
253:and the following
239:Sawley, Derbyshire
68:Sawley, Derbyshire
1078:978-1-39901-465-6
796:, pp. 11–13.
652:RAF Staff College
581:flight lieutenant
523:Later war service
509:flight commanders
433:Battle of Britain
312:and operated the
297:he was posted to
208:
207:
183:Battle of Britain
174:Second World War
1148:
1082:
1063:
1044:
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997:
996:
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745:
744:
742:
740:
726:
715:
709:
660:RAF Hospital Ely
604:No. 601 Squadron
575:
471:
388:Battle of France
327:Second World War
321:Hawker Hurricane
251:Battle of France
225:
220:
178:Battle of France
161:No. 601 Squadron
114:
99:, United Kingdom
87:, United Kingdom
81:
70:, United Kingdom
64:
62:
41:in February 1941
35:
21:
1156:
1155:
1151:
1150:
1149:
1147:
1146:
1145:
1141:Trenchard Brats
1086:
1085:
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777:
769:
748:
738:
736:
728:
727:
718:
710:
685:
680:
648:
632:Luigi di Savoia
628:No. 94 Squadron
592:squadron leader
585:No. 79 Squadron
576:
570:
525:
472:
466:
435:
390:
382:flight sergeant
329:
291:Royal Air Force
271:
263:No. 79 Squadron
232:Royal Air Force
218:
214:
201:
197:
165:No. 79 Squadron
163:
159:
157:No. 94 Squadron
137:Squadron Leader
119:Royal Air Force
100:
83:
79:
78:7 December 1949
66:
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26:
17:
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978:
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810:
808:, p. 130.
798:
775:
746:
716:
714:, p. 181.
682:
681:
679:
676:
647:
646:Postwar career
644:
620:fighter-bomber
612:ground support
610:fighters in a
572:London Gazette
568:
541:flying officer
539:. Promoted to
524:
521:
489:Thames estuary
468:London Gazette
464:
434:
431:
409:fighter and a
389:
386:
374:Arthur Barratt
367:heavy fighters
345:Heinkel He 111
328:
325:
303:sergeant pilot
299:No. 1 Squadron
270:
267:
247:sergeant pilot
243:No. 1 Squadron
206:
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154:
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147:No. 1 Squadron
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126:
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110:
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108:United Kingdom
106:
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101:
95:
93:
89:
88:
82:(aged 37)
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65:16 August 1912
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1059:1-8-9869-7000
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1040:0-354-01028-X
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1021:0-00-257169-2
1017:
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1008:
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994:
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982:
979:
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974:Rawlings 1976
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962:Rawlings 1976
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950:Rawlings 1976
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794:Rawlings 1976
790:
788:
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776:
773:, p. 94.
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506:
502:
501:pilot officer
498:
494:
490:
486:
482:
478:
477:Dornier Do 17
469:
463:
458:
456:
452:
448:
447:Junkers Ju 88
444:
440:
432:
430:
428:
424:
419:
415:
412:
411:Junkers Ju 87
408:
403:
394:
387:
385:
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372:
368:
365:
361:
357:
353:
349:
348:medium bomber
346:
342:
338:
334:
326:
324:
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315:
311:
306:
304:
300:
296:
292:
289:, joined the
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268:
266:
264:
260:
256:
252:
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244:
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235:
233:
229:
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211:Arthur Clowes
204:
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69:
57:
53:
49:
45:
40:
39:Cuthbert Orde
34:
29:
25:Arthur Clowes
22:
19:
1068:
1049:
1030:
1011:
990:
981:
969:
957:
945:
934:
925:
914:
905:
894:
885:
874:
865:
854:
845:
834:
825:
813:
801:
737:. Retrieved
733:
672:
649:
616:No. 244 Wing
578:
571:
564:
556:
526:
497:commissioned
474:
467:
460:
436:
429:on 11 July.
399:
330:
307:
272:
259:commissioned
236:
210:
209:
171:Battles/wars
80:(1949-12-07)
18:
1101:1949 deaths
1096:1912 births
987:"No. 38131"
931:"No. 35398"
911:"No. 35161"
891:"No. 35241"
871:"No. 34996"
851:"No. 34927"
831:"No. 34893"
818:Bishop 2003
806:Bishop 2003
451:South Downs
414:dive bomber
371:Air Marshal
352:Saarbrücken
337:Vassincourt
314:Hawker Fury
47:Nickname(s)
1090:Categories
1004:References
640:Aegean Sea
485:Martlesham
481:Chelmsford
275:Derbyshire
269:Early life
228:flying ace
105:Allegiance
61:1912-08-16
771:Wynn 2015
739:10 August
656:Bracknell
624:El Ballah
547:(OTU) at
493:Wittering
443:Luftwaffe
400:When the
341:Luftwaffe
323:fighter.
128:1929–1949
668:Brampton
600:Coventry
596:Baginton
569:—
561:, read:
465:—
439:Northolt
310:Tangmere
277:town of
237:Born in
153:Commands
113:Service/
1116:The Few
566:pilots.
533:sorties
505:Banbury
317:fighter
50:'Taffy'
1075:
1056:
1037:
1018:
589:acting
587:as an
549:Heston
537:Calais
529:Kenley
423:Nantes
356:Morane
279:Sawley
191:Awards
115:branch
92:Buried
678:Notes
662:, in
636:Crete
618:in a
598:, in
499:as a
418:Rouen
378:Paris
301:as a
295:wings
245:as a
221:
219:,
1073:ISBN
1054:ISBN
1035:ISBN
1016:ISBN
741:2023
360:Metz
143:Unit
133:Rank
75:Died
55:Born
664:Ely
654:at
223:DFM
216:DFC
1092::
989:.
933:.
913:.
893:.
873:.
853:.
833:.
778:^
749:^
732:.
719:^
686:^
670:.
511:.
305:.
213:,
1081:.
1062:.
1043:.
1024:.
743:.
63:)
59:(
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