RFC/RAF WW1 image
Lanoe George Hawker, VC, DSO. 
(30 December 1890 – 23 November 1916)

Page updated: November 24, 2025

RFC/RAF WW1
Lanoe George Hawker, VC, DSO.

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Somme Region

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On a trip to the Somme battle fields, my friend who lives in Salisbury on a road named "Lanoe George Hawker, VC".
He was very interested in finding his memorial at Ligny-Thilloy and this is what we found.

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RFC/RAF WW1
Lanoe George Hawker, VC, DSO.

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RFC/RAF WW1
Lanoe George Hawker, VC, DSO.

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Date 16 November 2025

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The church and memorial at Ligny-Thilloy.


RFC/RAF WW1
Lanoe George Hawker, VC, DSO.

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From info board ------------------------------------------- Google

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The map of his crash site and the memorial.
The farm looks as though it was never re built after the war.

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Info Board.


RFC/RAF WW1
Lanoe George Hawker, VC, DSO.

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From info board

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The battle between the Red Baron and Lanoe.


RFC/RAF WW1
Lanoe George Hawker, VC, DSO.

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From info board

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The crash site at Lulsenhoff Farm.


RFC/RAF WW1
Lanoe George Hawker, VC, DSO.

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From info board 27.12.16

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The sites marked off on an air photo of the time.

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BE2c photo reconnaissance aircraft.

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BE2c photo reconnaissance camera.



RFC/RAF WW1
Lanoe George Hawker, VC, DSO.

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IWM

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Lanoe George Hawker VC, DSO.

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Victoria Cross.

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Distinguished Service Order.

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VC, DSO, 1914, British War Medal, Victory Medal and mentioned in despatches.


RFC/RAF WW1
Lanoe George Hawker, VC, DSO.

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Date 16 November 2025

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Our visit to the memorial.
Graham & Terry.


RFC/RAF WW1
Lanoe George Hawker, VC, DSO.

Google

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The roads on this estate in Salisbury are all named after VC recipients.

RFC/RAF WW1
Lanoe George Hawker, VC, DSO.

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Date 16 November 2025

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The memorial. He was buried close to the site of his crash, but his body has never been found. The whole area was the site of heavy fighting and may have been churned up badly.


RFC/RAF WW1
Lanoe George Hawker, VC, DSO.

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Date 16 November 2025

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Inscriptions on the memorial.

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Cutting the stone CWGC.


RFC/RAF WW1
Lanoe George Hawker, VC, DSO.

”Located just over a mile north of Salisbury, is the Longhedge estate all of whose roads are named after a military personnel who have won the Victoria Cross.
One of the roads is Hawker Avenue named after a World War I RFC pilot Lanoe Hawker.

On a recent trip around the WW1 airfields many of which can still be found. Three of us, Graham, Terry & myself were pleased to pay our respects to this intrepid flyer.

Lanoe was born in 1890 at a prestigious country house near Longparish in Hampshire, which was built by one of his ancestors who had served with Wellington in the Peninsular war. So he came from a long line of Military personnel and was destined to join the Forces.

Lanoe initially joined the Royal Engineers in 1910, but after attending a flying display at Bournemouth in 1911, he decided to learn to fly and was awarded his Aviator’s Certificate in 1913.  He reported for duty at the RFC Central Flying School at Upavon in August 1914, three days before Britain entered the First World War.

After initial training Lanoe was posted to France with No 6 Squadron flying Henri Farman F.20 biplanes that we were mainly used for reconnaissance.
Converting to BE2 biplanes he quickly improved his flying skills, such that in 1915 he was awarded the DSO for attacking the Zeppelin sheds at Gontrode in Belgium by dropping hand grenades over the side of his cockpit.

He was also an avid inventor, improving the function of the Lewis gun by mounting it to the side of his cockpit at a 45deg angle, as the RFC aircraft had not yet received the synchronisation mechanism to permit forward firing through the propeller.
He also introduced fur-lined flying boots and developed a rocking fuselage for ground target practice.

In July 1915 whilst flying over Passchendaele, he attacked three German aircraft, shooting them down in quick succession for which he was awarded the VC.
Although by now he was not the highest scoring ace, he was still only the 3rd pilot to be awarded the VC.

In November 1916 flying from Bertangles Aerodrome north of Amiens in France in an Airco DH2, he began a lengthy dog flight  with Manfred Von Richtofan, the Red Baron flying a German Albatross aircraft, a much faster and heavily armed fighter.
Eventually the Red Baron’s guns jammed, but a bullet from his last burst hit Lanoe in the head, killing him instantly.

His plane crashed near Bapaume France, where in November 2011 a Memorial was erected in his honour by XIV Squadron RAF.
We were pleased to visit his memorial and pay our respects.”

Graham Horner

 

Date 24 December 2025

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Graham's account of Lanoe's George Hawker, VC, DSO.

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RFC Upavon before the start of WW1.

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Lanoe Hawker's Bristol Scout with a Lewis gun mounted firing sideways.

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Hawker rocking nacelle..


RFC/RAF WW1
Lanoe George Hawker, VC, DSO.

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Date 16 December 2025

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The details on winning his VC in the London Gazette.

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London Gazette.


RFC/RAF WW1
Lanoe George Hawker, VC, DSO.

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Country Life

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This was his family home, now up for sale in Country Life magazine.


RFC/RAF WW1
Lanoe George Hawker, VC, DSO.

Film

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RFC/RAF WW1
Lanoe George Hawker, VC, DSO.

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eBay

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