20 squadron Birkett and Boucher
 

I would be very grateful for any help and advice. I am trying to find information about Lt W Birkett (observer), and Lt N Boucher (pilot). They were both members of 20 squadron during the spring and summer of 1917, and were shot down on June 17 1917. Both men survived. I believe Lt Birkett was Canadian, but can't find any information apart from that. Lt Boucher was my grandfather. I would really appreciate any information about either man. They were flying an FE2d, serial no 6469.

Lieutenants Birkett and Boucher, 20 Squadron, RAF
 

Daisy,

Royal Air Force officers' service records are available, for both men, from
the National Archives at Kew. The records can be downloaded, for a small
fee, by citing these file references:

William Birkett 10 April 1885 AIR 76/40/30

Noel Boucher 22 December 1896 AIR 76/47/92

Birkett"s enlistment papers (attestation papers) are available from the
Cabadian official archives; find the address online by using a search engine,
like Google, and enter Canadian Army Attestation Papers, W.W.I.
Birkett was born on 10 April 1885, at Dalton Furness, Lancashire, England, emigrated to Canada, and was employed as an engineer and living at
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, when he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary
Force, 128th Battalion, on 1 April 1916. He transferred to the RAF
subsequently; his RAF service record may help with the details of his
service, but some records are very detailed while others are quite
minimal. A William Birkett was married at Toronto, Ontario, Canada,
to Marion Jane Elliott, on 26 November 1921, but I am not certain this
is the same man because no birthdate is listed. There is also a United
States Census listing for a William Birkett, born in Canada "about 1886"
who was living in Bonneville County, Idaho, U.S.A., with his wife, Nita.
Noel Boucher was born on 22 December 1896, at Rochester, Kent,
England (the birth was registered the following January, at Maidstone,
Kent); the 1901 Census states he was living at Rochester; the 1911
Census gives his residence as St.Peter Intra, Kent. There is a marriage
record for a Noel Boucher, in Kent in the mid-1920s, to Miss Brice.
There is a death listing for a Noel Boucher, registered at Hammersmith,
London, in 1968 (the registry location may not be where he died, but
rather where the death was registered).
I hope that was helpful and provides some avenues for you to learn
more about both men. The gentlemen of the Forum may provide more
details about their service with 20 Squadron.

Regards,

Josquin

Birkett and Boucher, 20 squadron.
 

Hello Josquin,
Thank you so much for all your help and the huge amount of information you have given me to research. I am very grateful.:)

Hi

I can add a little bit of combat data.

As a crew, Boucher & Birkett were credited with an Albatros scout as Out of Control (OOC) in a fight over Menin (time 0920) on 20 May 17 - the opposition being Jasta 28. And another Albatros scout OOC, in scrapping between Houthen & Comines on 26 May 17 (time 1045 - 1145) Against at least two formations Albatros scouts, each seven strong. Their downing on 17 Jun 17 was brought about by Obln Dostler, the leader of Jasta 6, and they were credited as his 11th luftseige.

Cheers Russ

Daisy,

Russ provided more information about Lts. Boucher and Birkett, so I can
add a few details based what Russ wrote and the biography of Oberleutnant
(equivalent to 1st Lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps) von Dostler.
Lts. Boucher and Birkett were flying an F.E.2d (as you said) of 20 Squadron when they were shot down by Oblt. Eduard, Ritter von Dostler, the commanding officer of Jasta 6 (Pursuit Squadron No. 6), over St.Eloi. They were von Dostler's 11th combat victory of an eventual total of 26. Von Dostler was a formidable antagonist, having received the highest awards for gallantry from Prussia (the Pour le Merite, "the Blue Max") and from his native Bavaria (the Knight's Cross, giving him the right to be Eduard, Ritter
von Dostler ("Knight," with the "von" prefix indicating nobility) rather
than "Eduard Dostler."). Dostler's career was short-lived, however.
He was killed on 21 August 1917 near Frezenberg, at the age of 25when he attacked an R.E.8 two-seater from 7 Squadron, R.F.C.
Lts. Boucher and Birkett encountered one of the German air service's
most capable aces, then, and they had the good fortune to survive the encounter--and the war.

Regards,

Josquin

Lts Birkett and Boucher
 

Hi Russ,
Thank you so much for your help....it's much appreciated. I feel very lucky to be descended from such a brave man. I am trying to gather as much information as possible, and your input is really helpful. With many thanks, Sara

Hi Josquin,
Thanks again for your help and expertise. It sounds as though my grandfather and Lt Birkett were very fortunate to escape with their lives. I had been working on the basis that Dostler probably did shoot them down, so it's great that you and Russ have confirmed this. Would you happen to know the name of Dostler's brother, who I believe was also a pilot? Sara

Hi

A little more if you are interested re 17 Jun 17. Albatros scouts from Jasta 28 also look to have been involved, and two of their fellow FE crews claimed to have downed Albatros scouts in return.

A fellow Forumite Testerfield is working up a detailed 20 Sqn history.

Cheers Russ

Hi Russ,
That's great to have as another piece of the puzzle. Many thanks indeed.I wonder if your colleague who is working on 20 squadron will be able to contribute any more to the search? My grandfather recovered enough to fly again back in England, but didn't return to the Front. He went on to marry and had 4 children, living a long and happy life. Thank you for your help- much appreciated. Sara

Hi Sara,

Welcome to The Aerodrome! I will have a look for any relevant photos and notes in my collection. I am way behind with research requests at the moment (sorry everyone! :blush:) but this reply will keep this thread near the top of the list of threads as they appear on my computer, so hopefully I will remember to have a look tomorrow.

Regards,

David.