Pair: Second Lieutenant F. W. King, Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force, late Royal...

Pair: Second Lieutenant F. W. King, Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force, late Royal Engineers, an S.E.5a pilot who flew just 23 hours and 40 minutes with 40 Squadron before being shot down by the German Ace Leutnant Fritz Rumey on 17 September 1918. King was taken Prisoner of War, and Rumey, the 6th highest scoring German Ace of the War, was killed just ten days later British War and Victory Medals (2/Lieut. F. W. King. R.A.F.) mounted on card for display, generally very fine or better (2) £200-£300 --- Frederick Willis King was born in Battersea, London, in August 1892. He was educated at the London County Council School, after which he was employed as a Shipping Inward Freight Clerk. King initially served during the Great War as a dispatch rider with the Royal Engineers in the French theatre of War from 20 July 1915 (entitled to 1914-15 Star). He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment 1917, prior to transferring to the Royal Flying Corps in September 1917. King carried out initial training as a pilot, and was posted for operational flying with 40 Squadron (S.E.5a’s) in France in March 1918. He took off on an Observation Patrol at 9am on 17 September 1918. King was last seen by members of his patrol at 9.55am South of Cambrai. His aircraft was claimed as the 38th ‘Victory’ of the German air ace Fritz Rumey, of Jasta 5. King survived to be taken Prisoner of War, whilst Rumey was killed just ten days later after colliding with a British plane. He was the sixth highest scoring German ace of the Great War. King was repatriated at Leith in December 1918, and transferred to the Unemployed List in March 1919. His flying hours are recorded at 23 hours and 40 minutes. Sold with copied research, and a memory stick, containing further copied research.