DSO,
Wulstan Tempest was born in Blackburn Lancashire and after
leaving school joined the merchant navy. On the outbreak of
World War I Tempest joined up with the King's Own Yorkshire
Light Infantry and served with them in Flanders. In October
1914, Tempest was wounded at the first Battle of Ypres and
was lucky to escape after being buried in a dugout by artillery
fire.
Tempest returned to England to recover from his injuries
and after learning to fly joined the fledgling RFC being posted
to 39 Squadron at Suttons Farm. Here Tempest became firm friends
with his fellow pilots William Leefe Robinson and Frederick
Sowrey.
On the night of 1st/2nd October 1916 Tempest was ordered
aloft on patrol and successfully intercepted the Super Zeppelin
L31. This he accomplished despite having a broken fuel pump
that required him to hand prime his engine at the same time
as flying his aircraft and shooting. After only a single pass,
Tempest managed to set the L31 alight and it fell in flames
near Potters Bar in Essex. There were no survivors from its
crew who were commanded by one of Germany's leading Zeppelin
commanders, Heinrich Mathy. Tempest and his plane were almost
engulfed by the huge mass of flaming wreckage as it dropped
from the sky but he narrowly spun his plane out of the way
just in time. On return to Sutton's Farm Tempest was so fatigued
by the constant pumping to keep his engine working and the
effects of intense cold that he crashed on landing. Luckily
he survived with no more than a gashed head.
Like Leefe Robinson and Sowrey, Tempests success won him
national admiration and public accolades. He was awarded the
Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for his exploit.
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