Carl Raymond Davis

Carl Raymond Davis, (30 July 1911 – 6 September 1940) was a South African-born American-British pilot and flying ace of the Battle of Britain. He claimed nine enemy aircraft (and one shared) destroyed, four (and one shared) probably destroyed, and four damaged, before he was himself shot down and killed in action. Davis was one of 11 American pilots who flew with RAF Fighter Command between 10 July and 31 October 1940, thereby qualifying for the Battle of Britain clasp to the 1939–45 campaign star. Early years Born in Krugersdorp, Transvaal in South Africa to American parents, Davis was educated in England at Sherborne School, and Trinity College, Cambridge (Bachelor of Arts) and at McGill University, Montreal (Bachelor of Arts qualifying as a mining engineer). He became a British citizen in 1932. His wife was Anne, sister of Sir Archibald Philip Hope, 17th Baronet, of No. 601 Squadron (Hope was in turn married to Carl's sister Ruth.) After obtaining his mining degree, Davis took flying lessons in New Jersey while living with his sister. Returning to the United Kingdom in 1935, Davis then lived in London and joined No. 601 Squadron, Auxiliary Air Force at Hendon, being commissioned in August 1936.