Background
Jeffery Day, as he was commonly known, was born in Saint Ives, Huntingdonshire, one of four children born to George Dennis Day (1860–1945), a solicitor, and his wife Margaret Jane (née Davis) (1862–1945).
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Miles Day
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He was educated at Sandroyd and Repton Schools.
Career
Day joined the Royal Navy as a probationary flight sub-lieutenant, and was confirmed in the rank of flight sub-lieutenant on 21 August 1915. He received the Royal Aeronautical Club Aviators" Certificate Number. 1949 after flying a Caudron biplane at the Royal Naval Flying School, Eastchurch, on 2 October 1915.
He was first stationed aboard the seaplane carrier Vindex, part of the Harwich Force, where he gained a reputation as a skilled and daring flyer, and was promoted to flight lieutenant on 31 December 1916.
Day chafed at the lack of activity at Harwich, and gained a transfer to the light cruiser Cassandra. Following her grounding in August 1917, he was posted to the experimental air station at Royal Naval Air Service Kingsnorth on the Isle of Grain.
Day was already an experienced pilot when he joined Number. 13 Squadron Royal Naval Air Service, based at Dunkirk, on 19 December 1917.
Between 3 January and 19 February 1918 he scored five victories while flying a Sopwith Camel.
On 27 February, he was shot down in flames into the sea about 25 miles west of Dunkirk by a German seaplane. According to his commanding officer"s report: "..He was shot down by six German aircraft which he attacked single-handed, out to sea. He had out-distanced his flight, I think because he wished to break the formation, in order to make it easier for the less experienced people behind him to attack.
He hit the enemy and they hit his machine, which burst into flames.
But, not a bit flurried, he nose-dived, flattened out, and landed perfectly on the water. He climbed out of his machine and waved his fellow-pilots back to their base.
Being in aeroplanes they could not assist him." A search was immediately launched, but no trace of him was foundation Having no known grave, he is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent, England.
South. Day"s collected poems were published post-war, and two of his poems were anthologized in A Treasury of War, British and American Poems of the World War, 1914-1919, edited by George Herbert Clarke, and also in Cambridge Poets 1914-1920: an Anthology, compiled by Edward Davison, published in 1920.
Achievements
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Distinguished Service Cross Flight Lieutenant (acting Flight Commander) Miles Jeffrey Game Day, Royal Naval Air Service (since killed). Foreign great skill and bravery as a fighting pilot. On the 25th January he attacked, single-handed, six enemy triplanes, one of which he shot down. On the 2nd February 1918 he attacked and destroyed an enemy two-seater machine on reconnaissance at 18,000 feet. He destroyed several enemy machines in a short space of time, and, in addition, had numerous indecisive engagements.
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Born
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Died
February 27, 1918 (aged 21) -
Nationality
United Kingdom