Croye Pithey

Lieutenant Croye Rothes Pithey was a South African World War I flying ace credited with 10 aerial victories. He was one of the war's handful of bomber pilots to become a balloon buster; he may have been the only pilot to do it twice. He was also celebrated for his feats of visual and photographic reconnaissance under hazardous circumstances.

Early life

Croye Rothes Pithey was born on 19 August 1895 in Natal, South Africa;^[1] his home of record in his military records was Rothesdale, Scheepersnek, Natal, South Africa.^[2]

He worked as an accounting clerk in Johannesburg from June 1916 to May 1917; his fluency with Zulu may have been helpful. He then joined the Royal Flying Corps.^[3]

World War I

On 13 September 1917, he was appointed as a second lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps.^[4] After training, he was posted to 152 Squadron, but his stay with them was truncated by his hospitalization. After recovery, he was assigned to 12 Squadron on 17 April 1918 as a Royal Aircraft Factory RE.8 pilot. He was slightly wounded a week after his arrival. His first aerial success with his new unit came when he achieved the unusual feat of destroying an enemy observation balloon with a bomber on 7 May 1918. He and his observer Hervey Rhodes repeated the feat on 4 June. A triple victory three days later made them aces.^[5] Pithey was reported wounded on 15 August 1918.^[6] The crew of Pithey and Rhodes continued their victory streak through 3 September 1918, becoming the most successful aces to operate the clumsy and obsolete RE.8. On 27 September 1918, they were both wounded during a sortie, ending their flying career together. They had both earned a Distinguished Flying Cross, as well as each earning a Bar in lieu of a second award apiece.^[7]

Post World War I

On 1 August 1919, he was granted a permanent commission in the reorganized Royal Air Force as a lieutenant.^[8]

On 21 February 1920 at 1406 hours, Pithey launched in favorable weather from Shotwick, leading a ferry formation of three towards Dublin. All three planes were seen between Denbigh and Rhyl in Wales shortly after departure. Pithey crashed fatally shortly thereafter.^[9]

Pithey's name is inscribed along with those of other airmen missing at sea on the Hollybrook Memorial at Southampton, England.^[10]

Honours and awards

Text of citation for the Distinguished Flying Cross:

When on reconnaissance 8,000 yards behind the enemy lines he saw a hostile balloon on the ground; descending to 1,700 feet, he and his observer engaged and destroyed it. He then completed his reconnaissance. On another occasion, when on photography work, he was attacked by nine hostile scouts. By skilful manoeuvring he enabled his observer to shoot down three; the remaining six dispersed. He displays the greatest courage and determination in photographic and reconnaissance work.^[11]

Text of citation for the Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross:

Lieut. Pithey and his observer, Lieut. Rhodes, have crashed five enemy aeroplanes and driven down five out of control; in addition, they have shot down two balloons in flames, displaying conspicuous courage and skill on all occasions. On 1st September, they attacked an enemy two-seater on contact patrol; this machine at first retired east but returned, accompanied by six scouts, to the attack; after a short engagement they were driven off, and Lieut. Pithey, although his machine was badly shot about, continued his patrol and brought back a most valuable and accurate report. (Both D.F.C.'s gazetted 3rd August, 1918.)^[12]

List of aerial victories

See also Aerial victory standards of World War I

Croye Pithey's observer/gunner for all victories was Hervey Rhodes.

References

• Above the War Fronts: The British Two-seater Bomber Pilot and Observer Aces, the British Two-seater Fighter Observer Aces, and the Belgian, Italian, Austro-Hungarian and Russian Fighter Aces, 1914-1918: Volume 4 of Fighting Airmen of WWI Series: Volume 4 of Air Aces of WWI. Norman L. R. Franks, Russell Guest, Gregory Alegi. Grub Street, 1997 ISBN 1-898697-56-6, ISBN 978-1-898697-56-5.

Endnotes