This day in history: May 9th

[Kermit]

The year is 1912. – Air Commodore Charles Samson had a lot of firsts in aviation. He was one of the first four officers selected for pilot training by the Royal Navy. He was the first British pilot to take off from a ship, on 10 January 1912, from a foredeck ramp mounted on the battleship HMS Africa, which was anchored in the river Medway, flying a Short S.27. On 9 May 1912, using the same ramp and aircraft, he became the first pilot to take off from a moving ship, the battleship HMS Hibernia in Weymouth Bay. He also led the development of aerial wireless communications, bomb- and torpedo-dropping, navigational techniques, and night flying with the Naval Wing of the Royal Flying Corps.


The year is 1917. – Wilhelm Cymera survived being shot down by Albert Ball (mentioned in the DiH:May 7th post) in 1916 only to be killed in action on May 9th, 1917. Not much is listed for this except "After 5 confirmed victories, was shot down on May 9, 1917, in the vicinity of Chamouille France."


The year is 1918. Death of Charles Roger Lupton, British WWI flying ace, killed in a midair collision with a French Aircraft. Some websites claim he was shot down by the French. Wasn't the French and British allies during WWI? I guess friendly fire really isn't friendly after all. He has a memorial at VIGNACOURT BRITISH CEMETERY (II. A. 12.).

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Some more nice bits of information there JC.
Cymera was shot down on 22nd August 1916 by Ball. He was flying a Roland CII of Kampstaffel 1 and Ball was in Nieuport A 134.
Cymera was wounded but his observer Lt. Becker died of his wounds.
Rob.