Alan Rice-Oxley

Lieutenant Alan Rice-Oxley (alias Alan Rice Oxley) (1898 - 21 July 1961) was a British pilot during World War I. He became a flying ace in 1918, credited with six aerial victories.

Early life
Alan Rice-Oxley was born in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire in 1898. He was educated at Watford Grammar School for Boys, which he attended between January 1908 and July 1914.



Military career
Rice-Oxley commissioned into the King's Shropshire Light Infantry in February 1915 and was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps the following year. He trained as a pilot and initially served with No. 15 Squadron in France, tasked with artillery-spotting and reconnaissance. He was wounded in action in October 1916, and after recuperating became a fighter pilot. Subsequently, in 1918 he joined the Sopwith Camel equipped No. 45 Squadron on the Italian Front. He recorded his first victories in a combat on 12 July 1918. Piloting Camel D8240, he and Captain Cedric Howell engaged a formation of between ten and fifteen Austro-Hungarian aircraft in proximity to the town of Feltre. In the ensuing dogfight Rice-Oxley destroyed two of the enemy, and for his conduct in this action was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Over the course of the following three days, he destroyed another enemy aircraft and drove a further two down out of control. He achieved his sixth and final victory on 22 August.

Later life
Rice-Oxley joined the North Borneo Armed Constabulary, attaining the position of Commissioner of Police. From 1942-1945 he was interned by the Japanese as a civilian internee at Batu Lintang camp near Kuching, Sarawak. Post war, he returned to Britain and was working as a farmer when he died at Bridport, Dorset on 21 July 1961.

Honours and awards
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) citation:

"Lt. Alan Rice-Oxley (Shrops. L.I.). In company with another machine this officer attacked an enemy formation of fifteen aeroplanes, and promptly destroyed two of them. He then repeatedly attacked the remaining thirteen machines, who were crowding on his companion, and the battle ended in the destruction of six of the enemy and one driven down out of control. Two days afterwards he destroyed two more enemy aircraft. The gallantry displayed by this officer, and that of his companion, Capt. C. E. Howell, in attacking fifteen machines, was of the very highest order."

Supplement to the London Gazette, 2 November 1918 (12971/30989)