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| Name: |
James Thomas Byford "Mac" McCudden |
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| Country: |
England |
| Rank: |
Major |
| Service: |
Royal Flying Corps
Royal Air Force |
| Units: |
3, 20, 29, 56, 66 |
| Victories: |
57 |
| Born: |
28 March 1895 |
| Place of Birth: |
Gillingham, Kent, England |
| Died: |
09 July 1918 |
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| Place of Death: |
Auxi-le-Château, France |
| Cemetery: |
Wavans British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France  |
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The son of William and Amelia McCudden, James McCudden joined his father in the Royal Engineers as a 15 year old bugler in 1910. By the time war was declared, he was an aircraft mechanic with 3 Squadron in the Royal Flying Corps. One of three brothers to serve with the R.F.C., he saw combat in France as an observer and gunner before returning to England for flight training in 1916. Flight Sergeant McCudden received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate 2745 on a Maurice Farman biplane at Gosport on 16 April 1916. His talents as a pilot were so extraordinary that he became an instructor within days of receiving his aviator's certificate. By the beginning of April 1918, 22 year old James McCudden was the most decorated pilot in the Royal Air Force. Sadly, he was killed three months later when his aircraft stalled after take off and crashed to the ground.
McCudden's younger brother, John McCudden, also served in the Royal Flying Corps and became an ace before his death in 1918.
"I consider it a patrol leader's work to pay more attention to the main points of the fight than to do all the fighting himself. The main points are: (1) arrival of more EA who have tactical advantage, i.e. height; (2) patrol drifting too far east; (3) patrol getting below bulk of enemy formation. As soon as any of these circumstances occur, it is time to take advantage of the SE's superior speed over EA scouts and break off the fight, rally behind leader and climb west of EA until you are above them before attacking them again." James McCudden |
Great Britain, Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificates, 1910-1950
Great Britain, Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificates, 1910-1950
Memorial at Sittingbourne, UK
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| Military Cross (MC) Bar |
2nd Lt. (T./Capt.) James Thomas Byford McCudden, M.C., Gen. List and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He took part in many offensive patrols, over thirty of which he led. He destroyed five enemy machines and drove down three others out of control. He showed the greatest gallantry, dash and skill.
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| Victoria Cross (VC) |
2nd Lt. (T./Capt.) James Byford McCudden, D.S.O., M.C., M.M., Gen. List and R.F.C.
For most conspicuous bravery, exceptional perseverance, keenness, and very high devotion to duty.
Captain McCudden has at the present time accounted for 54 enemy aeroplanes. Of these 42 have been definitely destroyed, 19 of them on our side of the lines. Only 12 out of the 54 have been driven out of control.
On two occasions, he has totally destroyed four two-seater enemy aeroplanes on the same day, and on the last occasion all four machines were destroyed in the space of 1 hour and 30 minutes.
While in his present squadron he has participated in 78 offensive patrols, and in nearly every case has been the leader. On at least 30 other occasions, whilst with the same squadron, he has crossed the lines alone, either in pursuit or in quest of enemy aeroplanes.
The following incidents are examples of the work he has done recently: —
On the 23rd December, 1917, when leading his patrol, eight enemy aeroplanes were attacked between 2.30 p.m. and 3.50 p.m. Of these two were shot down by Captain McCudden in our lines. On the morning of the same day he left the ground at 10.50 and encountered four enemy aeroplanes; of these he shot two down.
On the 30th January, 1918, he, single-handed, attacked five enemy scouts, as a result of which two were destroyed. On this occasion he only returned home when the enemy scouts had been driven far east; his Lewis gun ammunition was all finished and the belt of his Vickers gun had broken.
As a patrol leader he has at all times shown the utmost gallantry and skill, not only in the manner in which he has attacked and destroyed the enemy, but in the way he has during several aerial fights protected the newer members of his flight, thus keeping down their casualties to a minimum.
This officer is considered, by the record, which he has made, by his fearlessness, and by the great service which he has rendered to his country, deserving of the very highest honour.
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| Distinguished Service Order (DSO) |
2nd Lt. (T./Capt.) James Byford
McCudden, M.C., M.M., Gen. List and
R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He attacked and brought down an enemy two-seater machine inside our lines, both the occupants being taken prisoner. On another occasion he encountered an enemy two-seater machine at 2,000 feet. He continued the fight down to a height of 100 feet in very bad weather conditions and destroyed the enemy machine. He came down to within a few feet of the ground on the enemy's side of the lines, and finally crossed the lines at a very low altitude. He has recently destroyed seven enemy machines, two of which fell within our lines, and has set a splendid example of pluck and determination to his squadron.
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| Distinguished Service Order (DSO) Bar |
2nd Lt. (T./Capt.) James Byford McCudden, D.S.O., M.C., Gen. List, and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He attacked enemy formations, both when leading his patrol and singlehanded. By his fearlessness and clever manoeuvring, he has brought down thirty-one enemy machines, ten, of which have fallen in our lines. His pluck and determination have had a marked effect on the efficiency of the squadron.
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| Victories |
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Date |
Time |
Unit |
Aircraft |
Opponent |
Location |
| 1 |
09 Sep 1916 |
1315 |
29 |
D.H.2 (5985) |
C (DES) |
Houthem-Gheluwe |
| 2 |
26 Jan 1917 |
1005 |
29 |
D.H.2 (7858) |
C (DES) |
Ficheaux |
| 3 |
02 Feb 1917 |
1450 |
29 |
D.H.2 (7858) |
C (DES) 1 |
SE of Adinfer Wood |
| 4 |
06 Feb 1917 |
1400 |
29 |
D.H.2 (7858) |
Albatros C.III (DES) |
Adinfer Wood |
| 5 |
15 Feb 1917 |
1200 |
29 |
D.H.2 (6002) |
Roland C.II (DES) |
Monchy |
| 6 |
21 Jul 1917 |
1930-2030 |
56 |
S.E.5 (A8946) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) |
Polygon Wood |
| 7 |
26 Jul 1917 |
2015 |
66 |
Sopwith Pup (B1756) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) |
Gheluwe |
| 8 |
18 Aug 1917 |
0630-0730 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B519) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) |
E of Houthem |
| 9 |
19 Aug 1917 |
1630-1730 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B519) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) |
Gheluvelt |
| 10 |
20 Aug 1917 |
1850 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B519) |
Albatros D.V (DESF) |
SE of Polygon Wood |
| 11 |
20 Aug 1917 |
abt 1900 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B519) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) |
Polygon Wood |
| u/c |
14 Sep 1917 |
1800 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4865) |
Albatros D.V (DD) |
Roulers |
| 12 |
19 Sep 1917 |
1215 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4863) |
Rumpler C (DES) |
Redinghem |
| u/c |
21 Sep 1917 |
1300 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4863) |
C (DD) |
Gheluwe |
| 13 |
23 Sep 1917 |
1800-1830 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4863) |
DFW C.V (DES) |
NE of Houthem |
| 14 |
27 Sep 1917 |
1555-1750 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4863) |
LVG C.V (CAP) |
SW of Langemarck |
| 15 |
28 Sep 1917 |
0800 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4863) |
Albatros D.V (DES) |
S of Houthoulst Forest |
| u/c |
01 Oct 1917 |
1450 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4863) |
Rumpler C (OOC) |
Herlies |
| 16 |
01 Oct 1917 |
1750 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4863) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) 2 |
Westroosebeke |
| 17 |
17 Oct 1917 |
1025 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4863) |
LVG C.V (CAP) |
S of Vlammertinghe |
| 18 |
21 Oct 1917 |
abt 1300 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4863) |
Rumpler C (8431/16) (CAP) |
Marzingarbe |
| 19 |
18 Nov 1917 |
0940 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B35) |
DFW C.V (DES) |
Bellicourt |
| 20 |
23 Nov 1917 |
1200 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B35) |
Albatros D.V (DES) |
1 mi E of Noyelles |
| 21 |
29 Nov 1917 |
0730 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B35) |
DFW C.V (DES) |
S of Bellicourt |
| 22 |
29 Nov 1917 |
1315 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B35) |
DFW C.V (DES) |
Rouvroy |
| 23 |
30 Nov 1917 |
1115 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B35) |
LVG C.V (CAP) |
SE of Havrincourt |
| 24 |
05 Dec 1917 |
1240 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4891) |
Rumpler C (CAP) |
Hermies |
| 25 |
06 Dec 1917 |
1025 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B35) |
Rumper C (DES) |
NW of St Quentin |
| 26 |
06 Dec 1917 |
1500 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4891) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) |
Fontaine |
| 27 |
15 Dec 1917 |
1105 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4891) |
Rumpler C (DES) |
E of Bois de Vaucelles |
| 28 |
22 Dec 1917 |
1205 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4891) |
DFW C.V (DES) |
SW of St Quentin |
| 29 |
23 Dec 1917 |
1125 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4891) |
LVG C (DES) |
Anguilcourt |
| 30 |
23 Dec 1917 |
1220 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4891) |
Rumpler C (CAP) |
Contescourt |
| 31 |
23 Dec 1917 |
1440 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4891) |
Rumpler C (CAP) |
Gouzeaucourt |
| 32 |
23 Dec 1917 |
1530 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4891) |
LVG C.V (CAP) |
Metz-en-Couture |
| 33 |
28 Dec 1917 |
1215 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4891) |
Rumpler C (CAP) |
Velu Wood |
| 34 |
28 Dec 1917 |
1230 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4891) |
Rumpler C (CAP) |
Flers |
| 35 |
28 Dec 1917 |
1255 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4891) |
LVG C (CAP) |
Havrincourt Wood |
| 36 |
29 Dec 1917 |
0855 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4891) |
LVG C (CAP) |
Havrincourt |
| 37 |
29 Dec 1917 |
1400 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4891) |
LVG C (CAP) |
NE of Epehy |
| 38 |
09 Jan 1918 |
1130 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4891) |
LVG C (CAP) |
Graincourt |
| 39 |
13 Jan 1918 |
0940 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4891) |
LVG C (CAP) |
E of Le Haucourt |
| 40 |
13 Jan 1918 |
0950 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4891) |
DFW C.V (CAP) |
N of Vendhuile |
| 41 |
13 Jan 1918 |
1005 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4891) |
LVG C (CAP) |
Lempire |
| 42 |
20 Jan 1918 |
1030 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B35) |
LVG C (DES) |
NW of Cambrai |
| 43 |
24 Jan 1918 |
1355 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B35) |
DFW C (DES) |
Vitry |
| 44 |
25 Jan 1918 |
1445 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4891) |
Rumpler C (DES) |
Itancourt |
| 45 |
30 Jan 1918 |
1115 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4891) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) |
Anneux |
| 46 |
30 Jan 1918 |
1115 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4891) |
Pfalz D.III (OOC) |
Anneux |
| 47 |
02 Feb 1918 |
1040 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4891) |
LVG C.V (CAP) |
E of Velu |
| 48 |
16 Feb 1918 |
1035 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4891) |
Rumpler C (DES) |
SW of Caudry |
| 49 |
16 Feb 1918 |
1045 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4891) |
DFW C.V (DES) |
NE of Le Catelet |
| 50 |
16 Feb 1918 |
1110 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4891) |
Rumpler C (DES) |
Hargicourt |
| 51 |
16 Feb 1918 |
1230 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4891) |
Rumpler C (CAP) |
Lagnicourt |
| 52 |
17 Feb 1918 |
1025 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4891) |
LVG C.V (OOC) |
Guemappe |
| 53 |
18 Feb 1918 |
0940 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4891) |
Albatros D.V (DES) |
Vitry |
| 54 |
18 Feb 1918 |
0945 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4891) |
Albatros D.V (DES) |
Quiery la Motte |
| 55 |
21 Feb 1918 |
1347 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4891) |
DFW C.V (DES) |
S of Maricourt |
| 56 |
26 Feb 1918 |
1120 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4891) |
Rumpler C (DES) |
Oppy |
| 57 |
26 Feb 1918 |
1130 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B4891) |
Hannover C (DES) |
Cherisy |
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| 1 |
Shared with Maj A W Gratten-Bellew |
| 2 |
Shared with Lt Leonard Barlow, Lt Arthur Rhys Davids, Lt M H Coote (B1), Lt D J Reason (A8961) |
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