Giles Blennerhasset

Flying Officer Giles Noble Blennerhassett (16 April 1895 – 4 December 1978) was an Irish World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories while serving as an observer/gunner in No. 18 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps.

Early life and background Blennerhassett was born in Leoville, County Sligo, the eldest, and only son, of the four children born to James Blennerhassett of Gortatlea, County Kerry, and his first wife Selina Harriet (née Noble) of Collooney, County Sligo. His father was the bookkeeper/accountant at the Henry Lyons & Co. department store in Sligo, later becoming the managing director. The young Blennerhassett was educated at Sligo Grammar School.

World War I Blennerhassett trained in the Inns of Court Officers Training Corps, before being commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 4th Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers on 2 June 1916. He was eventually seconded to the Royal Flying Corps, being appointed a flying officer (observer) on 24 March 1917, with seniority from 31 December 1916.

Posted to No. 18 Squadron RFC to fly in F.E.2b two-seaters, he gained his first aerial victory on 4 February 1917, driving down out of control an Albatros D.II fighter. He drove down two more on 5 April, and destroyed another the following day. He gained his fifth to become an ace on 16 April, and then accounted for three Albatros D.IIIs, one on 3 May and two more on 23 May, to bring his total to eight.

He subsequently qualified as a pilot, being promoted to lieutenant on 2 December 1917, and appointed a flying officer the next day. and then serving in No.'s 78, 112, 153 and 39 Home Defence squadrons.

On 1 April 1918, the Army's Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) were merged to form the Royal Air Force, and Blennerhassett relinquished his commission in the Royal Irish Fusiliers that day.

On 11 November 1918 he was appointed an acting captain.

List of aerial victories +Combat record He served in No. 48 Squadron RAF in India, before resigning his commission on 19 January 1922.

Personal life As a lay representative of the Church of Ireland he donated the Bishop's Throne to St John the Baptist Cathedral, Sligo, in memory of his father. He married twice; first to Kathleen Maud Curry of Newbridge, County Kildare at Aldershot, Hampshire on 8 January 1918, and secondly to Dorothy Margaret Pinnock in 1932.