# Dictionary of National Biography, 1927 supplement/McCudden, James Thomas Byford

​McCUDDEN, JAMES THOMAS BYFORD (1895–1918), airman, was born at Gillingham, Kent, 28 March 1895, the second son of Sergeant-Major William Henry McCudden, Royal Engineers, of Carlow, Ireland, by his wife, Amelia Emma Byford, of Chatham. He was educated at the Royal Engineers' School, Brompton Barracks, Gillingham, joined the Royal Engineers as a bugler in 1910, and became a sapper three years later, but shortly afterwards (April 1913) was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. After a few weeks at the flying depôt at Farnborough, he was posted as mechanic to No. 3 squadron. He occasionally flew as a passenger. On 1 April 1914 he was appointed first-class air mechanic, and took charge of an aeroplane in which he would often sit, operate the controls, and imagine himself in flight.
On the outbreak of the European War McCudden went to France with No. 3 squadron in August 1914, was promoted corporal in November, and flight-sergeant in April 1915, a post which brought him responsibility for all the engines of his flight. He was now flying occasionally as a gunner, and, by December, as an observer. He had already been recommended for a course of flying, but he could not be spared from his engines until January 1916, when he was sent home to learn to fly. He qualified at Gosport on 16 April 1916, returned to France on 4 July as a sergeant pilot of No. 66 squadron, and flew a Farman Experimental machine, chiefly on offensive patrols and photographic work. He was transferred in August to No. 56 squadron, and brought down his first enemy machine on 6 September. He received his commission on 1 January 1917, returned to England on 23 February in order to instruct in air fighting, was promoted captain on 1 May, and took part in the defence of London against the enemy daylight raids in June and July. He went to France for a ‘refresher’ fighting course with No. 66 squadron on 11 July, was back in England on 3 August, but was almost at once appointed to No. 56 squadron as a flight-commander, returning to France on the 15th of that month.
From this time until 5 March 1918 McCudden built up his position as the leading British fighting pilot, and enhanced the prestige of his squadron and of his service. His record included fifty-four enemy aeroplanes, of which forty-two were definitely destroyed, nineteen of them in the British lines. On two occasions he destroyed four two-seater machines in one day, the second time completing his work in ninety minutes. On 13 January 1918 he shot down three aeroplanes in twenty minutes. His success was made on the Scout Experimental 5 machine, and his feeling for engines enabled him to get the best out of his machines. He was a dashing patrol leader, always eager to attack, but never hesitating to break off a fight if his judgement so prompted. McCudden's outstanding success, however, was in single-handed attacks against enemy two-seater machines, which would cross the lines at great heights on rapid reconnaissance work. He studied their habits, the psychology of their pilots, and their weak spots. He stalked them with great patience, and seldom failed to bring his enemy down when once he got to grips. He wept when he left his squadron for England on 5 March 1918 and, whilst he was instructing at home, was thinking always of what he was missing in France.
On 9 July 1918 McCudden was promoted major, and he set out the same day for France in high spirits, in order to take command of the famous No. 60 squadron. He was leaving the aerodrome at Auxi-le-Château on his way to the front when his engine was heard to stop. He turned to land again, but his machine side-slipped into the ground and he was killed.
McCudden was gay, modest, intensely loyal, and of a great courage tempered by almost faultless judgement. He admired his enemy and loved his friends. He had two brothers who were pilots in the Flying Corps: both were killed. McCudden was awarded the croix de guerre (1916), the military medal (1916), the military cross and bar (1917), the distinguished service order and bar (1917 and 1918), and the Victoria cross (1918).
[J. T. B. McCudden, Five Years in the Royal Flying Corps, 1918; official records; personal knowledge.]
H. A. J.