Harry George Ernest Luchford

Name:

Country:

England

Rank:

Lieutenant

Service:

Royal Flying Corps

Units:

Victories:

Born:

28 October 1894

Place of Birth:

Lucknow, India

Died:

02 December 1917

Place of Death:

Memorial:

Arras Flying Services Memorial, Pas de Calais, France
Private Bank Sports Ground, London, England

The son of George and Helena Luchford, Harry George Ernest Luchford was born in India and raised in England. A bank clerk, he enlisted with the Norfolk Regiment at Bromley, Kent and was commissioned in September 1914. After serving with the Indian Divisional Cavalry in France, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in January 1917. Posted to 20 Squadron later that year, he scored 24 victories flying two-seaters. He was killed in action when his Bristol F.2b was shot down by Walter von Bülow-Bothkamp.

His obituary appeared in Flight magazine.

Harry George Ernest Luchford's Military Cross (MC) and Bar

Military Cross (MC)

T./Lt. Harry George Ernest Luchford, Gen. List and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has carried out a great deal of extremely useful work, and has proved himself a capable and determined leader. On one occasion when on a photographic reconnaissance he and his observer shot down and destroyed two enemy scouts. He has destroyed five other hostile machines.

Supplement to the London Gazette, 18 March 1918 (30583/3427)

Military Cross (MC) Bar

For conspcuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When engaged on a patrol, he and his observer encountered about fifteen hostile aeroplanes, and shot one of them down in flames. Later, when engaged on a reconnaissance with three other machines, he encountered eight hostile aeroplanes and shot one of then down. On another occasion be destroyed on of three hostile scouts which were attacking one of our machines, and also shot down a hostile two-seater.

Supplement to the London Gazette, 6 April 1918 (30614/4203)

Victories

	Date	Time	Unit	Aircraft	Opponent	Location
1	13 Jun 1917	0845	20	F.E.2d (A6516) ¹	Albatros D.III (OOC)	Houthem
2	29 Jun 1917	1320	20	F.E.2d (A6516) ²	Albatros D.III (DESF)	Zonnebeke
3	03 Jul 1917	1500	20	F.E.2d (A6547) ¹	Albatros D.III (DES)	Becelaere
4	06 Jul 1917	1830	20	F.E.2d (A6512) ¹	Albatros D.III (OOC)	Comines
5	06 Jul 1917	1830	20	F.E.2d (A6512) ¹	Albatros D.III (OOC)	Comines
6	17 Jul 1917	1955	20	F.E.2d (A6548) ³	Albatros D.III (OOC)	Polygon Wood
7	21 Jul 1917	1850	20	F.E.2d (A6548) ³	Albatros D.III (OOC)	Menin
8	27 Jul 1917	1945-2040	20	F.E.2d (A1956) ³	Albatros D.III (DESF)	N of Menin
9	27 Jul 1917	1945-2040	20	F.E.2d (A1956) ³	Albatros D.III (OOC)	N of Menin
10	16 Aug 1917	1145	20	F.E.2d (A6448) ¹	Albatros C (OOC)	Menin
11	17 Aug 1917	1445	20	F.E.2d (B1897) ¹	Albatros D.V (DES)	Houthem
12	09 Sep 1917	1315	20	Bristol Fighter (A7215) ⁴	Albatros D.V (OOC)	Becelaere
13	11 Sep 1917	1400	20	Bristol Fighter (A7215) ⁴	Albatros D.V (OOC)	E of Menin
14	21 Sep 1917	1700	20	Bristol Fighter (A7428) ⁴	Albatros D.V (OOC)	Becelaere
15	25 Sep 1917	1830	20	Bristol Fighter (B1128) ⁴	Albatros D.V (DES)	E of Gheluvelt
16	28 Sep 1917	1230	20	Bristol Fighter (B1122) ⁴	Albatros D.V (DESF)	Menin
17	28 Sep 1917	1230	20	Bristol Fighter (B1122) ⁴	Albatros D.V (DES)	Menin
18	01 Oct 1917	1445	20	Bristol Fighter (B1122) ⁴	Albatros D.V (DES)	SE of Roulers
19	11 Oct 1917	0715	20	Bristol Fighter (B1122) ⁵	Albatros D.V (DESF)	Moorslede
20	11 Oct 1917	0715	20	Bristol Fighter (B1122) ⁵	Albatros D.V (OOC)	Moorslede
21	17 Oct 1917	1000	20	Bristol Fighter (B1138) ⁶	Albatros D.V (DES)	Dadizeele
22	18 Oct 1917	0845	20	Bristol Fighter (B1138) ⁶	Albatros D.V (DES)	Houthem-Tenbrielen
23	18 Oct 1917	0900	20	Bristol Fighter (B1138) ⁶	DFW C (DES)	W of Dadizeele
24	21 Oct 1917	1520	20	Bristol Fighter (B1138) ⁶	LVG C (DES)	Menin

1	Observer 2Lt James Tennant
2	Observer 2Lt W D Kennard
3	Observer Lt Melville Waddington
4	Observer Lt Richard Hill
5	Observer Sgt William Benger
6	Observer Lt Victor White