Service/branch Aviation Allegiance United Kingdom Died August 11, 1917 | Name Francis Casey Rank Flight Commander Unit No. 203 Squadron RAF | |
Adinkerke Military Cemetery De Panne, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium Awards Distinguished Service Cross, Mentioned in dispatches | ||
Flight Commander Francis Dominic Casey (3 August 1890 – 11 August 1917) was an Irish World War I flying ace of the Royal Naval Air Service credited with nine aerial victories. He won the Distinguished Service Cross for valour before his untimely death.
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Early life
Francis Dominic Casey was born in Clonmel, County Tipperary, the youngest son of Maurice J. Casey, , and Agnes M. Casey, and was educated at St. George's College, Weybridge.
World War I
In August 1914, when the war broke out, Casey was working for the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company. On 25 May 1915 he was granted a temporary commission as a sub-lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve, and on 30 May he was posted to HMS President for duty with the Royal Naval Air Service. On 27 May 1916 Casey's Royal Naval Reserve commission was cancelled, and the following day he was re-commissioned as a probationary flight sub-lieutenant in the Royal Naval Air Service. On 3 August 1916 he was confirmed in his rank of flight sub-lieutenant, with seniority from 28 May.
Casey served in No. 2 Wing, and was eventually posted to No. 3 (Naval) Squadron to fly the Sopwith Pup single-seat fighter. He gained his first aerial victory on 17 March 1917, driving down out of control a Halberstadt D.II fighter over Bapaume. On 1 April Casey was promoted to flight lieutenant, and gained his second victory a week later, driving down an Albatros D.III fighter on 8 April. He then gained seven more victories, six of them D.III fighters, in only twelve days, from 21 April to 2 May. On 12 May he received a mention in despatches, and on 22 June was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. His citation read:
Flight Lieutenant Francis Dominic Casey, R.N.A.S.Appointed to the acting rank of flight commander, Casey died in a flying accident during a test flight on 11 August 1917. He is buried in Adinkerke Military Cemetery in De Panne, West Flanders, Belgium.