Background
Sutton was born in Westbourne, Sussex, the fourth son of Algernon Charles Sutton (1852–1932) and his wife Winifred Alice (née Fell) (1863–1956).
Sutton was born in Westbourne, Sussex, the fourth son of Algernon Charles Sutton (1852–1932) and his wife Winifred Alice (née Fell) (1863–1956).
He was educated at Tonbridge School, Kent.
He was a direct descendent of Sir Richard Sutton Bt, Member of Parliament, (1733–1802), and distantly related to the Dukes of Rutland. Sutton enlisted into a Public Schools Battalion in 1914, but was soon transferred to the Officers" Training Corps as a cadet. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant (on probation) on 6 February 1915, and posted to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment, where he was confirmed in his rank on 22 July 1915.
He served in France from 1 June, attached to the 1st Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, until severely wounded at the Battle of Loos in late 1915.
After recovering from his injuries, Sutton trained as a pilot. He was promoted to lieutenant on 7 August 1916, and was granted his Royal Aeronautical Club Aviator"s Certificate on 23 September 1916, and appointed a flying officer in the Royal Flying Corps the same day.
He first served in France with Number. 21 Squadron Reconstruction Finance Corporation, flying the R.E.8 two-seater, before transferring to Number.
54 Squadron Reconstruction Finance Corporation to fly the Sopwith Pup single-seat fighter.
He gained his first aerial victory on 2 April 1917, driving down an enemy reconnaissance aircraft out of control. He shared with other pilots of his squadron in the destruction of another reconnaissance aircraft on 11 May, then destroyed an Albatros Doctorate.III fighter solo on 24 May. He shared in the destruction of another Doctorate.III on 1 June 1917, then drove down and destroyed two more solo on 5 and 6 June, bringing his total to six.
His citation read:
Lieutenant Oliver Manners Sutton, South Lancashire Regiment, Special Reserve, and Royal Flying Corps.
"Foreign conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On at least eight separate occasions he showed great determination in attacking hostile aircraft, destroying them or driving them down out of control, and he has also done very good work in other flights by preventing hostile aircraft from getting on the tails of other machines.
On one occasion, though his gun jammed, he dived three times and drove off an enemy machine."
Sutton later transferred to Number. 28 Squadron Royal Air Force to serve in Italy, flying a Sopwith Camel, where on 15 August 1918 he gained his seventh and final victory by driving down an enemy fighter out of control.
List of aerial victories
After the armistice Sutton served with the Inter-Allied Commission of Control in Germany.
On 1 August 1919 he was granted a permanent commission in the Royal Air Force with the rank of captain, and relinquished his army commission the same day. On 16 August 1921, Sutton was the pilot of the Bristol Braemar C4297, a prototype heavy bomber, which crashed on take off and hit a hangar at the Aeroplane Experimental Establishment at Royal Air Force Martlesham Heath. Of the four on board Sutton and Aircraftsman Charles Sheridan were killed, one crewman was injured, and another escaped unhurt.
On 20 August Sutton was buried with military honours at Saint Michael and All Angels, Withyham, Sussex, England.