William Grossart

Captain William Grossart was a Scottish World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.

Biography

Grossart was born in Crawfordjohn, Lanarkshire, Scotland, the son of James and Elisabeth Grossart. Grossart joined the Royal Flying Corps of the British Army in late 1917 as a cadet, being appointed a temporary second lieutenant on 17 November, and was confirmed in his rank on 25 February 1918.
On 1 April, the RFC and the Royal Naval Air Service were merged to form the Royal Air Force, and Grossart was assigned to No. 205 Squadron RAF to fly the DH.4 two-seater day bomber.
On 3 May, Grossart shared credit with nine other aircraft of his squadron in the shooting down of two Pfalz D.IIIs over Chaulnes, France, and on 15 May he drove down another D.III in the same area. He gained another credit, shared with seven others, on 20 May, accounting for another D.III over Mericombe. Finally, on 11 August, he destroyed another D.III over Péronne. On 23 August, he was appointed a flight commander with the acting rank of captain.
Grossart's award of the Distinguished Flying Cross was gazetted on 20 September 1918. His citation read:
Grossart left the RAF after the war, being transferred to the unemployed list on 12 April 1919. He was reported to be present at an investiture, with many other honorees, held by King George V at Holyrood Palace in Scotland on 5 July 1920.