Charles Woollven

Group Captain Charles Henry Chapman Woollven (28 June 1897 – 7 January 1971) was a British professional soldier who began his military career during World War I. He became a flying ace credited with five aerial victories while piloting a two-seater FE.2b into combat. Postwar, he remained in the Royal Air Force, rising through the officer's ranks while holding increasingly more important posts during the 1920s and 1930s. By 1938, on the eve of World War II, he was a wing commander. Promoted to the rank of group captain by war's end, he retired in 1947.

Personal details Charles Henry Chapman Woollven was born on 28 June 1897;

World War I On 26 January 1916, Woollven was commissioned from the Royal Military College, Sandhurst as a second lieutenant in the Devonshire Regiment. 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, 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.

He quickly followed this with more aerial victories, destroying two Albatros D.I fighters, on 16 and 23 November. 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.

List of aerial victories No.Date/TimeAircraft/Serial No.OpponentResult Location Notes1 8 August 1916@ 0640 F.E.2b(6991) Roland C.II Out of control Don Observer: Lieutenant C. Nelson.2 16 November 1916@ 1300 F.E.2b(7024) Albatros D.I Destroyed Somain Observer: Second Lieutenant C. H. Marchant.3 23 November 1916@ 1545 F.E.2b(7024) Albatros D.I Destroyed East of Oppy Observer: Sergeant G. R. Horrocks.4 17 March 1917@ 1100–1130 F.E.2b(A5484) Albatros D.II Out of control Oppy—Beaumont Observer: Sergeant J. H. Booth.5 1 May 1917@ 1800 F.E.2b(7003) Albatros D.III Destroyed South-east of Fresnoy Observer: Sergeant J. H. Booth. 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 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 in Egypt, where he remained until 10 October 1933. Placed on half pay, he was reactivated on 22 June 1934, and posted to No. 2 Flying Training School at RAF Digby for administrative duties on 10 November, 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 and beyond 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.

Charles Henry Chapman Woollven died on 7 January 1971.