307:"Flying Flea" aircraft (registered on 4 February 1936 as G-AEBS) that he had built himself in the air station workshops. The "Flying Flea" was designed as a cheap and simple self-built aircraft for flying enthusiasts, but had a fatal flaw in its design, that could cause the aircraft to go into an uncontrollable dive if the pilot pushed the nose down to prevent a stall. Davidson was the third British pilot to die in a "Flying Flea" crash within a month, and the aircraft was eventually banned in the UK.
236:
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He forced a hostile aeroplane to land, and, descending to a low altitude, despite heavy rifle fire, shot down one of the occupants as he was escaping from the machine. On two later occasions, he forced an enemy machine to land, and drove down another,
1043:
237:
which was last seen diving into country in which it was impossible to land. Finally, though his ankle was fractured by a bullet during an air combat, he landed without injury either to his observer or his machine.
246:
On 1 August 1919 Davidson was granted a permanent commission as a lieutenant in the RAF, resigning his Army commission in the
Highland Light Infantry the same day. He was promoted to flight lieutenant in the
222:
manned the guns in the rear seat. Davidson's final score was three enemy planes forced to land and then destroyed, and three driven down out of control. He left 111 Squadron on 9 January 1918.
1048:
1008:
203:
on 17 October 1914. He was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps in March 1916, initially as an observer, before being appointed a flying officer on 5 June 1917.
214:. He then transferred to No. 111 Squadron when it was founded as the fighter unit for the Middle East, and scored his second win on 4 October in a two-seater
206:
Davidson was posted to No. 14 Squadron in the Middle East, scoring his first victory with them, by driving down an enemy observation plane out of control at
1038:
1033:
1013:
1023:
896:
330:
He
Married Doris Davidson ( nee Heilbron) Daughter of Joseph Heilbron of Breda Holland. Doris Davidson did not remarry following Charles's Death
979:
1018:
933:
865:
291:, based in Jerusalem, finally returning to the UK to serve as a flying instructor at No. 2 Flying Training School, based at
269:. His Medals include the India Star with the Clasp Waziristan which was only awarded to those who took part in Pink's war.
1028:
225:
Listed as wounded on 7 February 1918, Davidson was promoted to lieutenant on 4 March 1918. In April 1918 his award of the
288:
283:
Davidson was part of the RAF team that beat the Army in the Inter-Services Golf
Championship held at West Hill in
233:
Second
Lieutenant (Temporary Lieutenant) Charles Robert Davidson, Highland Light Infantry, and Royal Flying Corps.
842:
218:, which he also used for four more wins, between 17 and 29 December 1917. For one of these triumphs, fellow ace
972:
Above the
Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920
200:
196:
116:
219:
907:
779:
747:
715:
665:
633:
601:
569:
447:
248:
1003:
998:
784:
752:
720:
670:
638:
606:
574:
452:
126:
416:
255:
215:
131:
121:
533:
497:
479:
398:
277:
136:
551:
941:
873:
975:
697:
515:
380:
258:, based in India, on 23 November 1923 then to the Headquarters of RAF India on 8 July 1927.
17:
354:
226:
211:
172:
160:
992:
967:
280:, based at South Farnborough, and on 11 March 1931 was promoted to squadron leader.
304:
273:
63:
811:
176:
287:
in April 1931. On 5 June 1931 he was appointed to serve at the headquarters of
266:
207:
179:
837:
292:
262:
59:
311:
47:
303:
Davidson was killed at RAF Digby on 21 May 1936 when he crashed in the
67:
284:
310:
Squadron Leader
Davidson is buried at the Church of the Holy Cross,
199:
Davidson was commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant in the
1044:
Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in
England
846:. NSW: National Library of Australia. 23 May 1936. p. 17
276:, on 4 December 1928. On 10 June 1929 he was posted to
934:"Scopwick Church Burial Ground, Lincolnshire, England"
870:
Royal Air Force and
Airfield History in Lincolnshire
156:
148:
109:
101:
93:
81:
73:
53:
41:
34:
1049:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1936
423:(Supplement). 25 September 1917. p. 10002.
866:"RAF Digby : Station History (1934–1936)"
349:
347:
8:
272:He returned to the UK and was posted to the
558:(Supplement). 29 December 1922. p. 15.
504:(Supplement). 19 April 1918. p. 4825.
31:
486:(Supplement). 5 March 1918. p. 2872.
405:(Supplement). 20 July 1917. p. 7465.
540:(Supplement). 4 June 1920. p. 6325.
343:
1009:British Army personnel of World War I
210:on 23 September 1917, while flying a
7:
229:was gazetted, the citation reading:
182:credited with six aerial victories.
175:(1896 – 21 May 1936) was a Scottish
932:Clack, Shelley (4 September 2006).
57:21 May 1936 (aged 39–40)
25:
872:. 14 January 2012. Archived from
1039:Royal Air Force squadron leaders
1034:Recipients of the Military Cross
1014:Highland Light Infantry officers
387:. 20 October 1914. p. 8400.
195:Having served as a cadet in the
1024:British World War I flying aces
780:"Royal Air Force: Appointments"
748:"Royal Air Force: Appointments"
666:"Royal Air Force: Appointments"
634:"Royal Air Force: Appointments"
602:"Royal Air Force: Appointments"
570:"Royal Air Force: Appointments"
27:Scottish World War I flying ace
704:. 10 March 1931. p. 1648.
522:. 1 August 1919. p. 9868.
1:
970:& Guest, Russell (1990).
792:(1349): 1158. 1 November 1934
448:"The Roll of Honour: Wounded"
289:RAF Transjordan and Palestine
614:(975): 625. 1 September 1927
141:No. 2 Flying Training School
1019:Royal Flying Corps officers
974:. London, UK: Grub Street.
646:(1048): 73. 24 January 1929
582:(780): 745. 6 December 1923
460:(476): 147. 7 February 1918
1065:
728:(1165): 371. 24 April 1931
18:Charles Davidson (aviator)
843:The Sydney Morning Herald
812:"Civil Aircraft Register"
760:(1174): 615. 26 June 1931
678:(1068): 493. 13 June 1929
355:"Charles Robert Davidson"
966:Shores, Christopher F.;
816:Golden Years of Aviation
295:, from 15 October 1934.
249:King's New Years Honours
938:Cemetery Records Online
254:Davidson was posted to
201:Highland Light Infantry
197:Officers Training Corps
170:Charles Robert Davidson
117:Highland Light Infantry
36:Charles Robert Davidson
897:"Mignet "Pou de Ciel""
838:""Flying Flea" Planes"
220:Frederick John Knowles
94:Years of service
1029:Scottish flying aces
127:No. 111 Squadron RFC
913:on 29 November 2014
876:on 26 November 2014
274:RAF Depot, Uxbridge
216:Bristol F.2 Fighter
132:No. 20 Squadron RAF
122:No. 14 Squadron RFC
944:on 31 January 2014
702:The London Gazette
556:The London Gazette
538:The London Gazette
520:The London Gazette
502:The London Gazette
484:The London Gazette
421:The London Gazette
403:The London Gazette
385:The London Gazette
251:, 1 January 1923.
137:No. 4 Squadron RAF
981:978-0-948817-19-9
166:
165:
16:(Redirected from
1056:
985:
954:
953:
951:
949:
940:. Archived from
929:
923:
922:
920:
918:
912:
906:. Archived from
901:
892:
886:
885:
883:
881:
862:
856:
855:
853:
851:
834:
828:
827:
825:
823:
808:
802:
801:
799:
797:
776:
770:
769:
767:
765:
744:
738:
737:
735:
733:
712:
706:
705:
694:
688:
687:
685:
683:
662:
656:
655:
653:
651:
630:
624:
623:
621:
619:
598:
592:
591:
589:
587:
566:
560:
559:
548:
542:
541:
530:
524:
523:
512:
506:
505:
494:
488:
487:
476:
470:
469:
467:
465:
444:
438:
431:
425:
424:
413:
407:
406:
395:
389:
388:
377:
371:
370:
368:
366:
351:
314:, Lincolnshire.
261:He took part in
168:Squadron Leader
83:
32:
21:
1064:
1063:
1059:
1058:
1057:
1055:
1054:
1053:
989:
988:
982:
965:
957:
947:
945:
931:
930:
926:
916:
914:
910:
899:
894:
893:
889:
879:
877:
864:
863:
859:
849:
847:
836:
835:
831:
821:
819:
810:
809:
805:
795:
793:
778:
777:
773:
763:
761:
746:
745:
741:
731:
729:
714:
713:
709:
696:
695:
691:
681:
679:
664:
663:
659:
649:
647:
632:
631:
627:
617:
615:
600:
599:
595:
585:
583:
568:
567:
563:
550:
549:
545:
532:
531:
527:
514:
513:
509:
496:
495:
491:
478:
477:
473:
463:
461:
446:
445:
441:
432:
428:
415:
414:
410:
397:
396:
392:
379:
378:
374:
364:
362:
353:
352:
345:
336:
329:
326:
323:
317:
301:
256:No. 20 Squadron
244:
242:Post-war career
193:
188:
144:
105:Squadron Leader
89:Royal Air Force
88:
58:
46:
37:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1062:
1060:
1052:
1051:
1046:
1041:
1036:
1031:
1026:
1021:
1016:
1011:
1006:
1001:
991:
990:
987:
986:
980:
968:Franks, Norman
962:
961:
956:
955:
924:
887:
857:
829:
803:
771:
739:
716:"R.A.F. Sport"
707:
689:
657:
625:
593:
561:
543:
525:
507:
489:
471:
439:
437:(1997), p.134.
426:
408:
390:
372:
342:
341:
340:
335:
332:
321:
318:
300:
297:
278:No. 4 Squadron
243:
240:
239:
238:
234:
227:Military Cross
212:Vickers Bullet
192:
189:
187:
184:
164:
163:
161:Military Cross
158:
154:
153:
150:
146:
145:
143:
142:
139:
134:
129:
124:
119:
113:
111:
107:
106:
103:
99:
98:
95:
91:
90:
85:
79:
78:
77:United Kingdom
75:
71:
70:
55:
51:
50:
43:
39:
38:
35:
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1061:
1050:
1047:
1045:
1042:
1040:
1037:
1035:
1032:
1030:
1027:
1025:
1022:
1020:
1017:
1015:
1012:
1010:
1007:
1005:
1002:
1000:
997:
996:
994:
983:
977:
973:
969:
964:
963:
959:
958:
943:
939:
935:
928:
925:
909:
905:
898:
891:
888:
875:
871:
867:
861:
858:
845:
844:
839:
833:
830:
817:
813:
807:
804:
791:
787:
786:
781:
775:
772:
759:
755:
754:
749:
743:
740:
727:
723:
722:
717:
711:
708:
703:
699:
693:
690:
677:
673:
672:
667:
661:
658:
645:
641:
640:
635:
629:
626:
613:
609:
608:
603:
597:
594:
581:
577:
576:
571:
565:
562:
557:
553:
547:
544:
539:
535:
529:
526:
521:
517:
511:
508:
503:
499:
493:
490:
485:
481:
475:
472:
459:
455:
454:
449:
443:
440:
436:
430:
427:
422:
418:
412:
409:
404:
400:
394:
391:
386:
382:
376:
373:
360:
359:The Aerodrome
356:
350:
348:
344:
338:
337:
333:
331:
327:
325:
324:
322:Personal Life
315:
313:
308:
306:
298:
296:
294:
290:
286:
281:
279:
275:
270:
268:
264:
259:
257:
252:
250:
241:
235:
232:
231:
230:
228:
223:
221:
217:
213:
209:
204:
202:
198:
190:
185:
183:
181:
178:
174:
171:
162:
159:
155:
151:
147:
140:
138:
135:
133:
130:
128:
125:
123:
120:
118:
115:
114:
112:
108:
104:
100:
96:
92:
86:
80:
76:
72:
69:
65:
61:
56:
52:
49:
44:
40:
33:
30:
19:
971:
960:Bibliography
946:. Retrieved
942:the original
937:
927:
915:. Retrieved
908:the original
904:Aeromodeller
903:
895:Duval, G.R.
890:
878:. Retrieved
874:the original
869:
860:
848:. Retrieved
841:
832:
820:. Retrieved
815:
806:
794:. Retrieved
789:
783:
774:
762:. Retrieved
757:
751:
742:
730:. Retrieved
725:
719:
710:
701:
692:
680:. Retrieved
675:
669:
660:
648:. Retrieved
643:
637:
628:
616:. Retrieved
611:
605:
596:
584:. Retrieved
579:
573:
564:
555:
546:
537:
528:
519:
510:
501:
492:
483:
474:
462:. Retrieved
457:
451:
442:
434:
429:
420:
411:
402:
393:
384:
375:
363:. Retrieved
358:
328:
320:
319:
316:
309:
305:Mignet HM.14
302:
282:
271:
260:
253:
245:
224:
205:
194:
169:
167:
149:Battles/wars
87:British Army
64:Lincolnshire
29:
1004:1936 deaths
999:1896 births
948:14 November
917:14 November
880:14 November
850:14 November
822:14 November
796:14 November
764:14 November
732:14 November
698:"No. 33697"
682:14 November
650:14 November
618:14 November
586:14 November
552:"No. 32782"
534:"No. 31932"
516:"No. 31486"
498:"No. 30643"
480:"No. 30559"
464:14 November
417:"No. 30311"
399:"No. 30198"
381:"No. 28945"
365:14 November
191:World War I
177:World War I
152:World War I
993:Categories
334:References
267:Waziristan
208:Beit Hanun
180:flying ace
74:Allegiance
293:RAF Digby
263:Pinks War
186:Biography
97:1914–1936
60:RAF Digby
312:Scopwick
82:Service/
48:Scotland
433:Shores
68:England
978:
818:. 2013
785:Flight
753:Flight
721:Flight
671:Flight
639:Flight
607:Flight
575:Flight
453:Flight
435:et.al.
361:. 2014
285:Woking
157:Awards
84:branch
911:(PDF)
900:(PDF)
758:XXIII
726:XXIII
339:Notes
299:Death
976:ISBN
950:2014
919:2014
882:2014
852:2014
824:2014
798:2014
790:XXVI
766:2014
734:2014
684:2014
652:2014
620:2014
588:2014
466:2014
367:2014
110:Unit
102:Rank
54:Died
45:1896
42:Born
676:XXI
644:XXI
612:XIX
265:in
995::
936:.
902:.
868:.
840:.
814:.
788:.
782:.
756:.
750:.
724:.
718:.
700:.
674:.
668:.
642:.
636:.
610:.
604:.
580:XV
578:.
572:.
554:.
536:.
518:.
500:.
482:.
456:.
450:.
419:.
401:.
383:.
357:.
346:^
173:MC
66:,
62:,
984:.
952:.
921:.
884:.
854:.
826:.
800:.
768:.
736:.
686:.
654:.
622:.
590:.
468:.
458:X
369:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.