The remarkable Great War 26 Victory ‘Ace’ Distinguished Flying Medal group 2nd Lieutenant R.M. Fletcher, RAF, who as a 19 year old NCO when flying with Captain ’Siffy’ Thompson, 22 (Bristol) Squadron in four months May-September 1918 became the highest British Two-Seater combined Pilot / Observer ‘Aces’ of the War, and Fletcher, the highest scoring NCO of the War . The combination all the more remarkable being that all but one of these victories were against single seat German scouts and some two thirds witnessed as confirmed as destroyed

Distinguished Flying Medal, GV.(Sergt  R.A.F.), British War Medal, Victory Medal; (2.Lieut. R.A.F.)

D.F.M. L.G. 2/11/1918

Ronald Malcolm Fletcher

‘A most efficient and keen observer, in whom his pilots place implicit confidence. He has taken part in numerous combats with enemy aircraft, and invariably displays marked fearlessness and skill. He has personally accounted for seven enemy machines since 21st May.’

His official recommendation expanded

‘For conspicuous gallant and devotion to duty. This NCO is a most efficient and keen observer, and when in combat with the enemy has show fearlessness and skill. He has carried out numerous offensive patrols and escorts, taking part in many encounters with enemy aircraft, and due to the confidence placed in him by his pilot has materially increased the fighting capabilities of his machine. He has personally accounted for aircraft as under: – On 13th August 1918 when escorting some D.H.4’s, the latter were attacked by a large number of enemy machines. He fired a burst into a Fokker Biplane which spun, nose dived and crashed near the Bois de Loison. 8th August 1918: When escorting some D.H.4’s, the latter were attacked by a formation of enemy scouts and triplanes. He fired a good burst into a triplane and observed the enemy aircraft’s tail plane collapse. The enemy machine fell out of control and was certainly destroyed. 23rd June 1918 – He shot down a Pfalz Scout out of control near La Bassee. 5th June 1918 – He shot down a Pfalz Scout out of control near La Bassee. 5th June 1918 – When on offensive patrol south of Laventie an enemy formation was engaged. He opened fire at an Albatross Scout which turned over, fell out of control and crashed. 1st June 1918 – When on offensive patrol between Foret de Nieppe and Armentiers, eight enemy machines of various types were engaged. He fired a full drum into an Albatross two-seater which dived steeply, fell out of control and crashed. 21st May 1918 – He shot down an L.V.G out of control south of Vitry.’

Fletchers final total comprised as follows of which at least 11 were solely attributable to his rear guns

1 16 May 1918 1005 22 Pfalz D.III (DES) Douai

2 16 May 1918 1005 22 Pfalz D.III (DES) Douai

3 16 May 1918 1015 22 Pfalz D.III (DES) Douai

4 21 May 1918 1015 22 Pfalz D.III (DES) SW of Vitry

5 21 May 1918 1015 22 Pfalz D.III (OOC) SW of Vitry

6 22 May 1918 1030 22 Albatros D.V (DES) Hancourt

7 25 May 1918 1130 22 Albatros D.V (DESF) W of Carvin

8 01 Jun 1918 1915 22 Albatros C (DES) Erquinghem

9 01 Jun 1918 1915 22 Albatros D.V (DES) Erquinghem

10 02 Jun 1918 1030 22 Pfalz D.III (DESF) NE of Lens

11 02 Jun 1918 1030 22 Pfalz D.III (OOC) NE of Lens

12 05 Jun 1918 1030 22 Albatros D.V (DES) S of Laventie

13 05 Jun 1918 1030 22 Albatros D.V (DES) S of Laventie

14 05 Jun 1918 1915 22 Pfalz D.III (OOC) NE of La Bassée

15 23 Jun 1918 2045 22 Pfalz D.III (OOC) La Bassée

16 23 Jun 1918 2045 22 Pfalz D.III (OOC) La Bassée

17 08 Aug 1918 1040 22 Fokker DR.I (DES) Dechy

18 13 Aug 1918 1130 22 Fokker DR.I (DES) Arras-Cambrai Road

19 13 Aug 1918 1135 22 Fokker D.VII (OOC) SE of Douai

20 13 Aug 1918 1140 22 Fokker D.VII (DES) SE of Douai

21 27 Aug 1918 1400 22 Fokker D.VII (OOC) Senlemont

22 27 Aug 1918 1400 22 Fokker D.VII (OOC) Senlemont

23 02 Sep 1918 1115 22 Fokker D.VII (DES) Haynecourt

24 05 Sep 1918 1700 22 Fokker D.VII (DESF) Douai

25 05 Sep 1918 1700 22 Fokker D.VII (OOC) Douai

26 24 Sep 1918 1700 22 Fokker D.VII (OOC) Cambrai

Ronald Malcolm Fletcher was born on 22nd February 1899, and attached to the Royal Flying Corps from the 30th Training Reserve Battalion in November 1917, when he joined No.22 Squadron. Serving as a Sergeant Observer (No.P/22398) in Bristol F2b fighters, in May 1916 he found himself twined with his pilot, Lieutenant S.F.H. ‘Siffy’ Thompson, who by this stage already had three confirmed kills to his name.

During their first ever engagement together on 16th May 1918, Thompson and Fletcher claimed three aerial victories during two separate dog fights, one with 9 Pfalz Scouts, and the second with 13 similar, at 15,000 feet over Douai. Thompson recorded: ‘Whilst doing an offensive patrol over Douai with 2nd Lieutenant Bromley we met 9 Pfalz Scouts. I dived on one and his right wing tip collapsed and he crashed to the ground. On zooming and diving again on another enemy aircraft I saw machine go down out of control an crash to the ground. On returning to the area again some more machines had come up and collected with the remains of the others. We dived again, this time I put a burst in at another and he went flown out of control but I could not see if it crashed. I now had to break off the engagement owing to my fusee spring breaking. On circling round afterwards I saw two machine on fire on the ground. One of these must have been 2nd Lieutenant Umney’s but I do not know who got the other.’

Research includes most of the combat reports with extracts as follow

21st May 1918 my observer put a burst in at him and he then went out of control slowly rolling over and over. I could not follow him down to the ground as my attention was taken away by my ammunition belt breaking and I had to finish the engagement.’

1st June, ’ Sergeant Fletcher recorded: ‘My pilot dived on an enemy aircraft and after firing a good burst the enemy aircraft stalled and then fell completely out of control. He then turned and allowed me to get a good burst into an enemy aircraft which was climbing below us. After firing a drum into enemy aircraft it dived steeply, fell sideways and then dived again completely out of control and I saw it crash.’

On 5th June, Thompson ‘My observer then got in a good burst at an enemy aircraft on our tail and it immediately went down in a slow spin and crashed. On coming up after the dive I dived upon another enemy aircraft which went down apparently out of control but I could not see if it crashed as both my observer and myself had gun trouble. During the combat between the two enemy aircraft formations several enemy aircraft were seen to go down apparently out of control.’ Fletcher reported: ‘Whilst on an offensive patrol the leader of our formation dived on a two seater enemy aircraft, when a formation of enemy aircraft dived from the sun on some of their own machines. My pilot dived on an enemy aircraft and I saw this enemy aircraft crash near M11d (36). Our attention was then turned to another enemy aircraft and my pilot put a good burst into this and it was seen to go down apparently out of control. Owing to both guns having stoppages, we were unable to continue the fight.’

23th June, Thompson and Fletcher once again claimed two aerial victories, during an offensive patrol at 16,000 feet over La Bassee. Thompson recorded: ‘Whilst doing an offensive patrol over La Bassee we met 8 various enemy aircraft who were above us, we went north west to get advantage of the sun and then returned to engage them. I first dived on an enemy aircraft which went down in a very slow spin and then turned over and over completely out of control, but I could not follow it down as the visibility was too bad. My observer then fired at a Pfalz which attacked our tail I turned to let him get a good burst in, and enemy aircraft stalled and side slipped vertically to the left and then commenced to turn over and over completely out of control, but we could not follow enemy aircraft

8th August 1918, .’ Fletcher recorded: ‘My pilot dived on enemy aircraft and on pulling out of the dive I fired a good burst into it. I observed enemy aircraft, and on pulling out of the dive I fired a good burst into it. I observed enemy aircraft’s tail plane to collapse and it fell in a series of stalls and sideslips and must have crashed.’ This kill was additionally confirmed by a Lieutenant T.H. Newsome.

27th August, ’ Fletcher recorded: ‘I fired a burst at a Fokker Biplane which stalled up at us. Enemy aircraft turned on its back and fell in a vertical side-slip and eventually spun completely out of control. Owing to clouds I was not able to confirm crash.’

2nd September, ’ Fletcher wrote: ‘Whilst escorting some S.E.5’s we encountered enemy aircraft about 14 in number in two layers near Haynecourt. I put a long burst into an enemy aircraft which was on Lieutenant Gibbon’s tail and it went down in a vertical nose dive and crashed into the ground.’

5th September during an offensive patrol in the vicinity of Douai, Thompson by now a Captain, together with Fletcher claimed two further kills. ‘Thompson dived on a large group and fired a good burst into a Fokker Biplane. Enemy aircraft spun down for a while and then burst into flames. The observer then fired a long burst into a Fokker Biplane which was diving on the Bristols tail. Enemy aircraft immediately went into a flat spin, and then nose dived vertically, completely out of control.’

24th September, they gained another kill, when flying on an offensive patrol near Cambrai, encountering a large formation of enemy aircraft scouts comprising Pfalz Scouts, Fokker Biplanes and Triplanes at 16,000 feet. ‘Thompson dived on a Fokker Biplane and fired a short burst, enemy aircraft stalled and went beneath Bristol, and the observer fired a good burst into it. Enemy aircraft went down in a flat spin and nose dived completely out of control.’

This was to be their last victory together with Sergeant Fletcher as Thompson’s observer. Fletcher who had amassed a score of 26 aerial victories whilst flying in conjunction with Thompson, of which at least eleven were directly accredited to him as having been personally shot down, had been then posted home to become an Officer Cadet, and he was then commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in October 1918,

On the 27th Thompson now paired up with a Lieutenant Tolman and on this day their aircraft took off on an offensive patrol at 2.30 p.m ‘and was last seen over Cambrai going east’. Both Thompson and 2nd Lieutenant C.J. Tolman were posted as missing, and subsequently confirmed as killed in action. Either this was a fortunate twist of fate for Fletcher or tragic for Thompson no longer having the second to none Fletcher at his rear.

Fletcher left the service on 28th February 1919. During the Second World War he held a Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve wartime commission, and saw service with the Air Training Corps from March 1941. Fletcher died in Dore, Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England on 20 January 1952