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Frank Ormond SODEN

Name : Frank Ormond SODEN Born : 3rd November 1895 Died : 12th February 1961 Awards : Distinguished Flying Cross with 1 Bar

commissioned into the South Staffordshire Regiment 2nd lieutenant in 1914 In 1916 he was attached to the Royal Flying Corps in 1916, (officially on 27 April 1917 ) Hwe joined No. 60 Squadron RFC,and on the 25th June 1917 while flying a Nieuport 17 claimed his first aircraft an Albatros D.III down 'out of control' . Beginning with his third victory on 17 September 1917, he was flying the new Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a. He became an ace with the first of two victories the morning of 21 September 1917, sending down an Albatros DV out of control. In the afternoon, he was credited with the destruction of a second enemy craft, shared with two other 60 Squadron pilots. He was given command of a flight on 5 December 1917, He achieved his most notable victory on 9 January 1918, over Max, Ritter von Müller. Müller, whose victory tally was 36, had downed no fewer than five British aces. Accompanied by Captain Robert Chidlaw-Roberts, Soden set Müller's Albatros D.V on fire in the air near Moorslede, Belgium. Müller exited the flaming biplane and fell to his death. On 5 February, Soden scored a double, bringing his total to 16. joined 41 sqd on the 13th July 1918 and On the 8th August he became a flight commander , still flying the S.E.5a. He sent a Fokker D.VII down in flames, and scored twice more in August. On 15 September, he singlehandedly shot down an observation balloon for his 20th kill. In October 1918, he scored his greatest month. On the 8th he destroyed a DFW C. two-seater, and on the 10th he flamed a Fokker D.VII. On the 14th, he destroyed two more D.VIIs. On the 25th, he again shot down a balloon. On the 28th, he was responsible for the capture of a Fokker D.VII near Ooteghem, Belgium. His 27th and final victory came three days later, when he drove down another D.VII out of control. He served until at least the end of WW1 Granted a regular commission as a captain on 1 August 1919 ). The main part of the war over, in 1919 Soden volunteered to join the British expedition to Murmansk, part of Allied efforts to support White Russian forces. He then joined RAF Iraq Command, serving in Kurdistan (northern Iraq). For his services there he was awarded a Bar to his DFC on 19 December 1922, he now held the rank of flight lieutenant. Soden rejoined 41 Squadron 1 April 1924 till 18 August 1925 and was promoted squadron leader on 12 December 1928, he then took command of No. 111 (Fighter) Squadron at RAF Hornchurch. In 1929 he was sent to the British Mandate of Palestine to command No. 14 (Bomber) Squadron and subsequently served on the staff at the RAF headquarters in Jerusalem. He returned to the UK in 1934 to take command of No. 65 Squadron which reformed on 1 August at Hornchurch. He was promoted wing commander on 1 July 1935, and group captain on 1 April 1939. During this period he had also commanded No. 7 (Bomber) Squadron and No. 3 Armament Training Camp at RAF Sutton Bridge. During the Second World War, he was initially station commander at RAF Upper Heyford before taking command of one of RAF Fighter Command's most important airfields, RAF Biggin Hill. He served in this command from December 1940 to June 1941. He later served in the Middle East, as airfield commander at RAF Castel Benito, and commanding Operational Training Units Decorations DFC (1919), Bar to DFC (1922)

COMBAT REPORTS

Distinguished Flying Cross the citation read: Capt. Frank Ormond Soden. (FRANCE) A bold and skilful officer who has accounted for three enemy aeroplanes and two balloons during recent operations.

Known Service Details :
Squadron	Rank	Start of Service	End of Service	Known Dates	Aircraft	Airframes	Notes
No.41 Sqn RAF		13th July 1917	18th August 1925	09th January 1918	SE5		notable victory on 9 January 1918, over Max, Ritter von Müller. Müller, whose victory tally was 36, had downed no fewer than five British aces. Accompanied by Captain Robert Chidlaw-Roberts, Soden set Müller's Albatros D.V on fire in the air near Moorslede, Belgium. Müller exited the flaming biplane and fell to his death.

Photos Submitted Through Our Directory

Aircraft for : Frank Ormond SODEN
A list of all aircraft associated with Frank Ormond SODEN. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name.
Aircraft	Info
SE5 Click the name above to see prints featuring SE5 aircraft. Production Began : 1917	SE5 The third S.E.5 produced (A4563) became, in effect, the prototype S.E.5a with a 200hp Hispano Suiza power plant and shorter span wings. The S.E.5.a went to No56, No.40 and No.60 squadrons from June 1917, and by the end of the year No's 24, 41, 68 and 84 squadron had taken them on charge. After troubles with the reduction gear of the Hispano Suiza together with a general shortage of these power plants, the direct drive Wolseley Viper became the standard S.E.5a power unit. The S.E.5.a built a fine reputation for strength, performance and general flying quality, which together with the Sopwith Camel was the main reason for the Allies gaining and maintaining air superiority during 1918. Some aircraft were fitted with four 25lb (11kg) Cooper bombs on under fuselage racks. The S.E.5.a also service in the Middle East and several home defence units in 1918. At the end of World War I over 2,000 S.E.5.a aircraft were in service with the RAF. The type had served with 24 British, 2 US and 1 Australian Squadrons. After its 'demob' 50 of these aircraft were supplied to Australia, 12 to Canada with several more to other countries including South Africa, Poland and the United States of America. 50 came onto the British register and were used for developing the art of sky-writing. The S.E.5.a will always remain one of aviation's great warplanes.

Squadrons for : Frank Ormond SODEN
A list of all squadrons known to have been served with by Frank Ormond SODEN. A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name.
Squadron	Info
No.41 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 15th April 1916 Seek and destroy Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.41 Sqn RAF	No.41 Sqn RAF Founded in 1916, 41 Squadron was disbanded at the end of World War One, but reformed on 1st April 1923.

First created : 18:43, July 11, 2016
Created by : HMS

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