| Guy William Price | |
| Birth Date: | 1895 7, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Rostrevor, Ireland |
| Death Place: | near Givenchy-lès-la-Bassée, France |
| Placeofburial Label: | Commemorated at |
| Placeofburial: | Arras Flying Services Memorial, Pas de Calais, France |
| Nickname: | "Captain Kettle" |
| Allegiance: | United Kingdom |
| Branch: | Royal Navy |
| Serviceyears: | 1914–1918 |
| Rank: | Flight Commander |
| Unit: | Seaplane Defence Flight No. 8 Squadron RNAS |
| Battles: | First World War Western Front |
| Awards: | Distinguished Service Cross & Bar |
Flight Commander Guy William Price (6 July 1895 – 18 February 1918) was an Irish Royal Naval Air Service flying ace during World War I, having 12 confirmed aerial victories. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross twice within a 22-day period.
Price was born in Rostrevor, County Down, Ireland, the son of Frederick Walter Price and Francesca d'Orange (née Rambaut). He lost his father at an early age, since in a 1911 Probate his mother is described as a widow.[1] He later lived in Kingstown, County Dublin, Ireland.
On 9 December 1914, Flight Sub-Lieutenant Guy William Price RNAS was awarded Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificate No. 987, earned on a Grahame-White biplane at their school at Hendon Aerodrome.[2] [3]
Price was promoted to flight lieutenant on 28 June 1915, and on 3 July 1917 he was one of the four founder members of the Seaplane Defence Flight (later No. 13 Naval Squadron). This unit, flying Sopwith Pup fighters, was formed at Saint-Pol-sur-Mer to escort unarmed Short reconnaissance seaplanes used in the Dover Strait on anti-submarine patrols.[4]
However, Price would not achieve aerial success until late 1917, when he was posted to No. 8 Naval Squadron as a Sopwith Camel pilot. At 1350 hours on 5 December 1917, he destroyed a German Albatros D.V fighter aircraft. Five minutes later, he helped squadron mate Flight Sub-Lieutenant Wilfred Harry Sneath drive down another Albatros D.V out of control for his second victory. The next day, Price teamed with Flight Sub-Lieutenant Harold Day to drive a DFW two-seater reconnaissance aircraft down out of control. Day and Price replicated this success on both 27 and 28 December, making Price an ace.[5]
He was promoted to flight commander on 1 January 1918, and then next day, scored the first of the six solo victories he would score that month; this particular sortie was mentioned when he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. After shooting down in flames an enemy reconnaissance plane on the 6th, he drove down Albatros D.Vs on the 19th and 22nd; the latter win was noted in his second recommendation for the DSC. Price then destroyed another Albatros D.V on the 24th over La Bassée. On 28 January, he incinerated another reconnaissance two-seater in the same locale. Finally, on 16 February 1918, he joined with Canadian ace Herbert Fowler in flaming another German reconnaissance two-seater. Two days later, Price went on a trench strafing mission where Theodor Rumpel of Jasta 23 dove on him and shot him down.[5] [6]
Price's first Distinguished Service Cross was gazetted on 22 February 1918. The Bar in lieu of a second award followed with unusual rapidity, being gazetted on 16 March 1918.[5]
Price, having no known grave, is commemorated at the Arras Flying Services Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.[7]