Henry Biziou
| Henry Arthur Richard Biziou | |
|---|---|
 Henry Arthur Richard Biziou | |
| Nickname(s) | "Weegee" |
| Born |
18 September 1894 Farnborough, Hampshire, England |
| Died |
14 July 1919 (aged 24) Farnborough, Hampshire, England |
| Buried at | Aldershot Military Cemetery, Hampshire, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
Royal Navy British Army Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1914-1919 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit |
No. 42 Squadron RFC No. 87 Squadron RAF |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross |
Captain Henry Arthur Richard Biziou was a British World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.
Early life
Biziou was born on 18 September 1894, birthplace unknown.[1] He would become known as "Weegee" in later life.[2]
He was the son of Ernest and Mary Jane Biziou, his father was a cook who had been born in France.
World War I
Biziou joined the Royal Navy as a Mechanic on 29 October 1914,[3] he was later commissioned and transferred to the infantry, Petty Officer Henry Arthur Richard Biziou, formerly of the Royal Naval Armoured Car Division was promoted to temporary second lieutenant in the Infantry on 24 February 1916.[4]
Biziou served in the 6th (Service) Battalion Yorkshire Regiment at Gallipoli, Egypt and France[2] and was still with the regiment when on 31 May 1916 he was posted to the army's General List as a temporary second lieutenant to meet wartime needs.[5] With the regiment he served in Gallipoli, Egypt and France.[2]
Biziou began duty as an aerial observer,[6] probably with 42 Squadron,[2] on 6 October 1916, and was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps General List on 23 November 1916.[6] On 1 April 1917, he was promoted to temporary lieutenant.[7]
He then trained as a pilot, including the course at the School of Special Flying at Gosport. He was then posted to 87 Squadron and landed in France in April 1918. He flew a Sopwith Dolphin, and scored the squadron's first victory on 6 May 1918. Over time, he ran off a tally of two reconnaissance planes and five fighters destroyed, and another fighter driven down out of control by 22 September 1918.[8] In the midst of this string of victories, Biziou was promoted to temporary captain on 2 July 1918.[9]
The Distinguished Flying Cross he had won for his exploits was finally gazetted on 3 December 1918:
- Lieutenant (Acting-Captain) Henry Arthur Richard Biziou.
- A most successful leader of marked gallantry. During recent operations he has destroyed four enemy aeroplanes and driven down one out of control; two of these he accounted for in one engagement on September 15th with a number of Fokker biplanes. In addition he has driven down a hostile balloon.[10]
Biziou remained in the Royal Air Force after the war, and was stationed at RAF Farnborough. He was killed on 14 July 1919 in a flying accident at Farnborough, when his S.E.5 collided in mid-air with an Avro 504 killing him and the pilot and mechanic of the other aircraft.[11] He is buried in Aldershot Military Cemetery.[12]
References
- Notes
- ↑ Shores et.al. (1990), p.78.
- 1 2 3 4 "Henry Arthur Richard Biziou". theaerodrome.com. 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ↑ Royal Navy Form 1671 - Henry Arthur Richard Biziou
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 29552. p. 4030. 18 April 1916.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 29600. p. 5326. 30 May 1916.
- 1 2 The London Gazette: no. 29976. p. 2382. 9 March 1917.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30458. p. 343. 4 January 1918.
- ↑ Shores et.al. (1990), p.78-79.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 30803. p. 8504. 19 July 1918.
- ↑ The Edinburgh Gazette: no. 13363. p. 4470. 5 December 1918.
- ↑ "Triple Fatality at Farnborough". Flight. IX (30): 978. 24 July 1919. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
- ↑ "Biziou, Henry Arthur Richard". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- Bibliography
- Shores, Christopher F.; Franks, Norman; Guest, Russell (1990). Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 0-948817-19-4.