Air Commodore Roy Williamson Chappell MC (31 December 1896 – 7 February 1982) began his military aviation career as a British World War I flying ace credited with 11 official aerial victories.
Chappell entered military service during December 1915 as a private in the South African Cavalry.
[2] He then joined Inns of Court Officers Training Corps in England, and was commissioned a temporary second lieutenant on 17 June 1916.
He also underwent pilot's training, receiving Royal Aero Club pilot's certificate number 3329 on 17 July 1916;[1] on 24 August 1916 Second Lieutenant R. W. Chappell was appointed a Flying Officer in the Royal Flying Corps.
[4][5][2] On 27 March 1917, Chappell scored a second "out of control" win while piloting an Elephant.
In October 1917, he returned to the front as a flight commander and Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a fighter pilot in 41 Squadron.
[1] On 28 October 1919, Chappell was granted a permanent commission in the Royal Air Force as a flight lieutenant, with his seniority in rank fixed as 1 August 1919.
On 11 February 1924, he was assigned to test pilot duties at the Inland Area Aircraft Depot.
[1] On 29 September 1946, Chappell retired as a group captain, but retained the rank of air commodore.
He showed the greatest skill and courage in leading patrols, with the result that during four days' operations the formations which he led destroyed 19 enemy aeroplanes and drove down several others, the fate of which was not observed, owing to the intensity of the fighting.