Leonard M. Rochford

Leonard M. Rochford

'I Choose the Sky' - a book written by Leonard. Also pilot's log, cap badge and newspaper cuttings.

Leonard M. Rochford was born on the 10th November 1896. He had been interested in flying from a young age, and learned to fly so that he could join the air force, which he did in 1915. He saw action on the Western Front in France. He logged 803 flying hours and was the 13th highest scorer in flying aces, shooting down 29 enemy aircraft. His name was put forward as shooting down the 'Red Baron', Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen, but he denied this.

Leonard went on to serve in the Second World War. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross (his medals are in a museum). He died in December 1986.

1915-19

Western Front

Tom Rochford, paternal grandson