Francis S. Symondson

Captain Francis Stanley Symondson was a British World War I flying ace credited with 13 confirmed aerial victories. He survived over three years of ground warfare and overcame early setbacks as a fighter pilot on the Western Front to become an ace in Italy.

Early life
Symondson's parents were Jesse Kate Uridge and Stanley Vernon Symondson, and he was born in Sutton. The census of 31 March 1901 found him boarding in Margate, Kent. He was one of two sons.

World War I service
Symondson served three and a half years in the infantry before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps, although he first flew in June 1914 with Frank Gooden in a Bleriot. He was commissioned on 18 March 1915, being raised from the position of Trumpeter in the artillery. On 21 May 1917, he was seconded to the RFC.

After training, he was stationed with 29 Squadron on 4 September 1917. He crashed three of the squadron's Nieuports in the next 16 days, and was remanded to England for further training. His next duty assignment took him to Italy to join 66 Squadron as a Sopwith Camel pilot. At 1015 hours 7 March 1918, he set a kite balloon afire at Chiarano for his first victory. It was the beginning of a string of a dozen enemy losses, as Symondson destroyed another observation balloon and ten airplanes by 28 August 1918. On 15 September, he drove down an Austrian-Hungarian Berg D.I out of control for his thirteenth win. The following day, his Military Cross was gazetted. He was also awarded the Silver Medal of Valor by the Italians.

Symondson's victories included an observation balloon set afire, another destroyed, two Albatros D.V fighters set aflame in flight, seven other opposing fighters destroyed, an enemy reconnaissance plane destroyed, and another driven down.

Post World War I
Symondson stayed in the RAF after the war and was appointed a Flying Officer effective 11 April 1921. On 26 June 1924, he surrendered his commission as Lieutenant to enlist in the Territorial Army. By 1929, he was married to Betty Symondson; she was named to probate a will on 17 June 1929.

He remained a recreational pilot throughout the 1930s. He was both entrant and pilot of a Gypsy Moth with tail serial 'G-AARU' in the 5 July 1930 King's Cup Race, but dropped out of the event en route. He was both entrant and pilot again in 1931, in the same plane. When the opportunity arose, he flew aerobatics for His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales. He was entered in the King's Cup Race of 5 July 1931 sponsored by the Royal Aero Club. He placed as high as fifth place at one point.

He flew in Jubilee Week during May 1935. As late as 1938, he was still flying and stunting a Gypsy Moth at 200 feet altitude. In 1939, he was a flying instructor at Brooklands and on the South Coast, where he was training pilots for the Civil Air Guard.

Francis Stanley Symondson died in Bridport, Dorset on 1 May 1975.