Beschreibung:

The superb Great War Ace's 1918 D.S.C. group of three awarded to Captain C. B. Ridley, Royal Air Force, late Royal Naval Air Service, credited with at least 11 Victories with No. 1 (Naval) Squadron and No. 201 Squadron, flying over 200 Ops; Ridley completed over 40 Air Combat Sorties in Sopwith Triplanes and Camels, an early expert in low strafing he once came down to just 10ft to deliver his attack - before tragically losing his life in a mid-air collision whilst with No. 12 Squadron in Germany in May 1920 Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., Hallmarks for London 1917; British War and Victory Medals (Capt. C. B. Ridley. R.A.F.), good very fine (3) D.S.C. London Gazette 17 April 1918: 'For distinguished services as a pilot and for courage in low-flying expeditions during which he attacked enemy trenches with machine-gun fire from a height of 30 feet. On 9 March 1918, he attacked a formation of enemy scouts, selecting one which was attacking one of our machines. The enemy aircraft dived down with a quantity of smoke issuing from it, but it appeared to flatten out at 2,000 feet and disappeared in the mist. He has previously destroyed several enemy machines, and has at all times led his flight with great skill and courage.' Cyril Burfield Ridley was born at Esher, Surrey on 18 January 1895. He was educated at Arundel House, Surbiton and at an early age showed a great interest and proficiency in aeronautics. Ridley soon became a keen member of the Aero Club, in his time becoming an accomplished builder of both gliding and powered aeroplanes. During 1910, aged only 15, Ridley built a glider with the vast wingspan of 18ft, so successful that it was demonstrated at the Crystal Palace and Sandown Park. A cutting of Flight, dated 26 August 1911 also includes an image of 'Master C. Ridley, the boy model maker, who won the Gamage Silver Challenge Cup and Gold Medal for longest flight at this competition.' His love for the air developed into a career, working as an Aeronautical Engineer for the Sopwith Aviation Company, during which time he also qualified as a pilot, from Hall School, Hendon, with Certificate No. 2427 on 20 February 1916. He was thence commissioned Flight Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Air Service on 25 June 1916, being posted to Dover and successfully completing both patrols and escort sorties. Although his initial training had been a success, the first combat victory for Ridley was not accounted for until Spring 1917, sharing an Albatros DIII over Villers Les Cagnicourt on 29 April 1917, later sharing an Albatros DV, near Messines on 17 July 1917, his first 'solo' that of a another DV following '...a very hot engagement with six enemy scouts' near Ypres, 14 August 1917. A DFW was scored over Zillibeke, 10 September 1917 with his report stating: 'One two-seater observed approaching our formation over Zillibeke at 16,000 feet at 5.05pm. On being observed it immediately dived east and I fired a short burst into it, whereupon it dived vertically and turned west, eventually appearing to flatten out at 1,000 feet over Ypres. I followed it down firing continuously at it from point-blank range until my gun jammed over the enemy trenches. The E.A. was last seen going down low over the trenches with puffs of smoke emitting from its engine.' What else that is evident from the study of the supporting documentation is that of his many 'probables'. Many inconclusive combats are noted, including in June, that of driving an enemy scout to 900 feet, strikes seen entering the fuselage and wings, 3 September 1917. A mere three days later, north of Lille, Ridley shot up an enemy kite-balloon, causing the enemy observer to make use of his parachute, Ridley noting he was lucky to clear '...very intense A.A. fire' upon his climbing from the target. A charming margin note, following that '...the balloon appeared to be hit but did not catch fire', stated only 'Balls'. By December 1917, Ridley was promoted Flight Lieutenant and had converted