Arthur Britton
Arthur Frederick Britton (2 October 1888 – 19 February 1919) was a British World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories. He was born in Balham, London, to Frederick and Ellen Britton.
Britton joined the army in 1915 as a second lieutenant in Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry), and in 1916 he transferred to the Machine Gun Corps. He was promoted to lieutenant on 1 June 1917 and later moved to the Royal Flying Corps, serving as an observer/gunner with No. 57 Squadron, flying the Airco DH.4.
His first victories came on 3 July 1917 with pilot Captain Laurence Minot, when they shot down two Albatros D.III fighters over Zonnebeke. On 7 July, with pilot A. D. Pryor, he shot down another D.III northeast of Ypres. He officially joined the RFC on 12 July. On 27 July, again with Minot, he shot down three Albatros D.Vs over Houthulst.
Britton was badly wounded on 20 August 1917, and his left leg was amputated. He was awarded the Military Cross on 1 January 1918 and the Croix de Guerre (France) on 18 April 1918. He relinquished his commission on 28 September 1918 due to ill health from his wounds. He died from influenza on 19 February 1919 in Balham, London, aged 30.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 17:49 (CET).