Charles Woollven


Group Captain Charles Henry Chapman Woollven was a British World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.

World War I

Woollven was commissioned from Gentlemen Cadet at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, to be a second lieutenant in the Devonshire Regiment, on 26 January 1916. He was promptly seconded to the Royal Flying Corps to begin his flight training, being granted Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate No. 2636 on 31 March, and was appointed a flying officer on 27 May. He joined No. 25 Squadron RFC on 19 June 1916 to fly a F.E.2b two-seater. He scored his first victory on 8 August, driving down a Roland C.II out of control.
Woollven was awarded the Military Cross, which was gazetted on 14 November 1916. His citation read:
He quickly followed this with more aerial victories, destroying two Albatros D.I fighters, on 16 and 23 November. He was appointed a flight commander with the temporary rank of captain on 31 December 1916. On 17 March 1917 he drove down out of control an Albatros D.II fighter, and on 1 May he destroyed an Albatros D.III for his fifth victory. On 26 July 1917 Woollven was promoted to lieutenant.

List of aerial victories

Inter-war career

On 20 January 1919 Woollven was transferred to the RAF's Administrative Branch, and was granted a permanent commission in the RAF as a captain on 1 August 1919. He served first overseas, as he was posted to the RAF Depot on transfer to the Home Establishment on 21 October 1923. He served at the Inland Area Aircraft Depot at RAF Henlow from 14 January 1924.
On 6 August 1925 he married Ariel Gwynnedd Alice Jeffery at Holy Trinity Church, Paddington.
On 1 January 1931 he was promoted to squadron leader, and on 8 April was posted to No. 4 Flying Training School at RAF Abu Sueir, Egypt, remaining there until 10 October 1933. On 10 November 1934 he was posted to No. 2 Flying Training School at RAF Digby for administrative duties, then to the RAF Record Office at RAF West Ruislip on 11 August 1938. On 29 November 1938 he was promoted to wing commander.

World War II

On 11 June 1942 in the King's Birthday Honours, Woollven, now an acting group captain, was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. He was promoted to the temporary rank of group captain on 1 January 1943, and eventually retired on 15 September 1947 retaining that rank.