page_title: Charles Pickthorn
section_title: World War I
hierarchical_section_title: Charles Pickthorn / World War I
caption_attribution_description: c/n 654 / 2404. Displaying at Old Warden. 02-10-2011
context_page_description: Major Charles Edward Murray Pickthorn MC was a British World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories. His fourth victory resulted in the death of Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia.
context_section_description: Pickthorn was commissioned as a second lieutenant (on probation) in the Army Service Corps on 8 February 1915, and was confirmed in his rank on 20 March 1916.
  He was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps with the temporary rank of lieutenant on 1 June 1916, and appointed a flying officer (observer) on 25 June. He was posted to No. 8 Squadron to serve as an observer/gunner in the B.E.2c two-seater reconnaissance aircraft and light bomber. On 29 June his pilot, Lieutenant Vaisey, was badly wounded in combat and lost consciousness; Pickthorn managed to fly them back to base while also sending a message in morse requesting medical aid be ready when they landed. On 13 November he received a mention in despatches for his "distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty" from Sir Douglas Haig, Commander-in-Chief of the British Armies in France.
  Pickthorn then trained as a pilot, being appointed a flying officer on 31 October 1916, and was posted to No. 32 Squadron to fly the DH.2 single-seat fighter. His first aerial victory came on 27 January 1917 when he shared in the destruction of a Type C reconnaissance aircraft between Courcelles and Achiet with Captain James Robb, Lieutenants Frank Billinge, T. A. Gooch, C. G. Eccles, and Second Lieutenant H. D. Davies. On 26 February he drove down out of control a Type D aircraft over Bucquoy, and on 6 March he destroyed an Albatros D.I east of Bapaume, also being wounded.
  On 21 March 1917 Pickthorn was appointed a flight commander with the temporary rank of captain. The same day he forced down an Albatros D.I bearing skull and crossbones insignia behind the British lines at Lagnicourt. The pilot attempted to evade capture, but was shot and wounded by Australian troops. He turned out to be Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia, who died from his wounds two weeks later.
  Pickthorn was awarded the Military Cross which was gazetted on 26 April 1917. His citation read:
  Second Lieutenant (Temporary Lieutenant) Charles Edward Murray Pickthorn, Army Service Corps, Special Reserve, and Royal Flying Corps.
  "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in attacking hostile aircraft, and in carrying out difficult reconnaissances. On one occasion, although wounded, he continued his combat and brought down a hostile machine. On two other occasions he brought down hostile machines in flames."
  Pickthorn received a regimental promotion to lieutenant in the Army Service Corps on 1 July 1917, and on 8 January 1918 he received a special appointment as a flight commander, though graded as a squadron commander, with the temporary rank of major. He was again appointed a temporary major on 30 April 1918.
  On 8 November 1918, Pickthorn took command of No. 84 Squadron. Two days later, flying a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a, serial number F904, he destroyed a Fokker D.VII east of Mutagne. The following day, 11 November, the armistice came into effect, ending the fighting. Pickthorn's S.E.5a eventually became part of the Shuttleworth Collection based at Old Warden Aerodrome, Bedfordshire, where it remains in flyable condition.
caption: Pickthorn's aircraft F904 in flight in 2011.
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