Spencer B. Horn
| Spencer Bertram Horn | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Nigger |
| Born |
18 April 1895 Redbourn, Wiltshire, England |
| Died | 18 October 1969 (aged 74) Aldbourne, Wiltshire, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1914–1946 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit |
3rd Dragoon Guards Machine Gun Corps No. 60 Squadron RFC No. 85 Squadron RAF |
| Commands held | "C" Flight, No. 85 Squadron RAF 3rd Carabiniers |
| Battles/wars | World War I • Western Front World War II • Burma Campaign |
| Awards | Military Cross |
Lieutenant Colonel Spencer Bertram Horn MC (18 April 1895 – 18 October 1969) was a British soldier and World War I flying ace credited with thirteen aerial victories.
Horn was the youngest of seven children born to Penelope Elizabeth Belt and William Austin Horn. His six older siblings were born in Australia, but Horn's parents sailed back to England and landed the day before Horn was born.
After passing out from the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, as a "Gentlemen Cadet", Horn was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 3rd (Prince of Wales's) Dragoon Guards regiment on 1 October 1914. He was promoted to lieutenant on 27 September 1915. On 29 February 1916 Horn was seconded to the Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry Branch), and was later transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, being appointed a flying officer on 3 April 1917.
His first assignment after training was to 60 Squadron, from April to November 1917; where his flight commander was Billy Bishop. Horn scored his first two victories while flying a Nieuport fighter for 60 Squadron on the second and sixth of May 1917. The squadron upgraded to the SE.5a. On this new mount, Horn and William Molesworth set an Albatros D.III afire on 5 August 1917. When Bishop transferred out of the squadron to form and command No. 85 Squadron, Horn took his place as "C" Flight commander on 29 August 1917 with the acting-rank of captain. Horn went on to run his string to six by 5 September 1917. In October 1917 Horn was awarded the Military Cross. He then went to instructor duty at Ayr with the Home Establishment.
He thus had over an eight-month lapse before he began scoring again as a flight commander in No. 85 Squadron; Bishop had him transferred in March 1918. Beginning on 30 May 1918 and ongoing until 17 September 1918, he reeled off seven more wins. His final tally was seven enemy planes destroyed, six driven down out of control.
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