H.D. Harvey-Kelly

Major Hubert Dunsterville Harvey-Kelly (1891–1917) was a World War I pilot who was credited with being the first RFC pilot to land in France in the war, and of being the first RFC pilot to down an enemy aircraft.

The aeroplane he flew while a Lieutenant, the Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2, along with a plaque, hangs in the main hall of the Imperial War Museum in London

Early life
HD Harvey-Kelly's family were from Roscommon and West Meath, Ireland. His brother, Lieutenant Colonel G.H Harvey Kelly survived the Great War and went on to fight the 1947–48 Kashmir war with Pakistan Army before retiring to Westmeath in Ireland

Early War
At the beginning of World War I 'Bay' was with No. 2 Squadron RFC. They were ordered to cross the channel into France. He flew a Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 from Montrose in Scotland and a photograph of his aeroplane, with him lying next to a haystack smoking a cigarette, is in the main Hall of the Imperial War Museum in London. It reads "Lieutenant H D Harvey-Kelly, the first British pilot to land in France after the declaration of war, rests his BE2A near Whitby, Yorkshire, in August 1914, during a stop in a flight south from Montrose"

His historic flight was on 13 August 1914 from Dover, England, United Kingdom to Amiens, France in 1 hour 55 minutes. This was the first RFC aircraft to arrive in France.

Shortly after, on 26 August 1914, he gained the first ever British victory in air-to-air combat despite flying an unarmed aircraft. By manoeuvring as if to hit the German Taube 2, other aggressive flying and using his pistol he forced the aircraft to the ground. Having chased off the crew he set fire to the plane and took off. In the early part of the war this method of taking victories became a fad.

Final Flight
Harvey-Kelly (by then having been awarded the DSO) was not due to fly on the day of his final flight, 29 April 1917. Partly due to a rule that Squadron commanders did not fly (although many did) and partly due to a last minute switch., However because Richthofen was operating in the area he went up and became a victim of what the RFC called Bloody April when they lost 245 aircraft. In the attack HD Harvey-Kelly, with Lieutenants Hamilton and Applin, spotted eight Albatros D.IIIs. Although outnumbered the attack was pressed when Harvey-Kelly spotted six Sopwith Triplanes of No 1 Sqn RNAS. However there are conflicting reports of whether these engaged of sheered away. During the dog fight Major Harvey-Kelly being shot down by Lt Kurt Wolff of Jasta 11. Major Harvey-Kelly and Lieutenant Applin were reported as killed in action, although Harvey-Kelly died of head wounds three days later in a German Hospital. He is buired in the Browns Copse Cemetery, Roeux, France

Von Richthofen paid an unintended compliment to Harvey-Kelly as he perceived the new SPAD unit to have been a special squadron organised to deal with his Staffet

== References ==