Arthur Keen

Major Arthur Willan Keen (20 March 1895 – 2 September 1918) was a British World War I flying ace credited with fourteen aerial victories. Keen won his first decoration before ever seeing combat when he saved a fellow pilot from drowning on 17 June 1916. Once in France, his combat record saw him promoted to flight, then squadron commands. The latter posting made him a major at age 23. Background and education Keen was born in Edgbaston, Warwickshire, to Arthur Thomas Keen and Isabel Charlotte Eliza (née Willan). He was educated at Aldro, Dunchurch Hall and Rugby Schools before going up to Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1913 to study engineering. Military service Keen left university after two years, abandoning his degree studies, in order to join the Army. He was commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant in the Army Service Corps on 24 May 1915. In November 1915 he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and attended the School of Instruction at Wantage Hall, Reading, Berkshire, before moving to Catterick, Yorkshire, for flying training. He was granted Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate No. 2298 on 17 January 1916, flying a Maurice Farman biplane. On 15 February he was appointed a flying officer and transferred to the General List, and was promoted to lieutenant on 1 June.