Giles Blennerhasset

Who was Giles Blennerhasset?

Second Lieutenant Giles Noble Blennerhasset was a World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories. Blennerhasset served originally in the Irish Rifles before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps on 24 March 1916. On the last day of the year, he was posted to 18 Squadron as an observer/gunner. On 4 February 1917, while manning the guns for fellow ace Robert Farquhar, he drove a German Albatros D.II down out of control north of Le Sars. Two months later, on 5 April, while flying with Victor Huston, he drove down two more D.IIs at Inchy. He shared in the destruction of a fourth D.II the following day. Ten days later, he forced another D.II down out of control to become an ace. On 3 May 1917, he drove down an Albatros D.III into Bourlon Wood. Twenty days later, he destroyed a D.III and drove another out of control. The young Irishman was posted to Home Establishment on 19 July 1917, and received the Military Cross a week later.

He subsequently qualified as a pilot, being appointed a Flying Officer on 24 October 1919. As a pilot, he served in a number of squadrons. After postwar service in India, Blennerhasset resigned his commission on 22 January 1922.