Edward Mannock
Encyclopedia
Major
Edward Corringham "Mick" Mannock VC
, DSO and Two Bars
, MC & Bar
(May 24, 1887 – July 26, 1918) was a British
First World War flying ace
. Mannock was probably born in Ireland
, though of English
and Scottish
parentage.
Mannock went into combat on the Western Front
on three separate combat tours. Although initially a social misfit suspected of cowardice in his first assignment to 40 Squadron, he began to accumulate victories. He took on the highly hazardous task of balloon busting
for his first victory, and by dogged concentration on his gunnery skills, tallied 15 more wins by the end of his first combat tour.
After two months back in England, he returned to France as a Flight Commander in the fledgling 74 Squadron. He amassed 36 more victories between 12 April and 17 June 1918. He also gained a reputation for ruthless hatred of his German adversaries, delighting in burning them to death. He became phobic about burning to death in midair. The stresses of combat began to tell on him. He also became ill with a lingering case of Influenza
. When ordered home on leave in June, he wept.
He returned as Officer Commanding of 85 Squadron in July 1918; he would score nine more victories that month. By now, his phobias had spread to include excessive tidiness. He also had presentiments of his coming end. Just days after warning fellow ace George McElroy
about the deadly hazards of flying low into ground fire, Mannock did just that on 26 July 1918. His fighter plane was set on fire, and he was killed in action
.
He was one of the world's first theorists of aviation tactics, and was renowned for his prudent but aggressive leadership in the air. By the time he rose to command of 85 Squadron, his subordinates boasted that he never lost a wingman.
Mannock won the Military Cross
twice, was one of the rare three-time winners of the Distinguished Service Order
, and would be posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross
. He is regarded as one of the greatest fighter pilots of the war.
, County Cork
, Ireland
on May 24, 1887, although his birthplace is also claimed to be Aldershot
, England
or Preston Barracks in Brighton
. He was the son of a Scottish
corporal
in the British Army
and an English
mother. The family moved to India
early in Mick's life, before postings brought the family back to England. His father, a hard-drinking, brutal man, abandoned his family when Mick was twelve. In 1897, Mannock developed amoebic infestation which rendered him temporarily blind. Legend has it that it left him with permanently impaired vision; however accounts written by former comrades discount any such impairment. By age 20, Mannock had joined the Labour Party
and whilst he burned with a sense of social injustice, according to Jim Eyles, with whom Mannock stayed in Wellingborough
, Mannock was deeply patriotic and a fervent supporter of the British Empire
.
The outbreak of the war found him working as a telephone engineer in Turkey
. The Turks interned him and his health rapidly declined in prison. Near death, he was repatriated and, in 1915, joined the Royal Army Medical Corps
. By 1916, he had become an officer in the Royal Engineers
and in August 1916 transferred to the Royal Flying Corps
.
In February, 1917, he joined the Joyce Green Reserve Squadron for flying training. During his first solo in an Airco DH.2
pusher
biplane, he got into a spin at 1000 feet (304.8 m), and recovered, but got in trouble with his commanding officer, Major Keith Caldwell
, who suspected Mick of showboating. But he soon got on well with the major, before transferring to France
with the RFC's Nieuport
-equipped 40 Squadron
. The Nieuport 17 was a French-built scout that by 1917 was outclassed in most respects by the latest German fighters
.Caldwell described Mick as "very reserved, inclined towards a strong temper, but very patient and somewhat difficult to arouse".
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At 40 Squadron, the reserved, working class
manner of Mannock did not fit in with the well-heeled upper-middle-class, ex-public school
boys who made up the majority of his comrades. On his first night, he inadvertently sat down in an empty chair, a chair which a newly fallen flier had occupied until that day. At first, Mick held back in the air too, to the extent that some pilots thought he was cowardly. He admitted that he was very frightened. Finally, on May 7, he shot down an observation balloon
and thought this would gain him the acceptance of the squadron. By the end of July, Mannock had been awarded the Military Cross
(MC) and was a flight commander. On August 12, 1917, he shot down and captured Leutnant Joachim von Bertrab
of Jasta
30.
He kept flying and conquered his fears, working tirelessly at gunnery practice and forcing himself to get close to the German aeroplanes. After one kill, he coldly described it. "I was only ten yards away from him - on top so I couldn't miss. A beautifully coloured insect he was - red, blue, green and yellow. I let him have 60 rounds, so there wasn't much left of him." His determination, flying skill and sense of teamwork earned him a promotion to captain
and a bar to his MC in October 1917. At the end of the year, the squadron re-equipped with the SE5a, one of the best British fighter aircraft of the war. Though not as maneuverable as the Sopwith Camel
, it was faster than most of the German machines and could out-climb and out-dive them. He returned to Home Establishment, tour-expired, in January 1918, with 23 claims to his credit.
. The squadron was posted to France in March 1918. He continued shooting down Germans, but never hogging credit, letting newer pilots get credit for kills. In three months, he claimed 36 more, bringing his total to 59. He was an excellent patrol leader; he took a very protective attitude toward his fliers and lectured them on survival and success. "Sight your own guns," he told them, "The armourer doesn't have to do the fighting."
His hatred of the Germans grew; "I sent one of them to Hell in flames today ... I wish Kaiser Bill could have seen him sizzle." Once, he forced a German two-seater to crash. Most pilots would have been satisfied with that, but not Mick. He repeatedly machine-gunned the helpless crew. When his squadron mate questioned this behaviour, Mannock explained "The swines are better dead - no prisoners.". Another time, he pursued a silver Pfalz
scout; the two planes rolled, dived, looped and fired their guns. Eventually Mick got the better of his opponent and the German started twisting and turning as it fell toward a certain crash. Mick stayed on it, firing away, "a really remarkable exhibition of cruel, calculated Hun-strafing" another pilot called it. On this day, Mannock shot down four planes. He delightedly announced to the mess hall, "Flamerinoes - four! Sizzle sizzle wonk!" Van Ira, a South Africa
n flier in 74 commented on Mannock's success:
Mannock was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
in May 1918, not long after his four-in-a-day feat, and the award of a bar just two weeks later.
Mannock became especially upset when he saw one of his victims catch fire on its way to the ground. His fear of "flamerinoes" meant that from that date on, he always carried a revolver
with him in his cockpit. As he told his friend Lieutenant MacLanachan,
, aggravated by tension. By June 1918, he had made 59 kills, and had also earned a home leave. When he left 74 Squadron, he wept publicly.
On starting his third tour of duty in July, as CO of 85 Squadron
, he confided his mortal fears to a friend, worried that three was an unlucky number. He became obsessed with neatness and order; his hair, his medals, his boots, everything had to be 'just so.'
On 20 July, at a farewell luncheon for his friend "Noisy" Lewis
, Mannock took their mutual friend George McElroy
aside to counsel him on the hazards of following a German victim down within range of ground fire. When he shot down an aircraft on 22 July, a friend congratulated Mannock. "They'll have the red carpet out for you after the war, Mick." But Mannock glumly replied, "There won't be any 'after the war' for me."
two-seater behind the German front-line, Mannock is believed to have dived to the crash site to view the wreckage, seemingly breaking one of the unwritten rules of fellow pilots. However, while crossing the trenches, the fighters were met with a massive volley of ground-fire. The engine of Mannock's aircraft was hit and immediately caught fire and crashed behind German lines. Mannock's body is believed to have been found, though this is unproven, about 250 yards from the wreck of his machine, perhaps thrown, perhaps jumped. The body showed no gunshots; Mannock always promised to shoot himself if he was ever going down. The BBC Timewatch programme 'WW1 aces falling' details the search to prove whether or not that this body was that of Mannock. Inglis described what happened:
and many of Mannock's former comrades, he was awarded the Victoria Cross
.
Mannock's body was not subsequently recovered by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
(CWGC) so officially he has no known grave. His name is commemorated on the Royal Flying Corps Memorial to the Missing at the Faubourg d'Amiens CWGC Cemetery in Arras. There is also a memorial plaque in honour of Mannock in Canterbury Cathedral
.
Mick Mannock's name is listed on the Wellingborough
War Memorial with the other fallen men from the town and the local Air Training Corps
unit bears his name - 378 (Mannock) Squadron.
Ed Mannock has his name on a Vickers VC-10. The plane is based at 101 Squadron RAF Brize Norton. The VC-10 was once a East African Airways Civil airliner but was bought by the RAF then repainted and then put in to service.
On 26 July 2008, a wreath was laid in Wellingborough to mark the 90th anniversary of his death. In addition, officers and cadets of 378(Mannock) Squadron laid a wreath at the Arras War Memorial.
In 2009, one of the last photographs ever taken of Mannock was discovered in Northern France. The photograph was found in an old album belonging to a French farmer whose land had been used by the Royal Air Force
during the summer of 1918. The photograph shows Mannock in RAF uniform. He is standing on a farm track holding a walking stick and gloves with his right hand. His left hand rests on the shoulder of a dark-haired young girl.
In a BBC Timewatch Programme entitled "WWI Aces Falling", broadcast on 21 March 2009, researchers suggested that the unidentified remains of a British airman (recovered soon after the war from a temporary grave near Mannock's crash site and reburied in Plot III, Row F, Grave 12 of Laventie
CWGC war cemetery as "An Unknown British Airman Of The Great War") could be those of Mannock.
Mannock is officially credited with 61 victories in an itemised list of his approved claims (as seen below). He frequently did not claim a share in kills to which he had contributed — official policy treated a shared victory as a kill for each pilot involved. Mannock himself did not appear particularly motivated to accumulate a score, though he is known to have said, "If I have any luck, I think I may beat old Mac's (James McCudden
) 57 victories. Then I shall try and oust old Richthofen..."
There was a posthumous attempt by Ira Jones to credit his old friend with 73 victories, but that assertion was unbacked by fact.
in July 1919. Edward Mannock was also given his son's other medals, even though Mick had stipulated in his will that his father should receive nothing from his estate. Soon afterwards, Mannock's medals were sold for £5. They have since been recovered and can be seen at the Royal Air Force Museum at Hendon
.
should be adjusted according to the situation. However the main principle remained:
Mannock formulated a set of practical rules for air fighting on the Western Front that, like Oswald Boelcke
's Dicta
, were passed on to new pilots.
Second World War aces, such as Bader
and Johnson, acknowledge that Mannock's tactics served as inspiration to them.
(2) Captain Chapman was one of Mick Mannock's teachers at the School of Military Aeronautics. He later described Mick Mannock's early training.
(3) Keith Caldwell was Major Mick Mannock's commander in 74 Squadron during the First World War. In an interview he gave in 1981, Caldwell explained why Mannock was such a successful pilot.
(4) H. G. Clements of 74 Squadron wrote an account of Major Mick Mannock in 1981.
(5) Lieutenant MacLanachan met Mick Mannock in May 1917. After the war MacLanachan wrote about his experiences in his book Fighter Pilot.
(6) Jim Eyles later recalled Mick Mannock's last leave before his death.
(7) An extract from Mick Mannock's last letter to Jim Eyles.
(8) Private Naulls was in the front trenches when he saw Mannock's aircraft brought down.
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Edward Corringham "Mick" Mannock VC
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, DSO and Two Bars
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, MC & Bar
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(May 24, 1887 – July 26, 1918) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
First World War flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
. Mannock was probably born in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, though of English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
parentage.
Mannock went into combat on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
on three separate combat tours. Although initially a social misfit suspected of cowardice in his first assignment to 40 Squadron, he began to accumulate victories. He took on the highly hazardous task of balloon busting
Balloon buster
Balloon busters were military pilots known for destroying enemy observation balloons. These pilots were noted for their fearlessness. Seventy-six fighter pilots in World War I were each credited with destroying five or more balloons, and thus were balloon aces....
for his first victory, and by dogged concentration on his gunnery skills, tallied 15 more wins by the end of his first combat tour.
After two months back in England, he returned to France as a Flight Commander in the fledgling 74 Squadron. He amassed 36 more victories between 12 April and 17 June 1918. He also gained a reputation for ruthless hatred of his German adversaries, delighting in burning them to death. He became phobic about burning to death in midair. The stresses of combat began to tell on him. He also became ill with a lingering case of Influenza
Influenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
. When ordered home on leave in June, he wept.
He returned as Officer Commanding of 85 Squadron in July 1918; he would score nine more victories that month. By now, his phobias had spread to include excessive tidiness. He also had presentiments of his coming end. Just days after warning fellow ace George McElroy
George McElroy
Captain George Edward Henry McElroy MC and Two Bars, DFC and Bar was a leading ace fighter pilot of the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force during World War I. He was credited with 47 aerial victories....
about the deadly hazards of flying low into ground fire, Mannock did just that on 26 July 1918. His fighter plane was set on fire, and he was killed in action
Killed in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
.
He was one of the world's first theorists of aviation tactics, and was renowned for his prudent but aggressive leadership in the air. By the time he rose to command of 85 Squadron, his subordinates boasted that he never lost a wingman.
Mannock won the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
twice, was one of the rare three-time winners of the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, and would be posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
. He is regarded as one of the greatest fighter pilots of the war.
Youth
Edward Mannock was probably born in BallincolligBallincollig
Ballincollig is a satellite town in County Cork, Ireland, approximately 9 km west of Cork city. It is located beside the River Lee on the R608 regional road. In 2006 the population of Ballincollig DED was 16,308. The nearest towns include: Ballinora, Ovens, Killumney, Inniscarra, Blarney ,...
, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
on May 24, 1887, although his birthplace is also claimed to be Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
or Preston Barracks in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
. He was the son of a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
mother. The family moved to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
early in Mick's life, before postings brought the family back to England. His father, a hard-drinking, brutal man, abandoned his family when Mick was twelve. In 1897, Mannock developed amoebic infestation which rendered him temporarily blind. Legend has it that it left him with permanently impaired vision; however accounts written by former comrades discount any such impairment. By age 20, Mannock had joined the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
and whilst he burned with a sense of social injustice, according to Jim Eyles, with whom Mannock stayed in Wellingborough
Wellingborough
Wellingborough is a market town and borough in Northamptonshire, England, situated some from the county town of Northampton. The town is situated on the north side of the River Nene, most of the older town is sited on the flanks of the hills above the river's current flood plain...
, Mannock was deeply patriotic and a fervent supporter of the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
.
The outbreak of the war found him working as a telephone engineer in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. The Turks interned him and his health rapidly declined in prison. Near death, he was repatriated and, in 1915, joined the Royal Army Medical Corps
Royal Army Medical Corps
The Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...
. By 1916, he had become an officer in the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
and in August 1916 transferred to the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
.
Training
Airco DH.2
|-DH.2 aces:Distinguished pilots of the DH.2 included Victoria Cross winner Lanoe Hawker , who was the first commander of No 24 Squadron and ace Alan Wilkinson. The commander of No. 32 Squadron, Lionel Rees won the Victoria Cross flying the D.H.2 for single handedly attacking a formation of 10...
pusher
Pusher configuration
In a craft with a pusher configuration the propeller are mounted behind their respective engine. According to Bill Gunston, a "pusher propeller" is one mounted behind engine so that drive shaft is in compression...
biplane, he got into a spin at 1000 feet (304.8 m), and recovered, but got in trouble with his commanding officer, Major Keith Caldwell
Keith Caldwell
Air Commodore Keith Logan "Grid" Caldwell CBE, MC, DFC & Bar was a New Zealand fighter ace of the Royal Flying Corps in World War I who also rose to the rank of Air Commodore in the Royal New Zealand Air Force during World War II.-Early life:Born in Wellington, the son of David Robert Caldwell and...
, who suspected Mick of showboating. But he soon got on well with the major, before transferring to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
with the RFC's Nieuport
Nieuport 17
|-Specifications :-See also:-Bibliography:* Bruce, Jack. "Those Classic Nieuports". Air Enthusiast Quarterly. Number Two, 1976. Bromley, UK:Pilot Press. pp. 137–153....
-equipped 40 Squadron
No. 40 Squadron RAF
No. 40 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was formed in 1916 at Gosport as No 40 Squadron RFC and was disbanded for the last time in 1957.Edward Mannock gained 16 of his 73 victories while with 40 Squadron, 15 of which he shot down while flying a Nieuport Scout...
. The Nieuport 17 was a French-built scout that by 1917 was outclassed in most respects by the latest German fighters
Albatros D.III
The Albatros D.III was a biplane fighter aircraft used by the Imperial German Army Air Service and the Austro-Hungarian Air Service during World War I. The D.III was flown by many top German aces, including Manfred von Richthofen, Ernst Udet, Erich Löwenhardt, Kurt Wolff, and Karl Emil Schäfer...
.Caldwell described Mick as "very reserved, inclined towards a strong temper, but very patient and somewhat difficult to arouse".
40 Squadron
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
manner of Mannock did not fit in with the well-heeled upper-middle-class, ex-public school
Independent school (UK)
An independent school is a school that is not financed through the taxation system by local or national government and is instead funded by private sources, predominantly in the form of tuition charges, gifts and long-term charitable endowments, and so is not subject to the conditions imposed by...
boys who made up the majority of his comrades. On his first night, he inadvertently sat down in an empty chair, a chair which a newly fallen flier had occupied until that day. At first, Mick held back in the air too, to the extent that some pilots thought he was cowardly. He admitted that he was very frightened. Finally, on May 7, he shot down an observation balloon
Observation balloon
Observation balloons are balloons that are employed as aerial platforms for intelligence gathering and artillery spotting. Their use began during the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith during World War I, and they continue in limited use today....
and thought this would gain him the acceptance of the squadron. By the end of July, Mannock had been awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(MC) and was a flight commander. On August 12, 1917, he shot down and captured Leutnant Joachim von Bertrab
Joachim von Bertrab
Joachim von Bertrab was a German air ace of the First World War with five victories.Serving with Jasta 30, von Bertrab claimed 2 Martinsyde G100 bombers on 6 April, and a pair of Sopwith Strutters later the same day...
of Jasta
Jasta
The Jagdstaffeln were specialized fighter squadrons in the Luftstreitkräfte during World War I.-Background:...
30.
He kept flying and conquered his fears, working tirelessly at gunnery practice and forcing himself to get close to the German aeroplanes. After one kill, he coldly described it. "I was only ten yards away from him - on top so I couldn't miss. A beautifully coloured insect he was - red, blue, green and yellow. I let him have 60 rounds, so there wasn't much left of him." His determination, flying skill and sense of teamwork earned him a promotion to captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
and a bar to his MC in October 1917. At the end of the year, the squadron re-equipped with the SE5a, one of the best British fighter aircraft of the war. Though not as maneuverable as the Sopwith Camel
Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...
, it was faster than most of the German machines and could out-climb and out-dive them. He returned to Home Establishment, tour-expired, in January 1918, with 23 claims to his credit.
74 Squadron
In February 1918, Mannock was appointed flight commander of the newly formed No. 74 SquadronNo. 74 Squadron RAF
No. 74 Squadron RAF, also known as a "Tiger Squadron" from its tiger head motif, is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It operated fighter aircraft from 1917 to the 1990s.-First World War:...
. The squadron was posted to France in March 1918. He continued shooting down Germans, but never hogging credit, letting newer pilots get credit for kills. In three months, he claimed 36 more, bringing his total to 59. He was an excellent patrol leader; he took a very protective attitude toward his fliers and lectured them on survival and success. "Sight your own guns," he told them, "The armourer doesn't have to do the fighting."
His hatred of the Germans grew; "I sent one of them to Hell in flames today ... I wish Kaiser Bill could have seen him sizzle." Once, he forced a German two-seater to crash. Most pilots would have been satisfied with that, but not Mick. He repeatedly machine-gunned the helpless crew. When his squadron mate questioned this behaviour, Mannock explained "The swines are better dead - no prisoners.". Another time, he pursued a silver Pfalz
Pfalz D.III
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962. ISBN 0-93385-271-1.* Grosz, Peter M. Pfalz D.IIIa . Berkhamsted, Herts, UK: Albatros Publications, 1995. ISBN 0-94841-425-1.* Guttman, Jon. Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1 ...
scout; the two planes rolled, dived, looped and fired their guns. Eventually Mick got the better of his opponent and the German started twisting and turning as it fell toward a certain crash. Mick stayed on it, firing away, "a really remarkable exhibition of cruel, calculated Hun-strafing" another pilot called it. On this day, Mannock shot down four planes. He delightedly announced to the mess hall, "Flamerinoes - four! Sizzle sizzle wonk!" Van Ira, a South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n flier in 74 commented on Mannock's success:
Mannock was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
in May 1918, not long after his four-in-a-day feat, and the award of a bar just two weeks later.
Dealing with war
Mannock was deeply affected by the number of men he was killing. In his diary, he recorded visiting the site where one of his victims had crashed near the front-line:Mannock became especially upset when he saw one of his victims catch fire on its way to the ground. His fear of "flamerinoes" meant that from that date on, he always carried a revolver
Revolver
A revolver is a repeating firearm that has a cylinder containing multiple chambers and at least one barrel for firing. The first revolver ever made was built by Elisha Collier in 1818. The percussion cap revolver was invented by Samuel Colt in 1836. This weapon became known as the Colt Paterson...
with him in his cockpit. As he told his friend Lieutenant MacLanachan,
Mid 1918
By this time, the strain of combat flying and the fear of his own fiery death got to Mannock. But he kept flying, repeatedly scoring multiple kills. He fell sick with influenzaInfluenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
, aggravated by tension. By June 1918, he had made 59 kills, and had also earned a home leave. When he left 74 Squadron, he wept publicly.
On starting his third tour of duty in July, as CO of 85 Squadron
No. 85 Squadron RAF
No. 85 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It most recently served as No. 85 Squadron based at RAF Church Fenton.-In World War I:...
, he confided his mortal fears to a friend, worried that three was an unlucky number. He became obsessed with neatness and order; his hair, his medals, his boots, everything had to be 'just so.'
On 20 July, at a farewell luncheon for his friend "Noisy" Lewis
Gwilym Hugh Lewis
Captain Gwilym Hugh Lewis was a British flying ace during World War I. He was credited with 12 confirmed aerial victories. He went on to a very successful career as an insurance broker. Lewis was the next to last surviving British ace from the war, as well as the longest lived, dying eight months...
, Mannock took their mutual friend George McElroy
George McElroy
Captain George Edward Henry McElroy MC and Two Bars, DFC and Bar was a leading ace fighter pilot of the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force during World War I. He was credited with 47 aerial victories....
aside to counsel him on the hazards of following a German victim down within range of ground fire. When he shot down an aircraft on 22 July, a friend congratulated Mannock. "They'll have the red carpet out for you after the war, Mick." But Mannock glumly replied, "There won't be any 'after the war' for me."
Final Sortie
On 26 July, Major Mannock offered to help a new arrival, Lt. D.C. Inglis, obtain his first victory. After shooting down an enemy LVGLVG C.II
|-See also:-References:*Donald, David, The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft . . Prospero Books. ISBN 1-85605-375-X*van Wyngarden, G . Early German Aces of World War I, Osprey Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-841-76997-5...
two-seater behind the German front-line, Mannock is believed to have dived to the crash site to view the wreckage, seemingly breaking one of the unwritten rules of fellow pilots. However, while crossing the trenches, the fighters were met with a massive volley of ground-fire. The engine of Mannock's aircraft was hit and immediately caught fire and crashed behind German lines. Mannock's body is believed to have been found, though this is unproven, about 250 yards from the wreck of his machine, perhaps thrown, perhaps jumped. The body showed no gunshots; Mannock always promised to shoot himself if he was ever going down. The BBC Timewatch programme 'WW1 aces falling' details the search to prove whether or not that this body was that of Mannock. Inglis described what happened:
Memorials and tributes
The exact cause of Mannock's death remains uncertain. A year later, after intensive lobbying by Ira JonesJames Ira Thomas Jones
James Ira Thomas "Taffy" Jones DSO, MC, DFC & Bar, MM was a British flying ace during the First World War. Jones was born on 18 April 1896 at Woolstone Farm, near St. Clears, Carmarthenshire. In 1913, Jones enlisted in the Territorial Army, though he was soon transferred into the newly established...
and many of Mannock's former comrades, he was awarded the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
.
Mannock's body was not subsequently recovered by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is an intergovernmental organisation of six independent member states whose principal function is to mark, record and maintain the graves, and places of commemoration, of Commonwealth of Nations military service members who died in the two World Wars...
(CWGC) so officially he has no known grave. His name is commemorated on the Royal Flying Corps Memorial to the Missing at the Faubourg d'Amiens CWGC Cemetery in Arras. There is also a memorial plaque in honour of Mannock in Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site....
.
Mick Mannock's name is listed on the Wellingborough
Wellingborough
Wellingborough is a market town and borough in Northamptonshire, England, situated some from the county town of Northampton. The town is situated on the north side of the River Nene, most of the older town is sited on the flanks of the hills above the river's current flood plain...
War Memorial with the other fallen men from the town and the local Air Training Corps
Air Training Corps
The Air Training Corps , commonly known as the Air Cadets, is a cadet organisation based in the United Kingdom. It is a voluntary youth group which is part of the Air Cadet Organisation and the Royal Air Force . It is supported by the Ministry of Defence, with a regular RAF Officer, currently Air...
unit bears his name - 378 (Mannock) Squadron.
Ed Mannock has his name on a Vickers VC-10. The plane is based at 101 Squadron RAF Brize Norton. The VC-10 was once a East African Airways Civil airliner but was bought by the RAF then repainted and then put in to service.
On 26 July 2008, a wreath was laid in Wellingborough to mark the 90th anniversary of his death. In addition, officers and cadets of 378(Mannock) Squadron laid a wreath at the Arras War Memorial.
In 2009, one of the last photographs ever taken of Mannock was discovered in Northern France. The photograph was found in an old album belonging to a French farmer whose land had been used by the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
during the summer of 1918. The photograph shows Mannock in RAF uniform. He is standing on a farm track holding a walking stick and gloves with his right hand. His left hand rests on the shoulder of a dark-haired young girl.
In a BBC Timewatch Programme entitled "WWI Aces Falling", broadcast on 21 March 2009, researchers suggested that the unidentified remains of a British airman (recovered soon after the war from a temporary grave near Mannock's crash site and reburied in Plot III, Row F, Grave 12 of Laventie
Laventie
Laventie is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A small farming and light industrial town, situated some northeast of Béthune and west of Lille, at the junction of the D166, D173 and D174 roads. Famous for its...
CWGC war cemetery as "An Unknown British Airman Of The Great War") could be those of Mannock.
Mannock's score
- See also Aerial victory standards of World War IAerial victory standards of World War IDuring World War I, the national air services involved developed their own methods of assessing and assigning credit for aerial victories.The victory scores of the pilots represented at List of World War I flying aces often cannot be definitive, but are based on itemized lists that are the best...
James McCudden
James Thomas Byford McCudden VC, DSO & Bar, MC & Bar, MM was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for valour in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces...
) 57 victories. Then I shall try and oust old Richthofen..."
There was a posthumous attempt by Ira Jones to credit his old friend with 73 victories, but that assertion was unbacked by fact.
List of aerial victories
Confirmed victories are numbered; unconfirmed victories are denoted by "u/c".| No. | Date/time | Aircraft | Foe | Result | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 May 1917 @ 0935 hours | Nieuport Nieuport Nieuport, later Nieuport-Delage, was a French aeroplane company that primarily built racing aircraft before World War I and fighter aircraft during World War I and between the wars.-Beginnings:... serial number A6733 |
Observation balloon Observation balloon Observation balloons are balloons that are employed as aerial platforms for intelligence gathering and artillery spotting. Their use began during the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith during World War I, and they continue in limited use today.... |
Destroyed Balloon buster Balloon busters were military pilots known for destroying enemy observation balloons. These pilots were noted for their fearlessness. Seventy-six fighter pilots in World War I were each credited with destroying five or more balloons, and thus were balloon aces.... |
Quiéry-la-Motte Quiéry-la-Motte Quiéry-la-Motte is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Quiéry-la-Motte is situated northeast of Arras, at the junction of the D39 and D48 roads... |
Mannock's initial victory with 40 Squadron |
| 2 | 7 June 1917 @ 0715 hours | Nieuport 17 Nieuport 17 |-Specifications :-See also:-Bibliography:* Bruce, Jack. "Those Classic Nieuports". Air Enthusiast Quarterly. Number Two, 1976. Bromley, UK:Pilot Press. pp. 137–153.... s/n B1552 |
Albatros D.III Albatros D.III The Albatros D.III was a biplane fighter aircraft used by the Imperial German Army Air Service and the Austro-Hungarian Air Service during World War I. The D.III was flown by many top German aces, including Manfred von Richthofen, Ernst Udet, Erich Löwenhardt, Kurt Wolff, and Karl Emil Schäfer... |
Driven down out of control | North of Lille Lille Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium... |
|
| u/c | 9 June 1917 | Albatros D.V Albatros D.V |-See also:-Bibliography:*Bennett, Leon. Gunning for the Red Baron. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2006. ISBN 1-58544-507-X.... |
Driven down | |||
| u/c | 9 June 1917 | Albatros D.V | Driven down | |||
| 3 | 12 July 1917 @ 1010 hours | Nieuport s/n B1682 | DFW Deutsche Flugzeug-Werke Deutsche Flugzeug-Werke, usually known as DFW was a German aircraft manufacturer of the early twentieth century. It was established by Bernhard Meyer and Erich Thiele at Lindenthal in 1910, and initially produced Farman designs under licence, later moving on to the Etrich Taube and eventually to... reconnaissance plane |
Captured | Avion Avion, Pas-de-Calais Avion is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:An ex-coalmining industrial town, with a little farming, situated just south of Lens at the junction of the N17, D40 and D55 roads.-Population:... |
|
| 4 | 13 July 1917 @ 0920 hours | Nieuport s/n B1682 | DFW reconnaissance plane | Driven down out of control | Sallaumines Sallaumines -Administration:Sallaumines is located in the Pas-de-Calais department. It belongs to the Lens-Liévin interommunality which consists of 36 communes, with a total population of 250,000 inhabitants.-History:... |
|
| u/c | 13 July 1917 | German reconnaissance plane | Driven down | |||
| u/c | 28 July 1917 | Albatros D.V | Driven down | |||
| u/c | 28 July 1917 | Two observation balloons | ||||
| 5 | 5 August 1917 @ 1610 hours | Nieuport s/n B3554 | Albatros D.V Albatros D.V |-See also:-Bibliography:*Bennett, Leon. Gunning for the Red Baron. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2006. ISBN 1-58544-507-X.... |
Driven down out of control | Avion | |
| 6 | 12 August 1917 @ 1515 hours | Nieuport s/n B3554 | Albatros D.V | Captured | Southeast of Petit-Vimy | Shot down and captured German ace Joachim von Bertrab Joachim von Bertrab Joachim von Bertrab was a German air ace of the First World War with five victories.Serving with Jasta 30, von Bertrab claimed 2 Martinsyde G100 bombers on 6 April, and a pair of Sopwith Strutters later the same day... |
| 7 | 15 August 1917 @ 1215 hours | Nieuport s/n B3554 | Albatros D.V | Driven down out of control | Lens | |
| 8 | 15 August 1917 @ 1930 hours | Nieuport s/n B3554 | Albatros D.V | Driven down out of control | North of Lens | |
| 9 | 17 August 1917 @ 1050 hours | Nieuport s/n B3554 | DFW reconnaissance plane | Destroyed | ||
| u/c | 22 August 1917 | Albatros D.V | Driven down | |||
| 10 | 4 September 1917 @ 1130 hours | Nieuport 23 s/n B3607 | DFW reconnaissance plane | Driven down out of control | East of Lens-Lievin Liévin Liévin is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France.-Overview:The city of Liévin is an old mining city of Pas-de-Calais. Near Lens, this modest-sized city nevertheless has several nursery schools, schools, colleges, a university, a swimming pool, a city library, a cultural and... |
Shared victory |
| 11 | 4 September 1917 @ 1630 hours | Nieuport 23 s/n B3607 | DFW reconnaissance plane | Captured | Petit-Vimy | |
| 12 | 11 September 1917 @ 1115 hours | Nieuport 23 s/n B3607 | DFW reconnaissance plane | Driven down out of control | Thélus Thélus Thélus is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Thélus lies north of Arras, at the junction of the N17 and D49 roads. Junction 7 of the A26 autoroute is less than a mile away... -Oppy Oppy, Pas-de-Calais Oppy is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Oppy is situated northeast of Arras, at the junction of the D33, D48 and D50 roads.-Population:-Places of interest:... |
|
| 13 | 20 September 1917 @ 1735 hours | Nieuport 23 s/n B3607 | DFW reconnaissance plane | Driven down out of control | Hulloch | |
| 14 | 23 September 1917 @ 1645 hours | Nieuport s/n B3541 | Enemy reconnaissance plane | Set afire; destroyed | Oppy | |
| 15 | 25 September 1917 @ 1510 hours | Nieuport 23 s/n B3607 | Rumpler Rumpler The Rumpler Tropfenwagen was a car developed by Austrian engineer Edmund Rumpler.Rumpler, born in Vienna, was a designer of aircraft when on the 1921's Berlin car show he introduced the Tropfenwagen. It was to be the first streamlined car . The Rumpler had a Cw-value of only 0.28... reconnaissance plane |
Driven down out of control | Sallaumines | |
| 16 | 1 January 1918 @ 1135 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n B665 | DFW reconnaissance plane | Captured | Fampoux Fampoux Fampoux is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A farming village situated east of Arras, on the D42 road... |
Victory shared with Robert J. O. Compston Robert J. O. Compston Major Robert John Orton Compston DSC**, DFC was an English fighter pilot credited with 25 victories during World War I... , Gerald Cooper |
| 17 | 12 April 1918 @ 0900 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n D278 | Albatros D.V | Destroyed | East of Merville | Mannock's first victory with 74 Squadron |
| 18 | 12 April 1918 @ 1440 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n D278 | Albatros D.V | Destroyed | Bois de Phalempin | |
| 19 | 23 April 1918 @ 1810 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n D278 | Pfalz D.III Pfalz D.III |-See also:-Bibliography:* Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962. ISBN 0-93385-271-1.* Grosz, Peter M. Pfalz D.IIIa . Berkhamsted, Herts, UK: Albatros Publications, 1995. ISBN 0-94841-425-1.* Guttman, Jon. Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1 ... |
Set afire; destroyed | East of Merville | |
| 20 | 29 April 1918 @ 1140 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n D278 | Fokker D.VI Fokker D.VI -Bibliography:* Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962. ISBN 0-93385-271-1* Taylor, Michael J. H. Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Crescent Books, 1993. ISBN 0-51710-316-8.... |
Set afire; destroyed | South of Dickebusch Lake | |
| 21 | 30 April 1918 @ 1140 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n D278 | Albatros reconnaissance plane | Captured | Southeast of Dickebusch Lake | Victory shared with Henry Eric Dolan Henry Eric Dolan Lieutenant Henry Eric Dolan was a World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.Henry Eric Dolan was born in England, his father was A. A. Dolan who later lived at Banbury, Oxfordshire and was educated at Downside School. Dolan later moved to Canada and on the outbreak of war enlisted... . Enemy Crew of Schlasta 28B POWS. See http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/people/26791-hatred-enemy-query.html |
| 22 | 3 May 1918 @ 1855 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n D278 | LVG LVG Luftverkehrsgesellschaft m.b.H. was a German aircraft manufacturer based in Berlin-Johannisthal, which began constructing aircraft in 1912, building Farman-type aircraft. The company constructed many reconnaissance and light bomber biplanes during World War I.The raid on London in 1916 was... reconnaissance plane |
Destroyed | South of Merville | Victory shared with Andrew Kiddie Andrew Kiddie Captain Andrew Cameron Kiddie was a World War I flying ace credited with 15 aerial victories.As the last British Army veterans of World War I died in 2009 he must now be deceased.-Early service:... , Henry Eric Dolan, Harris Clements |
| 23 | 6 May 1918 @ 0920 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n D278 | Fokker Triplane Fokker Dr.I The Fokker Dr.I Dreidecker was a World War I fighter aircraft built by Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. The Dr.I saw widespread service in the spring of 1918... |
Destroyed | Gheluvelt | |
| 24 | 11 May 1918 @ 1740 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n C1112 | Pfalz D.III | Set afire; destroyed | Northeast of Armentières | |
| 25 | 12 May 1918 @ 1820 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n C1112 | Albatros D.V | Destroyed | North of Wulverghem Veurne Veurne is a city and municipality in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the town of Veurne proper and the settlements of Avekapelle, Booitshoeke, Bulskamp, De Moeren, Eggewaartskapelle, Houtem, Steenkerke, Vinkem, Wulveringem, and Zoutenaaie.-Origins in the 15th... |
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| 26 | 12 May 1918 @ 1820 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n C1112 | Albatros D.V | Destroyed | North of Wulverghem | |
| 27 | 12 May 1918 @ 1820 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n C1112 | Pfalz D.III | Destroyed | North of Wulverghem | |
| 28 | 16 May 1918 @ 1100 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n C1112 | Pfalz D.III | Destroyed | Southwest of Houthulst Houthulst Houthulst is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Houthulst proper, Jonkershove, Klerken and Merkem. On January 1, 2006 Houthulst had a total population of 9,051... Forest |
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| 29 | 17 May 1918 @ 1120 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n D278 | Pfalz D.III | Set afire; destroyed | South of Bailleul Bailleul - France :*Bailleul, Nord, in the Nord département*Bailleul, Orne, in the Orne département*Bailleul, Somme, in the Somme département*Bailleul-aux-Cornailles, in the Pas-de-Calais département*Bailleul-la-Vallée, in the Eure département... |
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| 30 | 17 May 1918 @ 1430 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n D278 | Albatros reconnaissance plane | Set afire; destroyed | Northeast of Ypres Ypres Ypres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote... |
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| 31 | 18 May 1918 @ 0825 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n D278 | Albatros reconnaissance plane | Set afire; destroyed | Steenwerck Steenwerck Steenwerck is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is located about north of Lille and as of 2003 has a population of 3260.... |
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| 32 | 21 May 1918 @ 0928 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n D278 | Hannover reconnaissance plane | Destroyed | La Courenne | |
| 33 | 21 May 1918 @ 1900 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n D278 | Pfalz D.III | Destroyed | Hollebeke Hollebeke Hollebeke is a Flemish village in the Belgian province of West Vlaanderen, now part of Ypres city.-History:In World War I, it was the site of allied heroism that won Khudadad Khan the first Victoria Cross ever awarded to a native Indian.In 1970 it was incorporated in Zillebeke, which in turn... |
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| 34 | 21 May 1918 @ 1900 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n D278 | Pfalz D.III | Destroyed | Hollebeke | |
| 35 | 21 May 1918 @ 1905 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n D278 | Pfalz D.III | Destroyed | South of Hollebeke | |
| 36 | 22 May 1918 ca 1815 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n D278 | Pfalz D.III | Driven down out of control | Fromelles Fromelles -References:* -External links:*** video report from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission*... |
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| 37 | 26 May 1918 @ 1940 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n D278 | Pfalz D.III | Set afire; destroyed | Half a mile south of Bailleul | |
| 38 | 26 May 1918 @ 1940 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n D278 | Albatros D.V | Driven down out of control | South of Bailleul | |
| 39 | 29 May 1918 @ 1925 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n C6468 | Albatros D.V | Set afire; destroyed | Northeast of Armentières Armentières Armentières is a commune in the Nord department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region in northern France. It is part of the Urban Community of Lille Métropole, and lies on the Belgian border, northwest of the city of Lille, on the right bank of the river Lys.... |
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| 40 | 29 May 1918 @ 2005 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n C6468 | Albatros D.V | Driven down out of control | Northeast of Armentières | |
| u/c | 29 May 1918 | Driven down | ||||
| 41 | 31 May 1918 @ 1940 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n C6468 | Pfalz D.III | Driven down out of control | North of Wytschaete | |
| 42 | 1 June 1918 @ 1630 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n C6468 | Pfalz D.III | Destroyed | Estaires Estaires -References:*... |
|
| 43 | 1 June 1918 @ 1630 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n C6468 | Pfalz D.III | Destroyed | Estaires | |
| 44 | 1 June 1918 @ 1630 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n C6468 | Pfalz D.III | Driven down out of control | Estaires | |
| 45 | 2 June 1918 @ 1540 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n C6468 | Pfalz D.III | Driven down out of control | Two miles south of Mount Kemmel | |
| 46 | 6 June 1918 @ 1540 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n C6468 | Fokker D.VII Fokker D.VII The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft... |
Destroyed | East of Ypres | |
| 47 | 6 June 1918 @ 1945 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n C6468 | Pfalz D.III | Destroyed | Two miles west of Roulers | Victory shared with Wilfred Ernest Young Wilfred Ernest Young Major Wilfred Ernest Young was an English World War I flying ace credited with 11 confirmed aerial victories.- World War I :Wilfred Ernest Young began his military service in the Dorsetshire Regiment of the British army. On 13 June 1916, Young was seconded from the Dorsetshires to the Royal Flying... , Andrew Kiddie, Harris Clements |
| 48 | 9 June 1918 @ 0805 hours | Albatros reconnaissance plane | Driven down out of control | South of Mount Kemmel | Victory shared with Andrew Kiddie, Harris Clements | |
| 49 | 9 June 1918 @ 0810 hours | Albatros reconnaissance plane | Destroyed | South of Mount Kemmel | Victory shared with Wilfred Young | |
| 50 | 16 June 1918 @ 0745 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n C5845 | Pfalz D.III | Destroyed | Three miles south of Zillebeke Zillebeke Zillebeke is a village in the Flemish province of West-Vlaanderen in Belgium. The former municipality is now part of Ypres.-History:On March 3, 1914 the then municipality was granted the arms are those of the last Lords of Zillebeke, the Canton family, Viscounts of Winnezeele, which had in 1740... Lake |
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| 51 | 16 June 1918 @ 0745 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n C5845 | Pfalz D.III | Driven down out of control | Three miles south of Zillebeke Lake | |
| 52 | 17 June 1918 @ 0945 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n C5845 | Hannover reconnaissance plane | Destroyed | Armentières | |
| 53 | 7 July 1918 @ 2020 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n E1295 | Fokker D.VII | Destroyed | Doulieu | Mannock's first victory as OC of 85 Squadron |
| 54 | 7 July 1918 @ 2020 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n E1295 | Fokker D.VII | Driven down out of control | Doulieu | |
| 55 | 14 July 1918 @ 0835 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n E1295 | Fokker D.VII | Destroyed | North of Merville | |
| 56 | 19 July 1918 @ 0823 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n E1295 | Albatros reconnaissance plane | Destroyed | Merville | |
| 57 | 20 July 1918 @ 1117 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n E1295 | Reconnaissance plane | Destroyed | Northeast of La Bassée La Bassée La Bassée is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.-Heraldry:-History:La Bassée was the birthplace of the painter and draftsman Louis-Léopold Boilly .-References:*... |
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| 58 | 20 July 1918 @ 1215 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n E1295 | Fokker D.VII | Driven down out of control | South of Steenwerck | |
| 59 | 20 July 1918 @ 1215 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n E1295 | Fokker D.VII | Driven down out of control | South of Steenwerck | |
| 60 | 22 July 1918 @ 0952 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n E1295 | Fokker Triplane | Destroyed | Armentières | |
| 61 | 26 July 1918 @ 0530 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n E1295 | Reconnaissance plane | Destroyed | Lestrem Lestrem Lestrem is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A small farming and light industrial town, situated some north of Béthune and west of Lille, on the D122, D178 and D975 roads, by the banks of the Lawe River.-History:The town was all but... |
Shared victory |
Military Cross citation
Distinguished Service Order citation
Distinguished Service Order citation to First Bar
Distinguished Service Order citation to Second Bar
Victoria Cross citation
Mannock's Victoria Cross was presented to his father at Buckingham PalaceBuckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
in July 1919. Edward Mannock was also given his son's other medals, even though Mick had stipulated in his will that his father should receive nothing from his estate. Soon afterwards, Mannock's medals were sold for £5. They have since been recovered and can be seen at the Royal Air Force Museum at Hendon
Hendon
Hendon is a London suburb situated northwest of Charing Cross.-History:Hendon was historically a civil parish in the county of Middlesex. The manor is described in Domesday , but the name, 'Hendun' meaning 'at the highest hill', is earlier...
.
Mannock's rules
Mannock was highly regarded as a tactician, patrol leader and combat pilot and his oft-quoted cardinal rule was "Always above, seldom on the same level, never underneath," by which he meant never engage the enemy without holding the advantage, and the greatest advantage in air fighting was height. According to Mannock, tacticsMilitary tactics
Military tactics, the science and art of organizing an army or an air force, are the techniques for using weapons or military units in combination for engaging and defeating an enemy in battle. Changes in philosophy and technology over time have been reflected in changes to military tactics. In...
should be adjusted according to the situation. However the main principle remained:
Mannock formulated a set of practical rules for air fighting on the Western Front that, like Oswald Boelcke
Oswald Boelcke
Oswald Boelcke was a German flying ace of the First World War and one of the most influential patrol leaders and tacticians of the early years of air combat. Boelcke is considered the father of the German fighter air force, as well as the "Father of Air Fighting Tactics"; he was the first to...
's Dicta
Dicta Boelcke
The Dicta Boelcke is a list of fundamental aerial maneuvers of aerial combat formulated by the first great German flying ace of the First World War, Oswald Boelcke.-1. Try to secure the upper hand before attacking...
, were passed on to new pilots.
- Pilots must dive to attack with zest, and must hold their fire until they get within one hundred yards of their target.
- Achieve surprise by approaching from the East. (From the German side of the front.)
- Utilise the sun's glare and clouds to achieve surprise.
- Pilots must keep physically fit by exercise and the moderate use of stimulantStimulantStimulants are psychoactive drugs which induce temporary improvements in either mental or physical function or both. Examples of these kinds of effects may include enhanced alertness, wakefulness, and locomotion, among others...
s. - Pilots must sight their guns and practise as much as possible as targets are normally fleeting.
- Pilots must practise spotting machines in the air and recognising them at long range, and every aeroplane is to be treated as an enemy until it is certain it is not.
- Pilots must learn where the enemy's blind spots are.
- Scouts must be attacked from above and two-seaters from beneath their tails.
- Pilots must practise quick turns, as this manoeuvre is more used than any other in a fight.
- Pilots must practise judging distances in the air as these are very deceptive.
- Decoys must be guarded against — a single enemy is often a decoy — therefore the air above should be searched before attacking.
- If the day is sunny, machines should be turned with as little bank as possible, otherwise the sun glistening on the wings will give away their presence at a long range.
- Pilots must keep turning in a dog fight and never fly straight except when firing.
- Pilots must never, under any circumstances, dive away from an enemy, as he gives his opponent a non-deflection shot — bullets are faster than aeroplanes.
- Pilots must keep their eye on their watches during patrols, and on the direction and strength of the wind.
Second World War aces, such as Bader
Douglas Bader
Group Captain Sir Douglas Robert Steuart Bader CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, FRAeS, DL was a Royal Air Force fighter ace during the Second World War. He was credited with 20 aerial victories, four shared victories, six probables, one shared probable and 11 enemy aircraft damaged.Bader joined the...
and Johnson, acknowledge that Mannock's tactics served as inspiration to them.
Quotes about Mannock
(1) Jim Eyles first met Mick Mannock when he was 24.(2) Captain Chapman was one of Mick Mannock's teachers at the School of Military Aeronautics. He later described Mick Mannock's early training.
(3) Keith Caldwell was Major Mick Mannock's commander in 74 Squadron during the First World War. In an interview he gave in 1981, Caldwell explained why Mannock was such a successful pilot.
(4) H. G. Clements of 74 Squadron wrote an account of Major Mick Mannock in 1981.
(5) Lieutenant MacLanachan met Mick Mannock in May 1917. After the war MacLanachan wrote about his experiences in his book Fighter Pilot.
(6) Jim Eyles later recalled Mick Mannock's last leave before his death.
(7) An extract from Mick Mannock's last letter to Jim Eyles.
(8) Private Naulls was in the front trenches when he saw Mannock's aircraft brought down.
Text sources
- Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914-1918. Norman FranksNorman FranksNorman Leslie Robert Franks is an English writer who specialises in aviation books on the pilots and squadrons of World Wars I and II.-Biography:...
, Frank W. Bailey, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1993. ISBN 0948817739, 9780948817731. - Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920 Christopher F. Shores, Norman L. R. Franks, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1990. ISBN 0948817194, 9780948817199.
- International Warbirds: An Illustrated Guide to World Military Aircraft, 1914-2000. John C. Frédriksen. ABC-CLIO, 2001. ISBN 1576073645, 9781576073643.
- Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross. Doherty, David Truesdale. Four Courts, 2000. ISBN 185182491X, 9781851824915.
- King of Air Fighters: The Biography of Major "Mick" Mannock, VC, DSO, MC. Ira Jones. Casemate Publishers, 2009 reprint. ISBN 1932033998, 9781932033991.
- Mannock: The Life and Death of Major Edward Mannock VC, DSO, MC, RAF. Norman L.R. Franks, Andy Saunders. Grub Street, 2008. ISBN 1906502129, 9781906502126.
- Mick: The Story of Major Edward Mannock, VC, DSO, MC Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force. James M. Dudgeon. Hale, 1981. ISBN 070919143X, 9780709191438.
- Monuments to Courage. David Harvey. The Naval & Military Press, 2000. ISBN 1843423561, 9781843423560.
- The Register of the Victoria Cross. Author unknown. This England, 1997. ISBN 0906324270, 9780906324271.
- The Sapper VCs: The Story of Valour in the Royal Engineers and Its Associated Corps. Gerald Napier. Stationery Office, 1998. ISBN 0117728357, 9780117728356.
- SE 5/5a Aces of World War I: Volume 78 of Aircraft of the Aces. Norman Franks. Osprey Publishing, 2007. ISBN 184603180X, 9781846031809.
Further reading
- Air VCs: VCs of the First World War Series. Peter Cooksley. Sutton Publishing, Limited, 1999. ISBN 0905778340, 9780905778341.
- Scotland's Forgotten Valour. Graham Ross, William Reid. MacLean, 1995. ISBN 1899272003, 9781899272006.
External links
- The Aerodrome: Edward Mannock
- Major Mick Mannock (detailed biography)
- Western Front Association: Major 'Mick' Mannock, VC :Top Scoring British Flying Ace in the Great War
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- Reference only
- Edward ‘Mick’ Mannock: World War I RAF Ace Pilot article by O'Brien Browne
- The Trembling Ace article by John Hayes Fisher
- 378 Mannock Squadron, Wellingborough Air Cadets an ATC squadron named after the ace