Frank Ransley

Frank Cecil Ransley
Born	(1897-06-10)10 June 1897 Caversham, Berkshire, England
Died	Alton, Hampshire, England
Allegiance	England
Service / branch	Aviation
Rank	Captain
Unit	No. 48 Squadron RAF
Awards	Distinguished Flying Cross, Belgian Croix de guerre

Captain Frank Cecil Ransley was a World War I flying ace credited with nine aerial victories. He would survive the war to become one of its eldest aces before dying at 95 years of age.

Early life

Frank Cecil Ransley was born in Caversham, Berkshire, England on 18 October 1897. He entered World War I as a gunner (regimental number 19867) in the Royal Garrison Artillery.

World War I

On 30 May 1917, Ransley was one of the cadets appointed to the General List of the Royal Flying Corps as a temporary second lieutenant on probation. He was confirmed in his rank on 29 September 1917.

Ransley was posted to 48 Squadron in late 1917 as a pilot. His gunner scored an aerial victory for them on 28 January 1918. Ransley scored his second victory personally two months later. He would continue on to mount a total of nine victories by 27 June 1918. He was appointed a Flight Commander in June. He also earned a Distinguished Flying Cross during June, though it was not gazetted until 3 August 1918:

"This officer displays conspicuous gallantry and skill. On a recent occasion, while on patrol he was attacked by seven enemy scouts; he and his observer drove down two, and by skilful manoeuvre and dash he rallied his formation, which were being driven down, and succeeded in driving off the remaining enemy scouts. He has, in all, destroyed three hostile machines and driven down three others completely out of control.

List of aerial victories

No.	Date/time	Aircraft	Foe	Result	Location	Notes
1	28 January 1918 @ 1240 hours	Bristol F.2 Fighter serial number B1193	Rumpler reconnaissance plane	Driven down out of control	Beaurevoir	Ransley's gunner/observer was Robert Herring
2	27 March 1918 @ 1520 hours	Bristol F.2 Fighter s/n C4628	LVG reconnaissance plane	Destroyed	Morlancourt	Ransley's gunner/observer was Joseph Michael John Moore
3	12 April 1918 @ 1040 hours	Bristol F.2 Fighter s/n C4886	Pfalz D.III	Destroyed	West of Moreuil Woods	Ransley's gunner/observer was L. W. Davies
4	1 June 1918 @ 1805 hours	Bristol F.2 Fighter s/n C786	Albatros D.V	Set afire; destroyed	North of Lamotte	Ransley's gunner/observer was G. Dixon
5	1 June 1918 @ 1805 hours	Bristol F.2 Fighter s/n C786	Albatros D.V	Driven down out of control	Lamotte	Ransley's gunner/observer was G. Dixon
6	10 June 1918 @ 1745 hours	Bristol F.2 Fighter	Albatros D.V	Set afire; destroyed	Roye	Victory shared with John Elmer Drummond, Charles Steele, Harold Anthony Oaks
7	14 June 1918 @ 1530 hours	Bristol F.2 Fighter s/n C786	LVG reconnaissance plane	Driven down out of control	East of Albert	Ransley's gunner/observer was W. Lauder
8	25 June 1918 @ 1145 hours	Bristol F.2 Fighter s/n C786	Fokker D.VII	Driven down out of control	Foucaucourt-Rosières	Ransley's gunner/observer was L. W. Davies
9	27 June 1918 @ 1800 hours	Bristol F.2 Fighter s/n C808	Fokker D.VII	Set afire; destroyed	East of Lamotte.	Ransley's gunner/observer was L. W. Davies

Post World War I

Nothing further is known of his life except that he survived until New Year's Eve, 1992.

References

• Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. Christopher F. Shores, Norman L. R. Franks, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1990. ISBN 0-948817-19-4, 9780948817199.