Thomas Barkell

Lieutenant Thomas Henry Barkell DFC (1892–1945) was an Australian flying ace of the First World War, credited with seven aerial victories.

[6] His squadron was based at South Carlton, Lincolnshire, engaged in flying training with Avro 504 and B.E.2e two-seater aircraft.

[10] Poor weather at the beginning of October kept his squadron grounded, but later in the month Barkell was flying again, reporting the positions of enemy artillery.

[11] In mid-November the squadron moved to a new base at Bailleul to support the Australian Corps, mainly carrying out photographic reconnaissance, but also offensive patrols.

However, around dawn on 24 November he was flying with Lieutenant K. A. Roberts on a reconnaissance mission when their aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire.

[15] After several days of practice flights in the Sopwith Camel single-seat fighter, he flew his first operational mission on 26 August, dropping two 25 lb (11 kg) bombs on an enemy ammunition dump at Bac St.

During the ensuing dogfight Barkell was attacked by three aircraft, but managed to get onto the tail of one, a Fokker D.VII, and after firing from about 50 yards then saw it spin down and crash.

It lists all the operations carried out by Barkell in just four days, from 29 September to 3 October, which included bombing attacks on five railway stations, and on motorized, horse-drawn and canal transports, artillery, and an observation balloon.

He gained the dubious distinction of being the first pilot prosecuted under the terms of the Air Navigation Act of 1920 when he was fined £5 in July 1922 for flying while his license was suspended.