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James Thomas Byford McCudden
Nickname(s)	"Mac"
Born	28 March 1895 Gillingham, England
Died	9 July 1918 (aged 23) Auxi-le-Château, France
Buried	Wavans British Cemetery
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	British Army  Royal Air Force
Years of service	1910 – 1918
Rank	Major
Unit	No. 56 Squadron RAF
Battles / wars	World War I Western Front
Awards	Victoria Cross Distinguished Service Order & Bar Military Cross & Bar Military Medal Croix de Guerre (France)

James Thomas Byford McCudden VC, DSO & Bar, MC & Bar, MM (28 March 1895 – 9 July 1918) was an English First World War flying ace and among the most highly decorated airmen in British military history.

Born in 1895 to a middle class family with military traditions, McCudden joined the Royal Engineers in 1910. Having an interest in mechanics he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) in 1913 at which time he first came into regular contact with aircraft. Out the outbreak of war in 1914 he flew as an observer before training as a fighter pilot in 1916.

He claimed his first victory in September 1916. Two months later he fought an inconclusive battle with Manfred von Richthofen "The Red Baron" and the most successful ace of the war. McCudden claimed his fifth victory—making him an ace—on 15 February 1917. That same year he dispatched 37 enemy aircraft while claiming multiple victories in one day on 11 occasions.

With his six British medals and one French one, McCudden received more medals for gallantry than any other airman of British nationality serving in the First World War. He was also one of the longest serving. At his death he had amassed 57 enemy aircraft placing him seventh on the list of the war's most successful aces. Just under two-thirds of his victims can be identified by name. This degree of veracity was possible since unlike other Allied aces, most of McCudden's claims were made over Allied-held territory. The majority of his successes were achieved with 56 Squadron RFC.

On 9 July 1918 McCudden was killed in a flying accident when his aircraft crashed following an engine fault. His rank at the time of his death was Major, a significant achievement for a man who had begun his career as a non-commissioned officer. McCudden is buried at the British war cemetery at Beauvoir-Wavans.

Childhood and education

James McCudden was born in Gillingham, Kent to Sergeant-Major William H. McCudden and Amelia Byford. His father had joined the Royal Engineers as a teenager and served in No. 24 Company. He fought in the Anglo-Egyptian War at the Battle of Tel el-Kebir in 1882. He rescued a wounded soldier while under fire and recommended for an award. However, when it emerged he was acting against orders he was denied any honours. His father had a long career in the Engineers and became an instructor at the School of Military Engineering as a non-commissioned officer. His mother's family also had a military background; her grandfather served as a Master-at-arms in the Royal Marines aboard HMS Poictiers.

In 1890 he married Amelia Byford. They had six children; William Thomas James (3 April 1891), Mary Amelia (23 January 1893), James Thomas Byford (28 March 1895), Kathleen Annie (1 December 1899), Maurice Vincent (31 October 1901) and John Anthony (14 June 1897). John and William became fighter pilots during the war but both would be killed in action during the war.

The McCudden's moved to Sheerness in 1909 and James transferred to the garrison school. He learned to shoot at the rifle range, box and was a reasonably intelligent student. His father's retirement strain on the family finances and as a consequence McCudden felt obliged to find a job before he could enlist in 1915. He filled the time from the age of 14 top the age of enlistment by working as a Post Office messenger boy. It was at this time McCudden's interest in flying began. In nearby Leysdown, on the Isle of Sheppey, one of the first aviation centres was built. John Moore-Brabazon, 1st Baron Brabazon of Tara, became the first Englishman to fly at the sight. McCudden and his brothers often went to see the pioneer aviators gather. McCudden developed a desire to become a pilot after spending hours watching early flying machines.

Unfortunately his desire to be a pilot was postponed. He joined the Royal Engineers on 26 April 1910, as No. 20083 On 24 February 1911, he set sail for Gibraltar on the southern tip of Spain.

Royal Engineers

Royal Flying Corps

First World War

An observer airman

He joined the Royal Engineers in 1910, but after a flight with his brother Willie across Salisbury Plain requested transfer to the RFC, which was granted in 1913. In August 1914 he went to France as a mechanic with No. 3 Squadron, and was allowed to fly as an observer over the next few months.

Fighter pilot

In January 1916 he returned to England, learned to fly at Gosport, and obtained his pilot's licence in April 1916. He joined No. 20 Squadron as an NCO in June 1916 flying the F.E.2 from Clairmarais, near St Omer. After just a month he soon switched to 29 Squadron flying DH-2 scouts. He made his first claim for an aircraft on 6 September 1916. His DH.2 could just keep pace 400 yards behind an enemy two-seater in a slight dive, so he fired three drums of Lewis ammunition while in pursuit. Three days later, an Allied intelligence agent behind the German lines confirmed the victory.

Battle with Von Richthofen

Sgt McCudden and several of 29 Squadron encountered Jasta 2 and Leutnant Manfred von Richthofen in a prolonged dogfight on 27 December 1916. The Baron claimed a 'pusher' shot down during this fight, and research seems to indicate it was McCudden's DH-2 he claimed, although none of the 300 bullets fired by the Baron had even hit McCudden's machine and he returned safely to base.

1917: Established ace

By February 1917 McCudden had received the Military Medal, been granted a commission and awarded the Military Cross. He returned to the UK having claimed 5 air victories.

During this spell, McCudden was twice involved with attempted intercepts of formations of bombers in a phase of Gotha Raids. In the second raid on 17 July 1917 on London, out of a defending force of 95 aircraft, McCudden alone was able to achieve sufficient altitude in his Pup to engage the enemy. Having insufficient ammunition, he was unable to make any significant impact.

After a spell with 66 Squadron on Sopwith Pups, he was appointed as a flight commander with 56 Squadron, flying SE5as in mid 1917.

McCudden was one of the first truly 'professional' airmen, who applied a scientific approach to air combat. McCudden took great pains over his guns, aircraft, and tactics, dismissing choices of last resort such as deliberately crashing a plane into the enemy.

Using his knowledge as a mechanic, he tuned his aircraft to give it an additional 4000 ft altitude ceiling. This resulted in him specialising in carefully stalking high altitude reconnaissance aircraft, leading to an unsurpassed total of captured enemy aircraft (21 fell within Allied lines). Some of these stalking techniques are described in McCudden's autobiography, entitled "Flying Fury - Five Years In the RFC".

McCudden was 22 years old, and a temporary Captain, when the following events occurred:

During the period August 1917 to March 1918, on aerial patrols over France, Captain McCudden showed conspicuous bravery, exceptional perseverance and a high devotion to duty. As patrol leader he exercised the utmost skill not only in the manner in which he attacked and destroyed the enemy, but in the way in which, during aerial fights, he protected the newer members of his flight, thus keeping down the casualties to a minimum. By March 1918 he had accounted for 51 enemy aircraft, some single-handed, some while leading his men. As an example of his exploits, on 16 February 1918 he destroyed three two-seater aeroplanes in the morning patrol and added a fourth on his second sortie.

The citation for his Victoria Cross published in the London Gazette on 2 April 1918 read:

For most conspicuous bravery, exceptional perseverance, and a very high devotion to duty. Captain McCudden has at the present time accounted for 54 enemy aeroplanes. Of these, 42 have been destroyed, 19 of them on our side of the lines. Only 12 out of the 54 have been driven down out of control. On two occasions, he had totally destroyed 4 two-seater enemy aeroplanes on the same day, and on the last occasion all 4 machines were destroyed in the space of one hour and thirty minutes. While in his present squadron, he has participated in 78 offensive patrols, and in nearly every case has been the leader. On at least 30 occasions, whilst with the same squadron, he has crossed the lines alone, either in pursuit or in quest of enemy aeroplanes. The following incidents are examples of the work he has done recently: on 23 December 1917, when leading his patrol, 8 enemy aeroplanes were attacked between 1430/1550 and of these 2 were shot down by Captain McCudden in our lines; on the morning of the same day, he left the ground at 1050 and encountered 4 enemy aeroplanes and of these he shot 2 down; on 30 January 1918, he, single-handed, attacked 5 enemy scouts, as a result of which 2 were destroyed. On this occasion, he only returned home when the enemy scouts had been driven far east; his Lewis gun ammunition was all finished and the belt of his Vickers gun had broken. As a patrol leader he has at all times shown the utmost gallantry and skill, not only in the manner in which he has attacked and destroyed the enemy, but in the way he has, during several aerial fights, protected the newer members of his flight, thus keeping down their casualties to a minimum. This officer is considered, by the record he has made, by his fearlessness, and by the great service which he has rendered to his country, deserving of the very highest honour.

Return to England

Unlike the German and French governments, the War Office had up to 1917 been reluctant to identify individual soldiers and 'aces' for propaganda and public morale purposes, the most notable exception being Albert Ball. However, from December 1917 after Viscount Northcliffe was placed in charge of the Ministry of Information, he felt an advantage was being missed, and so ran a campaign in his publications to name outstanding individual combatants. On 3 January 1918 he ran a story in the Daily Mail under the headline "Our Unknown Air Heroes", which focused on McCudden.

Shying away from this publicity, McCudden did not even tell his family of his attendance at Buckingham Palace on 6 April to receive his Victoria Cross from King George V. McCudden was also awarded his DSO and bar and a bar to his Military Cross at the same time. Promoted to the rank of major, while on leave in London he socialised a great deal with Edward Mannock. The friends ended up competing for the love of West End theatre dancer Teddie O'Neill, whom McCudden took on a joy ride. Mannock commented in his diary: "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned", following it rather enigmatically with the word "Piffle!"

McCudden wished to return to the front, but because he was now a high-profile celebrity the Air Ministry was not keen. McCudden eventually won this discussion, but was reportedly turned down for command of No. 85 Squadron RAF because of his lack of a "public school education", i.e. because of his relatively humble origins.

However a pilot of 85 Squadron at the time, Lt. John M. Grider, wrote in his diary:

The General came over and had tea with us and asked who we wanted as CO. He wanted to send us McCudden but we don't want him. He gets the Huns by himself but he doesn't give anybody else a chance at them... We asked for Mickey Mannock who is a flight commander in 74 Squadron.

Death

Accepted for command of No. 60 Squadron RAF, he collected his new Royal Aircraft Factory SE5a outside London and flew to Kent to spend the night with his family. Having had breakfast with his sister, on 9 July 1918 he flew over the English Channel towards Boffles, France. He landed at Auxi-le-Château, France, to get directions from the RAF personnel stationed there. Shortly after takeoff from Auxi-le-Château, the SE5a's engine failed, possibly due to a wrongly installed carburettor. McCudden committed the basic error of trying to turn back to land rather than gliding straight on to a forced landing; and his aircraft stalled on the turn, and spun into the ground. The accident happened within sight of RAF personnel, who quickly drove over to render assistance. McCudden was found at the crash site with severe multiple injuries. He was taken to hospital where he died two hours later, without regaining consciousness.

McCudden's remains were subsequently buried at the nearby Wavans war cemetery in the Pas de Calais. McCudden's death occurred only two months after the death of German ace Manfred von Richthofen, whom some commented had been honoured with a longer and more elaborate funeral by the British.

McCudden's wartime score was 57 victories (third highest among RFC/RAF pilots) included 19 captured, 27 and 1 shared destroyed, 8 and 2 shared 'down out of control'. Unlike many of his fellow aces, the majority of his claims can be verified from Allied and German sources, suggesting McCudden may in actuality have been the top scoring RFC/RNAS/RAF pilot of the conflict, and the top British flying ace of all time.

Memorial

On the morning of 9 July, McCudden had handed his sister an envelope over breakfast, which was subsequently found to contain all of his medals. Today all of McCudden's medals including his Victoria Cross are displayed at the Royal Engineers Museum in Chatham, Kent, alongside those of two of his brothers and his father. The original brass engraved grave plaque used, along with a wooden propeller, are also displayed.

The shattered windscreen from McCudden's crashed SE5a is preserved in the collection of the Imperial War Museum. The museum's collections also include McCudden's uniform 'maternity jacket' and a half-length portrait of McCudden by William Orpen.

McCudden and two of his brothers are also memorialised on a panel on the Carlow Great War Memorial, Leighlinbridge Memorial Garden, Leighlinbridge, Co. Carlow, Ireland which notes also that their father was born in Carlow.

In March 2009, McCudden and his contemporary Edward Mannock were the subjects of the BBC Timewatch episode, WWI Aces Falling.

List of victories

References

notes

1. ^ "The incredible story of Britain's red baron: He was our first air ace, with 57 kills to his name - yet if war chiefs had their way we'd never have heard of him". Daily Mail. 12 March 2009. Retrieved 21 March 2009.
2. Pusher Aces of World War 1. p. 43.
3. Pusher Aces of World War 1. p. 49.
4. London, Great Britain, "Court Circular",The Times, Monday 8 April 1918, page 11.
5. ^ "Timewatch - WWI Aces Falling". BBC. 21 March 2009. Retrieved 21 March 2009.
6. Grider, John MacGavock (1988). War Birds: diary of an unknown aviator. College Station: Texas A & M University Press. ISBN 1-58544-087-6.
7. McCudden 1918, p. 269 (afterword by C.G.Grey).
8. Wavans War Cemetery
9. Above the Trenches,; Shores, Franks & Guest (grub street, 1990) page 268
10. "James McCudden VC". kenthistoryforum.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2009.
11. Imperial War Museum (2012). "windscreen, SE5a". Imperial War Museum Collections Search. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
12. Imperial War Museum (2012). "Jacket 'Maternity', Capt. McCudden VC". Imperial War Museum Collections Search. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
13. Imperial War Museum (2012). "Major J B McCudden, VC, DSO, MC, MM". Imperial War Museum Collections Search. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
14. Irish War Memorials

Bibliography

• Barker, Ralph (2002). The Royal Flying Corps in World War I. Robinson. ISBN 1-84119-470-0.
• Cole, Christopher (1967). McCudden, VC. London: William Kimber.
• VCs of the First World War - Air VCs (P.G. Cooksley, 1999)
• Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
• Guttman, Jon; Dempsey, Harry (2009). Pusher Aces of World War 1. Oxford: Osprey. ISBN 978-1-84603-417-6.
• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• James Byford McCudden (with C.G. Grey). Flying Fury: Five Years in the Royal Flying Corps, reprint of Five Years in the Royal Flying Corps, 1918. Elstree, Hants: 1987. ISBN 0-947898-60-3
• The Sapper VCs (Gerald Napier, 1998)
• In the Footsteps of the Red Baron (Mike O'Connor & Norman Franks, 2004)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• Above the Trenches, Shores, Franks & Guest (Grub Street, 1990)

External links

• James McCudden

Template:Persondata

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• 1918 deaths
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• Royal Engineers officers
• Royal Flying Corps officers
• Royal Air Force officers
• British Army personnel of World War I
• Royal Air Force personnel of World War I
• People from Gillingham, Kent
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• Companions of the Distinguished Service Order and Bar
• British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross