Desmond Uniacke
| Desmond Percival Fitzgerald Uniacke | |
|---|---|
| Born |
18 December 1895 Chelsea, Middlesex, England |
| Died | 25 March 1933 (aged 37) Middlesex, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1914–1919 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit |
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Royal Irish Rifles No. 48 Squadron RFC |
| Battles/wars | World War I • Western Front |
| Other work | Wine salesman |
Lieutenant Desmond Percival Fitzgerald Uniacke (18 December 1895 – 25 March 1933) was a British World War I flying ace credited with thirteen aerial victories. He was captured after engaging in aerial combat with Hermann Göring, commander of Jasta 27.
Desmond Percival Fitzgerald Uniacke, second son of Richard Gordon Fitzgerald Uniacke and his wife Cecilia Monica Lambert, was born on 18 December 1895 at 16 Tite Street in Chelsea, Middlesex, England. He was baptized at Saint Barnabas' Church in Pimlico, Middlesex on 16 January 1896. Desmond was one of five children, three of whom survived to adulthood. He was educated at Saint John's College in Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex, England. His father Richard Uniacke (1867–1934) was a librarian, archivist and genealogist. He served as assistant librarian of printed books at the College of Arms.
Uniacke was commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant on 23 December 1914, and served in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and the Royal Irish Rifles, before being seconded to the Royal Flying Corps, being appointed a flying officer (observer) on 15 August 1917, with seniority from 17 May.
He was posted to the No. 48 Squadron, where he was credited with thirteen aerial victories. All of them occurred while he was an observer in the Bristol F.2b, also known as a Bristol Fighter. In addition, all thirteen were in conjunction with one pilot, Second Lieutenant Ralph Luxmore Curtis.
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