Gilbert Stuart Martin Insall
Second Lieutenant, 11 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps
- Register No.
- 619 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Second Lieutenant all Second Lieutenants →
- Unit
- 11 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps (register: No. 11 Squadron RFC) all No. 11 Squadron RFC VCs →
- Date of action
- 7 November 1915 on this day → all of 1915 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 23rd December, 1915 on this day → all of 1915 →
- Born
- 14th May 1894 at Avenue Mozart, Paris, France
- Died
- 17th February 1972 at Scrooby, Bawtry, Yorkshire
- Memorial / grave
- not known
- Medal held by
- the Raf Museum, Hendon, London
Digest of citation
On 7th November 1915 near Achiet, France, Second Lieutenant Insall, on patrol in the Vicker's fighter, engaged an enemy machine, the pilot of which was eventually forced to make a rough landing in a ploughed field. Seemed the German scramble out preparing to fire, the Lieutenant dived to 500 ft and his gunner opened fire, whereupon they fled. After dropping an incendiary bomb on the German aircraft he flew through heavy fire, at 2000 ft over enemy's trenches. The Vicker's petrol tank was hit, but the lieutenant managed to land near a wood 500 ft inside Allied lines and he and his gunner, after repairing the machine during the night, flew back to base at dawn
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
INSALL, Gilbert Stuart Martin. (reg No. 619).
Second Lieutenant. 11 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps.
London Gazetted on 23rd December, 1915.
Born on 14th May 1894 at Avenue Mozart, Paris, France.
Died on 17th February 1972 at Scrooby, Bawtry, Yorkshire.
Memorial not known. VCs Medal's Custodian is the Raf Museum, Hendon, London.
Digest of Citation reads: On 7th November 1915 near Achiet, France, Second Lieutenant Insall, on patrol in the Vicker's fighter, engaged an enemy machine, the pilot of which was eventually forced to make a rough landing in a ploughed field. Seemed the German scramble out preparing to fire, the Lieutenant dived to 500 ft and his gunner opened fire, whereupon they fled. After dropping an incendiary bomb on the German aircraft he flew through heavy fire, at 2000 ft over enemy's trenches. The Vicker's petrol tank was hit, but the lieutenant managed to land near a wood 500 ft inside Allied lines and he and his gunner, after repairing the machine during the night, flew back to base at dawn.
Additional information:. Group Captain Insall also held the Military Cross (MC). He served in the Royal Air Force in World War Two (WW II) Commanding the Royal Air Force station at Uxbridge, Middlesex in 1940.
Additional information
Group Captain Insall also held the Military Cross (MC). He served in the Royal Air Force in World War Two (WW II) Commanding the Royal Air Force station at Uxbridge, Middlesex in 1940.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: not known
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