Reginald Charley

Captain Reginald Morse Charley (2 August 1892 – 1986) was a British World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.

Biography Charley was born in Blakeney, Gloucestershire, the son of James Smith and Eva (née Morse) Charley. qualifying as an electrical engineer in 1911. He eventually travelled to the United States to accept a job in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, arriving in New York City on 1 February 1914. and was posted to No. 59 Squadron. was confirmed in his rank on 17 October, and in December was transferred to No. 54 Squadron, and sent to France. On 13 July he shot down another D.III, and on 5 September destroyed an Albatros D.V near Slype. On 11 September he shot down another D.V near Ostend, and claimed another D.III (unconfirmed). On 12 November he shot down an Albatros D near Westende, for his sixth and final victory. His citation read: Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) Reginald M. Charley, Royal Flying Corps (Special Reserve) For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He attacked a hostile balloon which was eventually brought down in flames. With four other pilots he attacked eight enemy scouts and drove two down. He has driven down four other enemy aircraft, usually fighting with his patrol against greatly superior numbers.

In April 1918 he was awarded the French Croix de Guerre.

On 10 December 1919 Charley relinquished his commission on account of ill-health contracted on active service, and was permitted to retain his rank.

After his discharge, he returned to America to work as a Transformer Sales Manager for the English Electric Company. He retired in 1960, and died in 1986, shortly after his 94th birthday. Their son, David James Charley (1918–2008), qualified as a doctor, served in the Royal Navy during World War II, and later became a noted specialist in respiratory disease, being elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP) in 1973, and made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1977.