Background
Charley was born in Blakeney, Gloucestershire, the son of James Smith and Eva (née Morse) Charley.
Charley was born in Blakeney, Gloucestershire, the son of James Smith and Eva (née Morse) Charley.
He attended Bristol University 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. 486 on 2 May 1916 from the Atlantic Coast Aeronautic School at Newport News, Virginia, flying a Curtiss biplane. He then travelled to England, where he was appointed a probationary second lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps on 14 June 1916, and was posted to Number.
59 Squadron.
He was appointed a flying officer on 30 September, was confirmed in his rank on 17 October, and in December was transferred to Number. 54 Squadron, and sent to France. Flying the Sopwith Pup, Charley gained his first victory on 5 April 1917, destroying an observation balloon over Gouy, shared with Captain
R.G.H. Pixley, Captain
Frank Hudson and Lieutenant Maurice Scott. His second came on 26 April when he shot down an Albatros Doctorate.III over Prémontana Charley was promoted to lieutenant on 1 July.
On 13 July he shot down another Doctorate.III, and on 5 September destroyed an Albatros Doctorate.V near Slype.
On 11 September he shot down another Doctorate.V near Ostend, and claimed another Doctorate.III (unconfirmed). The same day he was appointed a flight commander with the temporary rank of captain.
On 12 November he shot down an Albatros Doctorate near Westende, for his sixth and final victory. He then returned to England, and was transferred to Home Establishment to serve for the reminder of the war at the Armament Experimental Station.
His citation read:
Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) Reginald M. Charley, Royal Flying Corps (Special Reserve)
Foreign 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.
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.