Victor Groom
| Sir Victor Emmanuel Groom | |
|---|---|
| Born |
4 August 1898 Peckham, London, England |
| Died | 6 December 1990 (aged 92) Surrey, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
British Army Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1916–1955 |
| Rank | Air Marshal |
| Unit |
Artists Rifles, London Regiment West Yorkshire Regiment No. 20 Squadron RFC/RAF No. 111 Squadron RAF No. 14 Squadron RAF No. 55 Squadron RAF |
| Commands held |
No. 28 Squadron RAF No. 58 Squadron RAF RAF Marham No. 205 Group RAF Middle East Air Force Technical Training Command |
| Battles/wars |
First World War Second World War |
| Awards |
Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar Mentioned in Despatches |
Air Marshal Sir Victor Emmanuel Groom, KCVO, KBE, CB, DFC & Bar (4 August 1898 – 6 December 1990) was a senior officer in the British Royal Air Force and a flying ace of the First World War credited with eight aerial victories. He rose to become a consequential participant in air operations to support Operation Overlord, the invasion of France during the Second World War.
Groom was educated at Alleyn's School, Dulwich. He enlisted into the Artists Rifles, London Regiment, as a private in 1916 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the West Yorkshire Regiment on 26 April 1917 before being attached to the Royal Flying Corps in September. He was appointed a flying officer on 30 January 1918 and placed on the General List of the Royal Flying Corps. On 18 March, he was assigned to No. 20 Squadron as a Bristol F.2 Fighter pilot.
On his first combat flight, his formation leader fired a Very flare that landed in the rear cockpit of Groom's Bristol. While the observer burned his hands smothering the fire that threatened to set off munitions, Groom safely landed. Having survived friendly fire, Groom began to triumph over enemy fire on 8 May 1918, when he began a string of eight victories that would take him through to 30 July. Groom's final tally was three enemy planes set afire, four otherwise destroyed, and one driven down out of control; his observer/gunner for all these victories was Ernest Hardcastle.
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