Three aces • Albert Ball VC: Aged 21; 44 official victories • Edward Mannock VC: Aged 31; 61 official victories • James McCudden VC: Aged 23; 57 official victories World War One: Mysterious deaths of the English flying aces BALL, ALBERT Rank: Captain Date of Death: 07/05/1917 Age: 20 Regiment/Service: Royal Flying Corps 56th Sqdn. formerly 7th (Robin Hood) Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) Awards: V C, D S O and 2 Bars, M C Grave Reference: Grave 643. Cemetery: ANNOEULLIN COMMUNAL CEMETERY AND GERMAN EXTENSION Additional Information: Legion d'Honneur (France); Order of St. George, 4th Class (Russia). Son of Sir Albert Ball, J.P., of Stansted House, Wollaton Park, Nottingham. Citation An extract from the "London Gazette" dated 8th June 1917, records the following:- "For most conspicuous and consistent bravery from the 25th of April to the 6th of May, 1917, during which period Capt. Ball took part in twenty-six combats in the air and destroyed eleven hostile aeroplanes, drove down two out of control, and forced several others to land. In these combats Capt. Ball, flying alone, on one occasion fought six hostile machines, twice he fought five and once four. When leading two other British aeroplanes he attacked an enemy formation of eight. On each of these occasions he brought down at least one enemy. Several times his aeroplane was badly damaged, once so seriously that but for the most delicate handling his machine would have collapsed, as nearly all the control wires had been shot away. On returning with a damaged machine he had always to be restrained from immediately going out on another. In all, Capt. Ball has destroyed forty-three German aeroplanes and one balloon, and has always displayed most exceptional courage, determination and skill." MANNOCK, EDWARD Rank: Major Date of Death: 26/07/1918 Age: 31 Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force 85th Sqdn. and Royal Engineers Awards: V C, D S O and 2 Bars, M C and Bar Panel Reference: Memorial: ARRAS FLYING SERVICES MEMORIAL Additional Information: Son of Mrs. J. Mannock, of 24, Lozells Rd., Six Ways, Birmingham. In addition to his Citation, the following information should also be noted: Major Mannock was involved in the downing of at least 23 further aircraft, but because others might well have assisted in their destruction these were not added to the total in his VC Citation. Citation An extract from the "London Gazette", dated 18th July, 1919, records the following:-"On the 17th June, 1918, he attacked a Halberstadt machine near Armentieres and destroyed it from a height of 8,000 feet. On the 7th July, 1918, near Doulieu, he attacked and destroyed one Fokker (red-bodied) machine, which went vertically into the ground from a height of 1,500 feet. Shortly afterwards he ascended 1,000 feet and attacked another Fokker biplane, firing 60 rounds into it, which produced an immediate spin, resulting, it is believed, in a crash. On the 14th July, 1918, near Merville, he attacked and crashed a Fokker from 7,000 feet, and brought a two-seater down damaged. On the 19th July, 1918, near Merville, he fired 80 rounds into an Albatross two-seater, which went to the ground in flames. On the 20th July, 1918, East of La Bassee, he attacked and crashed an enemy two-seater from a height of 10,000 feet. About an hour afterwards he attacked at 8,000 feet a Fokker biplane near Steenwercke and drove it down out of control, emitting smoke. On the 22nd July, 1918, near Armentieres, he destroyed an enemy triplane from a height of 10,000 feet. Major Mannock was awarded the undermertioned distinctions for his previous combats in the air in France and Flanders:-Military Cross, gazetted 17th Sept., 1917; Bar to Military Cross, gazetted 18th Oct., 1917; Distinguished Service Order, gazetted 16th Sept., 1918; Bar to Distinguished Service Order (1st), gazetted 16th Sept., 1918; Bar to Distinguished Service Order (2nd), gazetted 3rd Aug., 1918. This highly distinguished officer during the whole of his career in the Royal Air Force, was an outstanding example of fearless courage, remarkable skill, devotion to duty and self-sacrifice, which has never been surpassed. The total number of machines definitely accounted for by Major Mannock up to the date of his death in France (26th July, 1918) is 50 - the total specified in the " Gazette " of 3rd Aug., 1918, was incorrectly given as 48 instead of 41." McCUDDEN, JAMES THOMAS BYFORD Rank: Major Date of Death: 09/07/1918 Age: 23 Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force 60 Sqdn. Awards: V C, D S O and Bar, M C and Bar, M M Grave Reference: B. 10. Cemetery: WAVANS BRITISH CEMETERY Additional Information: Croix de Guerre (France). Son of Amelia E. McCudden, of "Pitlochry," 37, Burton Rd., Kingston-on-Thames, and the late William McCudden. His brothers William T.J. McCudden and John Anthony McCudden also fell. Citation An extract from "The London Gazette" No. 30604, dated 29th March, 1918, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery, exceptional perseverance, keenness and very high devotion to duty. Captain McCudden has at the present time accounted for 54 enemy aeroplanes. Of these 42 have been definitely destroyed, 19 of them on our side of the lines. Only 12 out of the 54 have been driven out of control. On two occasions he has totally destroyed four two-seater enemy aeroplanes on the same day, and on the last occasion all four machines were destroyed in the space of 1 hour and 30 minutes. While in his present squadron he has participated in 78 offensive patrols, and in nearly every case has been the leader. On at least 30 other occasions, whilst with the same squadron, he has crossed the lines alone, either in pursuit or in quest of enemy aeroplanes. The following incidents are examples of the work he has done recently:- On the 23rd December, 1917, when leading his patrol, eight enemy aeroplanes were attacked between 2.30 p.m.. and 3.50 p.m. Of these two were shot down by Captain McCudden in our lines. On the morning of the same day he left the ground at 10.50 and encountered four enemy aeroplanes; of these he shot two down. On the 30th January, 1918, he, single-handed, attacked five enemy scouts, as a result of which two were destroyed. On this occasion he only returned home when the enemy scouts had been driven far east: his Lewis gun ammunition was all finished and the belt of his Vickers gun had broken. As a patrol leader he has at all times shown the utmost gallantry and skill, not only in the manner in which he has attacked and destroyed the enemy, but in the way he has during several aerial flights protected the newer members of his flight, thus keeping down their casualties to a minimum. This officer is considered, by the record which he has made, by his fearlessness, and by the great service which he has rendered to his country, deserving of the very highest honour." http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-29688945
