Philip Tudhope

Philip Murray Tudhope
Born	27 September 1898 Orange Free State
Died	Unknown
Allegiance	Union of South Africa
Service/branch	Aviation
Rank	Lieutenant
Unit	No. 46 Squadron RAF
Awards	Distinguished Flying Cross

Lieutenant Philip Murray Tudhope (born 27 September 1898, date of death unknown) was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.^[1]

Tudhope joined the Royal Flying Corps in May 1917. On 3 March 1918, he was assigned to 46 Squadron. On 25 April 1918, he joined with Captain Cecil Marchant and Lieutenant E. Smith to destroy an LVG two-seater reconnaissance plane. He then set afire a Pfalz D.III on 30 May. His last four victories were "out of control" wins over Fokker D.VIIs. The last two of these, on 17 September, were during a melee, and were shared with Captain Donald MacLaren and four other RAF pilots; the Fokkers fell and collided with one another.^[2]

Honors and awards

Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC ) Lieut. Philip Murray Tudhope. (FRANCE)

On 18 October this officer displayed marked presence of mind and initiative. Seeing an enemy battery proceeding along a road towards a town which he knew was held by our troops, Lieut. Tudhope descended to a low altitude to accelerate its progress. So successful was this manoeuvre that the leading gun was driven into the hands of our infantry and captured; the remainder wheeled about and retired, pursued by this officer.^[3]

References

Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. Christopher F. Shores, Norman L. R. Franks, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1990. ISBN 0-948817-19-4, ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.

Sources of information