Biography
He was born in Baltimore, Maryland on 28 November 1895. He graduated from the University of Virginia before joining the U.S. Army Signal Corps as an aviation cadet. After preliminary flight training, he was given a conditional discharge as too young to be commissioned an officer. He then enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps (soon Royal Air Force) in Canada using the name Frederick. There he finished his basic flight training, received his pilot's wings and was commissioned a second lieutenant. In England, after receiving advanced training as a fighter pilot, he was assigned to No. 79 Squadron in France on 29 March 1918.
The squadron was flying the Sopwith Dolphin, an unusual biplane distinguished by its "negative stagger" wing arrangement, a type Gillet had not flown before. After becoming acclimated to the Dolphin and honing his combat skills, he scored his first victory in August. From then to November 1918, Gillet was credited with 17 German airplanes and three observation balloons, all assessed as destroyed. The 100% ratio of destroyed was extremely unusual, as most British Commonwealth aces had numerous "out of control" credits.
Though he flew exclusively with the British, Gillet's record of 20 victories ranked him second among all American fliers in the Great War, behind Eddie Rickenbacker. He was promoted to captain and served for a short time as the commanding officer of his squadron. His decorations include the British Distinguished Flying Cross and bar and the Belgian Croix de Guerre.
After the war, he returned to the United States and obtained his release from the U.S. Army Signal Reserve Corps and entered the family business. Gillet pursued a successful, lengthy business career and died at age 74 on 21 December 1969.
Read more about this topic: Francis W. Gillet
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