Honour for WWI pilot who faced 10 enemy planes
ONE of Britain’s earliest fighter aces has been honoured by the Royal Air Force.
Group Captain Lionel Rees was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry in the air during World War I and an aircraft has been named in his honour.
Following the naming ceremony at RAF Valley the aircraft made a special flypast over his home town of Caernarfon.
Cheering crowds lined the promenade near the historic castle as the BAe 146 aircraft, normally used to fly the Royal Family and VIPs, flew low along the Menai Strait.
They included Lionel Rees’ son and daughter, who were making their first visit to the town.
Olvin Rees said: “We have three generations of our family attending the event, travelling from the Bahamas and the USA, and we are all extremely honoured and excited that my father is being recognised in this way. My father was always a proud Welshman, so it’s amazing that all this is happening in North Wales.”
The dedication recognises the achievements and valour of Gp Cpt Rees during both the First and Second World
Wars. It is the first time an RAF aircraft has been named after an individual since the late 1960s.
Rees joined 11 Squadron of the
Royal Flying Corps (RFC) in early
1915 and rapidly went on to become the first Officer Commanding (OC) of
32 Squadron.
He received the Victoria Cross for his actions on June 1, 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, after singlehandedly taking on 10 enemy aircraft.