Gilbert W . M . Green Group Captain Gilbert Ware Murlis Green DSO * MC * * was a Royal Air Force career officer credited with eight aerial victories . He was a pioneer among fighter aces , and his victories were scored in a variety of theaters and flying environments . He was successful on both the Western Front , in Greece , and on his home soil . He also commanded two of the original night fighter squadrons . World War I service . Green ' s military career started humbly ; on 9 September 1914 , just after World War I began , he was promoted from Rifleman to Temporary Second Lieutenant . By 22 November 1915 , he was a Flying Officer Observer . He was assigned to 5 Squadron on the Western Front . Manning the guns in a two - seater aircraft piloted by Frederick Powell , Green set a DFW two - seater aflame on 29 February 1916 . He was then transferred from Flying Officer Observer to the Royal Flying Corps ' s General List on 19 June 1916 and sent to pilot training . By 13 December 1916 , he was scoring his second victory , destroying another DFW while flying a Royal Aircraft Factory B . E . 12 for 17 Squadron in Salonika , Greece . On 4 January 1917 , he captured an Albatros D . V fighter despite being overmatched ; the German craft was faster , more maneuverable , and had two guns instead of one . Ten days later , he would repeat the feat , although his victim this time was an Albatros two - seater reconnaissance plane , and Green had help from fellow ace Franklin Saunders . On 18 February 1917 , Green battled German ace Rudolf von Eschwege in a dogfight during which Green ' s gun jammed , and wingman J . C . F . Owen was shot down . Green returned to form on 18 and 19 March , destroying a Friedrichshafen G seaplane and driving another down out of control on the 18th , and flaming an Albatros recon craft on the 19th . Green thus became the only pilot to become an ace flying the B . E . 12 . These latest three successes earned him the Distinguished Service Order . For his next victory , Green borrowed a Spad fighter ; he flamed an Albatros recon plane with it on 13 July 1917 . He was then rotated home to England and to command of a Home Defence unit , 44 Squadron , that operated Sopwith Camel s as night fighters . Once there , Green closed out his year by shooting down a Gotha G iant bomber piloted by German Oberleutnant Gerhard Von Stachelsky on 18 December 1917 . It was the first German airplane to be shot down at night over Britain . In June 1918 , Green took command of 151 Squadron and led it to France , where it engaged the Germans in night fighter operations . Later in the war , he moved on to command 70 Squadron in daylight combat . Postwar career . Green continued serving in the Royal Air Force after the war . On 1 July 1928 , he was promoted from Squadron Leader to Wing Commander . On 1 July 1934 , he was promoted again , from Wing Commander to Group Captain . Honors and awards . Mentioned in Dispatches 6 December 1916 , 28 November 1917 , 20 December 1917 . Distinguished Service Order ( DSO ) Temp . 2nd Lt . ( temp . Capt . ) Gilbert Ware M . Green , M . C . , R . F . C . For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty . He has set a magnificent example by his gallant conduct in attacking the enemy ' s aeroplanes when in superior numbers . He brought down three enemy machines within twenty - four hours . ( Text from Supplement to the London Gazette , 18 June 1917 ) ( 30135 / 5981 ) Green also won two Bars to the DSO in lieu of a second and third award . After being awarded the Military Cross on 1 January 1917 , Green won a Bar in lieu of a second award . Military Cross ( MC ) First Bar 2nd Lt . ( temp . Lt . ) Gilbert Ware Murlis Green , M . C . , Gen . List and R . F . C . For conspicuous gallantry in action . He brought down two enemy machines on successive days under adverse circumstances . He has displayed great dash and courage at every opportunity . ( The M . C . was awarded in London Gazette dated 1 January 1917 . ) Military Cross ( MC ) Second Bar ( awarded 8 January 1918 ) Temp . Sec . Lieut . ( Temp . Capt . ) Gilbert Ware Murlis Green , D . S . O . , M . C . , Gen . List and R . F . C . While flying at night on patrol duty he encountered an enemy aeroplane , which he attacked with great determination and skill , and although there was very little light he succeeded in hitting one of the engines of the machine , which , by reason of the damage , was forced to come down in the sea off a South Coast port , where two of the occupants of the machine ware made prisoners . Serbian Order of the White Eagle 4th Class , with Swords , was awarded 3 October 1917 . French Croix de Guerre was awarded 2 June 1917 . Belgian Croix de Guerre awarded 15 July 1919 .