Second Lieutenant Orlando Clive Bridgeman Military Cross was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.
Background
Bridgeman was the fourth son of Brigadier-General the Honourable Francis Charles Bridgeman, and his wife Gertrude Cecilia (née Hanbury). His father was the second son of Orlando Bridgeman, 3rd Earl of Bradford, and through his mother he was a direct descendent of King Edward III.
Education
He was educated at Harrow School.
Career
In early 1917, soon after his 18th birthday, Bridgeman joined the army as a cadet, and on 17 March was appointed a probationary temporary second lieutenant on the General List, attached to the Royal Flying Corps, being confirmed in that rank in August. Bridgeman was posted to Number. 70 Squadron Reconstruction Finance Corporation, flying the Sopwith Camel.
He was wounded on 25 August after being shot up by Hermann Göring of Jagdstaffel 27.
He returned to active duty in March 1918, and was posted to Number. 80 Squadron. On 16 March he gained his first aerial victory driving an Albatros Doctorate.V down out of control north-east of Le Catelet.
On 28 March he was promoted to acting-captain to serve as flight commander of "B Flight", after the previous flight commander was killed. His second victory came on 11 April, setting an Albatros Doctorate.V on fire over Bois du Riez.
On 10 May Bridgeman was leading his flight on patrol, when they were engaged by between 20 to 30 enemy aircraft from Jagdstaffel 6 and 11, from Richthofen"s "Flying Circus", over Morcourt.
Bridgeman shot down two Fokker Doctor.I, and two others were also shot down, but three of his own men were killed, one wounded and taken prisoner, and two more crash landed in British territory. On 27 June Bridgeman gained his fifth and final victory, driving down a Fokker Doctorate.VII over Neuve-Chapelle. In July or August, he was assigned to serve as a flying instructor.
Bridgeman finally left the service, being transferred to the unemployed list, on 11 April 1919.
Post-war Bridgeman graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge, with a Master of Arts degree. Bridgeman died in London of blood poisoning on 21 December 1931, aged 33, and is commemorated with a memorial plaque inside Street Bartholomew"s Church, Tong, Shropshire.