WW1 GROUP TO AN OBSERVER OF 34 SQUADRON, ROYAL FLYING CORPS WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION IN JANUARY 1918 WHEN HIS AIRCRAFT WAS SHOT DOWN IN FLAMES BY TWO OF AUSTRO-HUNGARY’S TOP ACES; OBERLEUTNANT GRASER AND LEUTNANT STROHSCHNEIDER OF FLIK61/J

1914-15 STAR ‘LIEUT. L.W.B. MOORE. R.F.A.’, BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS ‘LIEUT. L.W.B. MOORE.’ With original named War Office transmittal documents from 1921, giving medal entitlement.

Lieutenant Lionel William Bentinck Moore, Royal Flying Corps, was born in February 1896. Joining the Royal Field Artillery, he served with 3/6th County of London Brigade in France from 10 October 1915. His RAF service papers show he was seconded to (or joined) the Royal Flying Corps on 29 June 1917 as an Observer and proceeded overseas on 21 August 1917. Service with 34 Squadron on the Italian Front, he was killed in action on 30 January 1918 when his RE8 (number B6487) was attacked and shot down in flames by Albatros DIII’s of Flik 61/J, flown by two of Austro-Hungary’s top Aces; Oberleutnant Franz Graser (the Squadron Leader) and leutnant Ernst Strohschneider. Interestingly, this was the 13 victory for each Ace, their final scores being 18 and 15 victories respectively. Both aces would be killed within 4 months.

https://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/austrhun/index.php

Lieutenant Moore was buried in Tezze British Cemetery, Italy.

Lionel’s brother Lieutenant John Davidson Moore, Royal Field Artillery, was killed in action at Pozieres on 22 March 1918. His medals are listed elsewhere on this website.

Condition NEF. Sold with RAF service papers, MIC etc