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Charles Arnison

Lieutenant Charles Henry Arnison MC (13 January 1893 – 4 September 1974) was a British World War I flying ace credited with nine aerial victories. He won the Military Cross for valour in World War I, and returned to the RAF to serve in World War II.

Charles Henry Arnison was born in Newcastle-on-Tyne on 13 January 1893.^[1]

On 26 May 1917 Sergeant C. H. Arnison of the Territorial Force was commissioned as a second lieutenant and transferred to the General List of the Royal Flying Corps.^[2] On 28 June 1917 he was confirmed as a second lieutenant and appointed a flying officer.^[3]

By early 1918, he was assigned to 62 Squadron as a Bristol F.2 Fighter pilot; he began his victories with them with a win on 12 April 1918, and ran his string out at nine with his last victory on 15 May 1918.^[1] On both 6 and 20 June 1918 he was reported wounded in Flight magazine, although it is uncertain if this is a reference to two separate woundings.^[4][5] His exploits won him the Military Cross, gazetted 16 September 1918:

....He has destroyed four enemy aircraft and driven down four others completely out of control. He has always shown the greatest skill, keenness and gallantry, and has been largely instrumental in the fine achievements of his squadron.^[6]

He also won a Distinguished Flying Cross.^[7]

Arnison remained in the Royal Air Force after the war. On 28 October 1919 he was appointed as a Flight Lieutenant in the reorganized RAF.^[8] However, less than a year later, on 6 October 1920, he retired due to injuries, retaining his rank.^[9]

On 25 January 1941, Arnison was commissioned as a probationary flying officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, and assigned to the Administrative and Special Duties Branch.^[10]

On 17 July 1941 he was reported wounded or injured in action in Flight magazine.^[11]

Post-war Arnison remained on the RAF List of Reserve Officers until relinquishing his commission on 11 May 1954.^[12]

• Shores, Christopher F.; Franks, Norman & Guest, Russell F. (1990). Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.