George Hubert Kemp Second Lieutenant George Hubert Kemp ( 1897 – 1 June 1918 ) was a World War I British flying ace credited with twelve aerial victories . He served with the Durham Light Infantry , Royal Flying Corps , and Royal Air Force . The observer ace scored his last victory shortly before his death at age twenty in aerial combat over France . Background . George Hubert Kemp , son of George and Margaret Kemp , was born in 1897 in Harrow , Middlesex , England . He was the second of three sons . In 1901 , his family lived in Willesden , Middlesex , England . By 1911 , the family resided at 30 Wyndcliff Road in Charlton , London , England . He was educated at the John Roan School in Greenwich . Prior to joining the military , George , Jr . was employed at the Port of London Authority . His father was a metal manufacturer ' s clerk . In 1918 , his brothers William and Leslie were both in military service , one in active service in France , and the other a prisoner of war in Germany . Military career . In 1917 , George Kemp received a commission in the 15th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry . While serving with that regiment , he was wounded at Chérisy , Pas - de - Calais , France . His rank was that of second lieutenant , which he again had when he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in 1918 . He was posted to the No . 20 Squadron of the Royal Air Force . Kemp was credited with twelve aerial victories as an observer , all from the Bristol F . 2b and with William McKenzie Thomson as his pilot . On 9 May 1918 , observer Kemp and pilot Thomson , in Bristol F . 2b ( C4851 ) were cut off from their formation by an Albatros D . V . Kemp emptied a drum into the Albatros which side - slipped and nose - dived , and was destroyed , crashing between Comines and Wervicq . This was Kemp ' s first victory . His next four were all from Bristol ( C859 ) . On 14 May 1918 , Kemp scored his second aerial victory . He and his pilot followed an Albatros D . V down to 4 , 000 feet and fired about 100 rounds at it over the Wervicq and Zillebeke , West Flanders . The enemy plane crashed and the crew was captured . While on a patrol with other Bristol Fighters on 17 May 1918 , Kemp and Thomson engaged a formation of enemy aircraft . They dived on an Albatros D . V , and fired a burst of about 200 rounds into it . It went down in a vertical dive and was destroyed , crashing between Armentières and Lille . Kemp scored a double victory that day , as another Albatros D . V was sent out of control over Armentières . On 18 May 1918 , Kemp scored his fifth victory when a Pfalz D . III was sent out of control south of Merville , Nord . All seven of Kemp ' s remaining aerial victories ( 6 – 12 ) were from Bristol F . 2b ( C843 ) . On 19 May 1918 , Kemp and Thomson were on a patrol with No . 20 Squadron when they engaged about twenty enemy aircraft . As Thomson dived on a Pfalz D . III , Kemp fired three drums into it . The Pfalz was destroyed , crashing into a house at Estaires . Kemp racked up his seventh win on 21 May 1918 when an Albatros D . V was destroyed in flames over Warneton . His eighth was the result of an Albatros D . V that was sent out of control over Bac St Maur on 29 May 1918 . Two days later , on 31 May 1918 , Second Lieutenant Kemp scored a double victory when a Pfalz D . III was destroyed over Bois - Grenier and , minutes later , an Albatros D . V was sent out of control over Armentières . On 1 June 1918 , Kemp earned his final two victories ( 11 and 12 ) when two Albatros D . V aircraft were destroyed over Comines . Death . Second Lieutenant Kemp and Lieutenant Thomson were cut off from their patrol and attacked by four enemy planes on 1 June 1918 . Thomson turned and fired 200 rounds into an Albatros D . V , which crashed . Observer Kemp shot down another over Comines . They were then attacked by an Albatros scout from above . During that encounter , Kemp , age 20 , was fatally wounded . Pilot Thomson spun down to 2 , 000 feet , and then turned and fired upon the Albatros , driving it off . Thomson successfully flew his aircraft home . A portion of the letter from No . 20 Squadron commanding officer to Kemp ' s parents reads : " You have no doubt been advised by the War Office that your son has unfortunately been killed in action . It happened during a fight with about 15 enemy machines . One enemy machine with the sun behind him surprised your son and his pilot and dived on them before anything could be done . Before your son was killed however he had shot down one of the enemy machines and his pilot eventually shot down another . He and his pilot have done excellent work together and both have been recommended for awards . I am particularly sorry to lose your son as he was just the type of conscientiously brave officer that one looks forward to having . He was extraordinarily keen on his work and looked forward to the day when he could learn to fly himself . Death must have been instantaneous as he was hit in the head and heart . . . " Second Lieutenant George Hubert Kemp was interred at Longuenesse ( St . Omer ) Souvenir Cemetery at Rue Louis Delattre , between that road and Route des Bruyères in Longuenesse , Pas - de - Calais , France . His grave reference is V . B . 56 . The inscription on his headstone reads : " Second Lieutenant George Hubert Kemp , Durham Light Infantry , Attd . Royal Air Force , 1st June 1918 Age 20 , To A Cheery , Loving , Loyal Son , Brother , Friend , Let This Bear Tribute . " War memorabilia . In 2002 , an auction of Lieutenant Kemp ' s war memorabilia was held . The items included his British War and Victory medals , his memorial plaque , and photocopies of original documents , research materials , and photographs , as well as the British War and Victory medals of his brother , Private Leslie Newton Kemp . Despite twelve aerial victories , having been wounded twice , the second time fatally , and a recommendation for an award , George Hubert Kemp was not decorated . Lieutenant Thomson received the Military Cross shortly after the encounter . Later that year , he received the Distinguished Flying Cross . He died 9 July 1987 .