Walbanke Ashby Pritt Lieutenant Walbanke Ashby Pritt , MC , DFC ( 31 January 1897 – 27 January 1928 ) was a British First World War flying ace credited with five aerial victories . He flew with the Royal Flying Corps in 1917 / 1918 ; flying Sopwith Pup s . Early life . Lt Pritt was born 31 January 1897 and grew up in the Leamington Spa , Warwickshire , England area . His mother was Marguerite Bianca Selina Pritt and his father was Charles Pritt , a Cotton Factor ( commission merchant ) . His RFC flight records indicate as a civilian he attended St Peter ' s School in York from September 1909 to February 1916 and then attended the Civilian School of Flight from March – September 1916 . Walbanke passed his entrance exams for Sandhurst in February 1916 but was rejected as being too small . At some point Lt Pritt must have joined the Army because records show he was a Private ( s / n 39015 ) in the West Yorkshire Regiment . After being rejected by Sandhurst he opted to try flying . On 16 September 1916 student Pritt passed his Royal Aero Club flying test ( RAeC Cert # 3564 ) in a Caudron of the Wallisdown School in Bournemouth and was accepted by the RFC for flying training . He underwent training at the Cadet School at Denham , the 2 School of Military Aeronautics at Oxford , 41 Reserve Squadron , and 15 Reserve Squadron were he gained his RFC wings and was appointed a Flying Officer on 2 June 1917 . He was then posted to 40 Reserve Squadron and on to France on 4 July 1917 where he joined 66 Squadron . His flying career lasted from 1916 - 1920 as a civilian , RFC and finally a RAF pilot after the war . First World War . Lt Pritt gained his fame during a five - month period , 4 July to 14 November 1917 , while flying Sopwith Pups with No . 66 Squadron . During this period he became an ace and earned the Military Cross . The citation is dated 24 August 1917 . He is officially credited with five kills ; but there is evidence of a possible sixth victory . During his career he flew with several squadrons ( 44 , 153 , 76 , 141 and 25 ) in addition to 66 Squadron . His flight records also show he flew several different aircraft ( Maurice Farman Short Horn MFSH , Aircos , Be2a , c7e , Be12 , Sopwith Pups & Camels , D . H . 6 ’ s , and Caudrons ) . DFC Citation . " For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in attacking a hostile aerodrome with exceptional dash and determination . Having reached his objective and dropped bombs from a very low altitude , he then attacked and destroyed two hostile machines almost as soon as they had left the ground . A machine - gun then opened upon him from the aerodrome , which he immediately attacked . Both on his outward and homeward journey he was under very heavy machine - gun and anti - aircraft fire . On another occasion he attacked a motor - car , and shot one of the occupants from about 50 feet , afterwards attacking infantry on the march and inflicting severe casualties upon them . He has at all times shown constant gallantry and fine offensive spirit . " On 15 February 1918 Lt Pritt was injured while flying a 44 Squadron Sopwith Camel ( B7332 ) ; he had an engine failure at 500 feet over Hainault Farm , UK , flying downwind he stalled and spun in . Post war . On 19 April 1920 he was granted a Short Service Commission by the RAF at the rank of Lieutenant . During August 1920 , he failed the RAF Flight Instructor Course at the Central Flying School . Accompanying note states " did not take exams , absent sick , CFS cat B , graded unsuitable as instructor at present " . He resigned his commission on 12 August 1920 and was denied permission to retain his rank because of " unsatisfactory dealings with cheques " . Lt Pritt was married in 1925 . There is no record of any children and his wife was still referred to as Mrs . Pritt until her death in 1965 . Records indicate Lt Pritt was a commercial artist and poultry farmer until his untimely death on 27 January 1928 at the age of 31 in an automobile accident near Bagby in North Yorkshire . Such a sad end for a brave warrior in WWI . It would be sad to surmise Mrs Pritt missed her gallant aviator husband so much , see never remarried . RIP Walbanke .