Charles Rumney Samson

Charles Rumney Samson
Samson from Army and Navy Illustrated,
February 1915.
Born(1883-07-08)8 July 1883
Crumpsall, Manchester
Died5 February 1931(1931-02-05) (aged 47)
Salisbury, Wiltshire
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Navy (1897–1918)
Royal Air Force (1918–1929)
Years of service1897–1929
RankAir commodore
Commands heldNo. 6 Group (1924–26)
RAF Mediterranean (1921–23)
No. 4 Group (1918–19)
RNAS Great Yarmouth (1917–18)
HMS Ben-my-Chree (1916–17)
No. 3 Wing RNAS (1915)
No. 3 Squadron RNAS (1914–15)
Naval Wing RFC (1912–14)
Naval Air Station Eastchurch (1911–12)
Battles/warsFirst World War
AwardsCompanion of the Order of St Michael and St George
Distinguished Service Order & Bar
Air Force Cross
Mentioned in Despatches (2)
Knight of the Legion of Honour (France)
Croix de guerre (France)

Air Commodore Charles Rumney Samson, CMG, DSO & Bar, AFC (8 July 1883 – 5 February 1931) was a British naval aviation pioneer. He was one of the first four officers selected for pilot training by the Royal Navy and was the first person to fly an aircraft from a moving ship. He also commanded the first British armoured vehicles used in combat. Transferring to the Royal Air Force on its creation in 1918, Samson held command of several groups in the immediate post-war period and the 1920s.


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