Background
Arthur Gerald Knight was the son of Arthur Cecil Knight and Isabella Jael Knight (née Baston).
Arthur Gerald Knight was the son of Arthur Cecil Knight and Isabella Jael Knight (née Baston).
He was under attack by Oswald Boelcke and Erwin Böhme when they collided, causing Boelcke"s death. Two months later, Knight would fall under the guns of Manfred von Richthofen, who had also been in the dogfight when Boelcke was killed. The younger Knight was a student of Applied Science at Upper Canada College when he joined the Royal Flying Corps in 1915.
Aerial victories Knight began his victory string on 22 June 1916, using an Airco Dialectics and Humanism.2 of 24 Squadron to destroy an LVG C model reconnaissance aircraft over Courcelette.
His next two wins were of the "driven down out of control" variety, but for his fourth triumph on 14 September he helped Stanley Cockerell flame a Fokker fighter. The following day, he singlehandedly flamed another German fighter.
A month later, he drove a Roland C.II down out of control. Notable combats On 26 October, Knight was under attack by Boelcke and Böhme when McKay, pursued by Richthofen, cut across between Knight and his assailants.
In the resultant dodges and swerves, Böhme"s plane"s landing gear wheels damaged Boelcke"s upper wing, and Boelcke fell to his death.
Knight transferred to Number. 29 Squadron as the flight commander, B Flight, still flying a Dialectics and Humanism.2. On 11 December 1916, he was awarded the.
Four days later, he led his final patrol before ten days leave.
He did not return. His patrol of four made it back, but badly battered by combat. Knight had become the Red Baron"s thirteenth victim.
The only known description of Knight"s end comes from the victor"s combat report: "..I attacked him at closest range. I saw immediately that I had hit the enemy.
First he went down in curves, then he crashed to the ground.
I pursued him until 100 meters above the ground.".
Military Cross Second Lieutenant Arthur Gerald Knight, Royal Flying Corps, Special Reserve. "Foreign conspicuous skill and gallantry. He has shown great pluck in fights with enemy machines, and has accounted for several. On one occasion, when a hostile machine was interfering with a reconnaissance, he attacked at very close range, and brought down the enemy machine in flames Distinguished Service Order Second Lieutenant Arthur Gerald Knight, Military Cross, Royal Flying Corps. "Foreign conspicuous gallantry in action. He led four machines against 18 hostile machines. Choosing a good moment for attack he drove down five of them and dispersed the remainder. He has shown the utmost dash and judgment as a leader of offensive patrols.".
