Philip Murray Tudhope | |
Birth Date: | 27 September 1898 |
Death Date: | Unknown |
Birth Place: | Orange Free State |
Branch: | Aviation |
Rank: | Lieutenant |
Unit: | No. 46 Squadron RAF |
Awards: | Distinguished Flying Cross |
Lieutenant Philip Murray Tudhope (born 27 September 1898, date of death unknown) was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.[1]
Tudhope joined the Royal Flying Corps in May 1917. On 3 March 1918, he was assigned to 46 Squadron. On 25 April 1918, he joined with Captain Cecil Marchant and Lieutenant E. Smith to destroy an LVG two-seater reconnaissance plane. He then set afire a Pfalz D.III on 30 May. His last four victories were "out of control" wins over Fokker D.VIIs. The last two of these, on 17 September, were during a melee, and were shared with Captain Donald MacLaren and four other RAF pilots; the Fokkers fell and collided with one another.[2]
For his actions in France, Tudhope received the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1919. The citation read:
"On 18 October this officer displayed marked presence of mind and initiative. Seeing an enemy battery proceeding along a road towards a town which he knew was held by our troops, Lieut. Tudhope descended to a low altitude to accelerate its progress. So successful was this manoeuvre that the leading gun was driven into the hands of our infantry and captured; the remainder wheeled about and retired, pursued by this officer."[3]