# Gordon Olley

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British flying ace

Gordon Percy Olley A photo of Flying Officer, Gordon Percy Olley. Born (1893-04-29)29 April 1893 Harleston, Norfolk, England Died 18 March 1958(1958-03-18) (aged 64) Wimbledon, London, England Occupations Aviation and Company Director Known for First World War flying ace Awards Military Medal

Flying Officer **Gordon Percy Olley** [MM](/source/Military_Medal) (29 April 1893 – 18 March 1958) was a [World War I](/source/World_War_I) flying ace who later formed his own airline, [Olley Air Services](/source/Morton_Air_Services#Olley_Air_Service).[1] He was the first pilot to fly one million miles in total.[2][3]

## Early years

Olley was born in Harleston, Norfolk on 29 April 1893.[1] In the 1901 Census Olley, aged 7, is described as living at 161, Gloucester Road, Bristol with his parents George and Eliza Olley and a brother and sister.[4] His father is described as a Tobacconist and Hairdresser.[4] In the 1911 Census Olley is still living at the same address, now aged 17, and described as an Apprentice in a wholesale clothing warehouse. In 1912 he became a "motor salesman" at London's [Selfridges](/source/Selfridges) department store.[5]

## Military aviator

Olley joined the [Queen Victoria's Rifles](/source/Queen_Victoria's_Rifles) in August 1914.[1][5] He later transferred to the [Royal Fusiliers](/source/Royal_Fusiliers), rising to the rank of [serjeant](/source/Sergeant), before being posted to the [Royal Flying Corps](/source/Royal_Flying_Corps) as an [Air Mechanic Second Class](/source/Air_Mechanic_2nd_Class), going to France with them on 17 June 1915.[1][6] At first he was a [despatch rider](/source/Despatch_rider), and then he became an [air observer](/source/Air_observer) with [No. 1 Squadron](/source/No._1_Squadron_RAF).[1]

After training as a pilot he rejoined the squadron in 1917 to fly [Nieuport scouts](/source/Nieuport_11).[1] In September 1917 he was awarded the [Military Medal](/source/Military_Medal) for bravery in the field.[7] He was then commissioned as a temporary [second lieutenant](/source/Second_lieutenant) on the [General List](/source/General_List),[8] and appointed a flying officer in the [Royal Flying Corps](/source/Royal_Flying_Corps) on 28 January 1918.[9] He transferred to the [Royal Air Force](/source/Royal_Air_Force) on its formation on 1 April 1918 and was promoted to [lieutenant](/source/First_lieutenant).[5]

After the war he was transferred to Unemployed List on 22 June 1919.[10]

His service record states that in addition to his MM he was [mentioned in dispatches](/source/Mentioned_in_dispatches) "for valuable services" during the war.[5] During operations with 1 Squadron he is credited with ten aerial victories, comprising 3 destroyed, 5 ( and 2 shared) 'out of control'.[11]

He rejoined the RAF in 1923 when he was commissioned as a [flying officer](/source/Flying_officer) on probation in Class A of the [Reserve of Air Force Officers](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Reserve_of_Air_Force_Officers&action=edit&redlink=1) on 4 December,[12] he was confirmed in that rank on 4 June 1924.[13] He transferred to Class C of the reserve on 4 December 1932,[14] and relinquished the commission on 4 December 1936, and was permitted to retain his rank.[15]

## Civil aviator

Olley Air Services [De Havilland Dove](/source/De_Havilland_Dove) in 1954

After leaving the Royal Air Force he worked as a pilot for Handley Page Air Transport, [Imperial Airways](/source/Imperial_Airways) and [KLM](/source/KLM). In 1931, he became the world's first pilot to log one million miles.[2] Leaving Imperial, he started his own airline, [Olley Air Services](/source/Morton_Air_Services#Olley_Air_Service), in 1934. The firm originally operated from its base at [Croydon Airport](/source/Croydon_Airport) as a charter airline. Olley Air Services eventually was part of a group of airlines that included [Blackpool & West Coast Air Services](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Blackpool_%26_West_Coast_Air_Services&action=edit&redlink=1), [Channel Air Ferries](/source/Channel_Air_Ferries) and [Isle of Man Air Services](/source/Isle_of_Man_Air_Services). After the [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War) the airline resumed services from Croydon as both a charter airline and a scheduled service before being sold to [Morton Air Services](/source/Morton_Air_Services) in 1953.

Olley died in Wimbledon on 18 March 1958.[1] His obituary reported that not one of his 40,000 passengers suffered a casualty.[2]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Aerodrome_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Aerodrome_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Aerodrome_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Aerodrome_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Aerodrome_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Aerodrome_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-Aerodrome_1-6) ["Gordon Percy Olley"](http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/olley.php). theaerodrome.com. Retrieved 14 November 2009.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-News_on_civil_aviation_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-News_on_civil_aviation_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-News_on_civil_aviation_2-2) ["News on civil aviation"](http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1958/1958%20-%200417.html) ([PDF](/source/PDF) archived at [Flightglobal.com](/source/Flightglobal.com)). *Flight*. Vol. 73, no. 2566. 28 March 1958. p. 433. Retrieved 16 November 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Scholarship_3-0)** ["Captain Gordon P Olley Scholarship in Aviation"](http://acserv.admin.utas.edu.au/rules/scholarships/rule104.html). University of Tasmania. 5 September 2007. Retrieved 14 November 2009.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Census1901_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Census1901_4-1) [1901 Census of Bristol](/source/Census_in_the_United_Kingdom), [RG 13/2399](http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/externalrequest.asp?requestreference=RG13/2399), Folio 75, Page 23, Gordon P. Olley, 161, Gloucester Road, Bristol. [The National Archives](/source/The_National_Archives_(United_Kingdom)).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ServiceRecord_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ServiceRecord_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-ServiceRecord_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-ServiceRecord_5-3) ["RAF officers' service records 1918 – 1919—Image details—Olley, Gordon Percy"](http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=8252459) (fee usually required to view full pdf of original service record). *DocumentsOnline*. [The National Archives](/source/The_National_Archives_(United_Kingdom)). Retrieved 16 November 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-MIC_6-0)** ["WW1 Campaign Medals—Image details—Medal card of Olley, Gordon P"](http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=4647699) (fee usually required to view full pdf of original medal index card). *DocumentsOnline*. [The National Archives](/source/The_National_Archives_(United_Kingdom)). Retrieved 16 November 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-mmedal_7-0)** ["No. 30287"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30287/supplement/9610). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 17 September 1917. p. 9610.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-comm_8-0)** ["No. 30535"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30535/supplement/2284). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 19 February 1918. p. 2284.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-app_9-0)** ["No. 30541"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30541/supplement/2442). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 22 February 1918. p. 2442.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-unemployed_10-0)** ["No. 31449"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31449/page/8855). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)*. 11 July 1919. p. 8855.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** 'Above the Trenches'; Shores, Franks & Guest, page 294

1. **[^](#cite_ref-reserve_12-0)** ["No. 32885"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32885/page/8452). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)*. 22 December 1923. p. 8452.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-conf_13-0)** ["No. 32947"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32947/page/4747). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)*. 17 June 1924. p. 4747.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ClassC_14-0)** ["No. 33889"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33889/page/7749). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)*. 6 December 1932. p. 7749.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-relinquish_15-0)** ["No. 34363"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34363/page/561). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)*. 26 January 1937. p. 561.

Authority control databases International VIAF National Czech Republic

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