Wing Commander Selden Herbert Long (6 October 1895 – 12 December 1952), was an English flying ace during the First World War. He was credited with nine confirmed aerial victories. He was also noted for the audacity of his trench strafing missions–an early form of close air support. He returned to service for the Second World War, serving until the war's end. Early service and award of the Military Cross Long was the son of Major General Sidney Selden Long. He was educated at the United Services College at Windsor. He was originally commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Durham Light Infantry before being seconded to the Royal Flying Corps in 1914. He was awarded Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificate No. 1046 on 25 January 1915 after soloing a Maurice Farman biplane at the Military School, Brooklands, and was appointed a flying officer on 26 March. Even before scoring an aerial victory, he won the Military Cross, which was gazetted on 29 October 1915. His citation tells the tale: Second Lieutenant Selden Herbert Long, The Durham Light Infantry and Royal Flying Corps. "For conspicuous gallantry on several occasions, notably the following: "On 10 September 1915, he went out to attack an observation balloon shed with a 100-lb. bomb, but, being heavily fired at by an anti-aircraft battery, he silenced the guns with this bomb and returned for another one, with which he attacked the balloon. He only narrowly missed it as it was being deflated beside the shed. "On 23 September he made two determined attacks on trains from 500 feet, breaking the rails in two places. On the first occasion he returned to the attack three times, and finally climbed to 1,000 feet in order to make better use of his bomb sight; on the second occasion he made most of his return journey at 1,000 feet in order better to examine villages, roads, etc. "On 25 September he attacked a train at 500 feet under heavy rifle fire, and damaged the line. Late in the afternoon of 25 September he heard that trains were moving at 25 miles distance, and, in spite of darkness and bad weather, he volunteered to attack them. Heavy rain prevented his reaching them, so he turned to attack Peronne station, descending to 500 feet and coming under heavy anti-aircraft gun fire. This fire prevented his reaching the station, but he climbed to