arnold

Born 24th March 1897. The youngest of his parents two children.The 1901 census records him living at 288 Pentonville Road, Islington, London, with his parents Herbert Snr. [b.1855 Flamstead, Herts.] Rose Mary[b.1863 Merthyr, Glamorganshire] and his older sister Marjorie [b.1895 London]. His father is recorded as a self employed keeping a Hosiery shop. Also living with the family is his maternal grandmother and two domestic servants. The 1911 census records the family still living at the same address but now with only one domestic servant. An entry in the London Gazette of 25th July 1916 states that as of 7th July of that year, he was to be posted from 2 Officer Cadet Btn. as temporary Lt. With the Royal Flying Corps. He is buried in Vaulx Hill Cemetery, Vaulx - Vraucourt, France. His medals and Memorial Plaque [death penny] were sold at auction for £600 in June 2002. The catalogue information reasds; “Second Lieutenant (Observer) H. E. Arnold, No. 5 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, formerly Royal Fusiliers, killed in aerial combat on 26 December 1916, the third victim of the German ace, Hans Bethge 1914-15 Star (6573 Pte., R. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut.); together with memorial plaque (Herbert Edward Arnold)”.

This is a photo of the 1924 US Army Air Service fliers that completed the circumnavigation of the globe in their Douglas World Cruisers (DWC) that year. The person in the foreground closest to the microphone is aviator Lowell H. Smith. From those visible closest to Smith's right shoulder and outward are Leigh Wade, Les Arnold, "Smiling" Jack Harding, and Henry Ogden. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_aerial_circumnavigation

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_aerial_circumnavigation

September 8, 1924, Lt. Lowell H. Smith (in front cockpit) and 1st Lt. Les Arnold (standing adjacent to the rear cockpit) with Douglas World Cruiser "Chicago" (Air Service Serial No. A.S. 1230) have just arrived at Mitchel Field, Long Island, NY, as Chief of the Air Service, Maj. Gen. Mason Patrick (back to camera) looks on.