Allegiance United Kingdom Years of service 1915–1918 | Rank Captain Name Ian Henderson | |
Born 2 October 1896
London, England ( 1896-10-02 ) Died 21 June 1918(1918-06-21) (aged 21)
Turnberry, Ayr Buried at Doune Cemetery, Girvan, Ayrshire (55°14′11″N 4°51′33″W / 55.23639°N 4.85917°W / 55.23639; -4.85917Coordinates: 55°14′11″N 4°51′33″W / 55.23639°N 4.85917°W / 55.23639; -4.85917) Service/branch British Army
Royal Air Force | ||
Captain Ian Henry David Henderson (2 October 1896 – 21 June 1918) was a British World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.
Biography
He was the only son of Lieutenant-General Sir David Henderson, who served as Director-General of Military Aeronautics 1914–17, and as General Officer Commanding, Royal Flying Corps 1914–15, and his wife Dame Henrietta Caroline (née Dundas).
Henderson graduated from the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, on 13 January 1915, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Princess Louise's (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) regiment. He was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps, and was appointed a flying officer on 21 August 1915.
He was promoted to lieutenant in his regiment on 21 January 1916, but had to wait until 1 June before receiving the same from the RFC. On 1 July he was appointed a flight commander with the acting rank of captain. Henderson was assigned to No. 19 Squadron, flying the B.E.12, gaining his first two victories in August, and was subsequently awarded the Military Cross, which was gazetted in October 1916. His citation read:
2nd Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) Ian Henry David Henderson, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders.Henderson had to wait until November for his third victory, gained while flying a SPAD S.VII. In 1917 he was posted to No. 56 Squadron, flying the S.E.5a, where in July, he shot down four Albatros D.Vs. He was appointed to the General Staff as a 3rd Grade Officer, remaining there until March 1918, when he was re-appointed a flight commander with the acting rank of captain. However on 21 June 1918, he and Harold Redler were killed in a flying accident, when their Airco DH.9 crashed at Turnberry. He is buried at Doune Cemetery, Girvan, Ayrshire.