King of Air Fighters; Biography of Major "Mick" Mannock, V.C., D.S..O., M.C.

London: Ivor Nicholson & Watson Limited, 1936. First Cheap Edition [stated]. Presumed first printing thus. Hardcover. Good. xv, [1], 303, [1] pages. Frontispiece. Illustrations. Index. Cover has airplane decoration and some wear and soiling. Slightly cocked. Ink notation. This book is published by permission of the Air Ministry, but the views expressed herein are entirely those of the author. James Ira Thomas "Taffy" Jones DSO, MC, DFC & Bar, MM (18 April 1896 - 30 August 1960) was a Welsh flying ace during the First World War. In 1913, Jones enlisted in the Territorial Army, though he was soon transferred into the newly established Royal Flying Corps, serving as an air mechanic on ground duties (where he earned the Military Medal) before volunteering for flying duties as an Observer. Jones commenced pilot training in August 1917 after being commissioned. After completing his training he joined No. 74 Squadron, where he served until the end of hostilities in 1918. Although having a reputation for crashing his aircraft when attempting to land, Jones recorded 37 victories in just three months whilst flying the Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5. He won several awards and decorations during the war including the Military Cross, the Distinguished Flying Cross and bar and the Distinguished Service Order. Jones first retired from the RAF in 1936 but was recommissioned at the outbreak of the Second World War. After retiring again in 1945, Jones wrote three books on the RFC and RAF. During WWII, whilst flying an unarmed Hawker Henley, he attacked a Junkers Ju 88 bomber with a Very pistol. Jones wrote three books, King of Air Fighters, a biography of Edward Mannock, Tiger Squadron a history of 74 Squadron, and An Air Fighter's Scrapbook. Edward Corringham "Mick" Mannock VC, DSO & Two Bars, MC & Bar (24 May 1887 - 26 July 1918) was a British and Irish flying ace who served in the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force during the First World War. Mannock was a pioneer of fighter aircraft tactics in aerial warfare. At the time of his death he had amassed 61 aerial victories, making him the fifth highest scoring pilot of the war. Mannock was among the most decorated men in the British Armed Forces. He was honored with the Military Cross twice, was one of the rare three-time recipients of the Distinguished Service Order, and was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. Mannock was born in 1887 to an English father, Edward Mannock, and an Irish mother, Julia Sullivan. Mannock's father served in the British Army and the family moved to India when Mannock was a child. Young Mannock was sickly and developed several ailments in his formative years. Upon his return to England he became a fervent supporter of Irish nationalism and the Irish Home Rule movement but became a member of the Independent Labour Party. In 1914, Mannock was working as a telephone engineer in Turkey. After the Ottoman Empire's entry into the war on the side of the Central Powers he was interned. Mannock was badly treated and soon fell ill. Turkish authorities repatriated him to Britain believing him to be unfit for war service. Mannock recovered and joined the Royal Engineers and then Royal Army Medical Corps. He moved services again and in 1916 joined Royal Flying Corps (RFC). After completing his training he was assigned to No. 40 Squadron RFC. Mannock went into combat on the Western Front, participating in three separate combat tours. After a slow start he began to prove himself as an exceptional pilot, scoring his first victory on 7 May 1917. By February 1918, Mannock had achieved 16 victories and was appointed a Flight Commander in No. 74 Squadron. He amassed 36 more victories from 12 April—17 June 1918. After returning from leave Mannock was appointed commanding officer of No. 85 Squadron in July 1918, and scored nine more victories that month. Days after warning fellow ace George McElroy about the hazards of flying low into ground fire, that fate befell Mannock and he was killed in action dogfighting too close to the ground on 26 July 1918.