Mansell Richard James
Encyclopedia
Captain Mansell Richard James was a Canadian-born World War I flying ace
credited with 11 confirmed aerial victories. He disappeared in spectacular fashion after setting a postwar aviation record for prize money, and was the object of repeated searches throughout the years.
on 22 September 1917. After completion of training, he was posted to 45 Squadron in Italy on 12 February 1918 as a Sopwith Camel
pilot. On 3 June 1918, he scored his first aerial triumph, destroying an enemy Albatros D.V
over Feltre
. Four days later, he destroyed two Albatros D.III
s, one over San Marino
and the other over Colicella. His next two victories over Albatros D.Vs that he destroyed east of Feltre on 20 July made him an ace.
On 5 August 1918, he destroyed the only reconnaissance plane of his career, an AEG
. The next day, he sent down two Albatros D.Vs over Segusino
and destroyed a third. On the last day of August, he rounded out his victory string by destroying two Albatros D.Vs near Arsiero
.
On 23 September 1918, Lieutenant James was promoted to temporary captain. He also won a Distinguished Flying Cross, with the following citation:
in the United States from Atlantic City, New Jersey to Boston, Massachusetts. He was competing for a $1,000 prize offered by the Boston Globe for fastest flight between the two cities. At 115 miles per hour despite headwinds, he was much faster than a prior competitor's 90 mph gait. After landing at a field eight miles north of Boston, James departed again at 6 PM, supposedly for a stop at Mitchel Field on Long Island
en route to Atlantic City, both of which are southwest of Boston. He buzzed and frightened spectators watching his takeoff.
It was Captain James' intent to follow railroad tracks from Boston on his return flight. He apparently guided on the wrong set of railroad tracks, as he later landed at Tyringham
, Massachusetts (near Lee), about 100 air miles west of Boston, to have his plane serviced. On 29 May, he was reportedly seen at 1130 AM at an altitude of about 5,000 feet over Connecticut after departing Lee, Massachusetts
; he apparently had a sound engine at that sighting and was headed southeast.
A more reliable report tells a somewhat different story. On the morning of 2 June 1919, he took off from Tyringham toward the south, then turned west, away from Boston. He drew a crowd of spectators for his departure because the local populace was unused to airplanes. Because of his direction of flight, they thought he might be returning to the field he departed, but he did not reappear.
On 5 August 1919, a berry picker in a ravine on Mount Riga outside Millerton, New York
found airplane wreckage. It was speculated to be James' plane.
Years later, on 17 December 1925 near Pittsfield, Massachusetts
, several search parties went into woods trying to relocate plane wreckage discovered by a lost hunter from Brooklyn several days previously. They were spurred by a reward offer of $500 posted by James's uncle six years previously.
On 19 May 1927, U. S. Coast Guard Boat 290 found an airplane wing floating in Fort Pond Bay
, Long Island Sound. Captain James's brother, E. D. James, wrote a letter requesting a description of the wing, hoping to identify it.
Despite extensive searches for him spurred partially by rewards offered, no sign of James has ever been found.
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...
credited with 11 confirmed aerial victories. He disappeared in spectacular fashion after setting a postwar aviation record for prize money, and was the object of repeated searches throughout the years.
World War I
James was from Watford, Ontario, and enlisted in the Royal Flying CorpsRoyal 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...
on 22 September 1917. After completion of training, he was posted to 45 Squadron in Italy on 12 February 1918 as a 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...
pilot. On 3 June 1918, he scored his first aerial triumph, destroying an enemy 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....
over Feltre
Feltre
Feltre is a town and comune of the province of Belluno in Veneto, northern Italy. A hill town in the southern reaches of the province, it is located on the Stizzon River, about 4 km from its junction with the Piave, and 20 km southwest from Belluno...
. Four days later, he destroyed two 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...
s, one over San Marino
San Marino
San Marino, officially the Republic of San Marino , is a state situated on the Italian Peninsula on the eastern side of the Apennine Mountains. It is an enclave surrounded by Italy. Its size is just over with an estimated population of over 30,000. Its capital is the City of San Marino...
and the other over Colicella. His next two victories over Albatros D.Vs that he destroyed east of Feltre on 20 July made him an ace.
On 5 August 1918, he destroyed the only reconnaissance plane of his career, an AEG
AEG
Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft was a German producer of electrical equipment founded in 1883 by Emil Rathenau....
. The next day, he sent down two Albatros D.Vs over Segusino
Segusino
Segusino is a comune in the Province of Treviso in the Italian region Veneto, located about 60 km northwest of Venice and about 35 km northwest of Treviso...
and destroyed a third. On the last day of August, he rounded out his victory string by destroying two Albatros D.Vs near Arsiero
Arsiero
Arsiero is a town in the province of Vicenza, Veneto, Italy. It is west SP82. As of 2007 Arsiero had an estimated population of 3,488.-Sources:*...
.
On 23 September 1918, Lieutenant James was promoted to temporary captain. He also won a Distinguished Flying Cross, with the following citation:
Post World War I
On 6 May 1919, James surrendered his commission in the Royal Air Force upon becoming unemployed. He shipped out to the United States. On 28 May 1919 James flew what was reputedly the first Sopwith CamelSopwith 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...
in the United States from Atlantic City, New Jersey to Boston, Massachusetts. He was competing for a $1,000 prize offered by the Boston Globe for fastest flight between the two cities. At 115 miles per hour despite headwinds, he was much faster than a prior competitor's 90 mph gait. After landing at a field eight miles north of Boston, James departed again at 6 PM, supposedly for a stop at Mitchel Field on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
en route to Atlantic City, both of which are southwest of Boston. He buzzed and frightened spectators watching his takeoff.
It was Captain James' intent to follow railroad tracks from Boston on his return flight. He apparently guided on the wrong set of railroad tracks, as he later landed at Tyringham
Tyringham
Tyringham is a village in the Borough of Milton Keynes and ceremonial county of Buckinghamshire, England. It is located about a mile and a half north of Newport Pagnell.The village name is an Old English language word, and means 'Tir's home'...
, Massachusetts (near Lee), about 100 air miles west of Boston, to have his plane serviced. On 29 May, he was reportedly seen at 1130 AM at an altitude of about 5,000 feet over Connecticut after departing Lee, Massachusetts
Lee, Massachusetts
Lee is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts, metropolitan statistical area. The population was 5,943 which was determined in the 2010 census. Lee, which includes the villages of South and East Lee, is part of the Berkshires resort...
; he apparently had a sound engine at that sighting and was headed southeast.
A more reliable report tells a somewhat different story. On the morning of 2 June 1919, he took off from Tyringham toward the south, then turned west, away from Boston. He drew a crowd of spectators for his departure because the local populace was unused to airplanes. Because of his direction of flight, they thought he might be returning to the field he departed, but he did not reappear.
On 5 August 1919, a berry picker in a ravine on Mount Riga outside Millerton, New York
Millerton, New York
Millerton is a village in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 925 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined...
found airplane wreckage. It was speculated to be James' plane.
Years later, on 17 December 1925 near Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Pittsfield is the largest city and the county seat of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the principal city of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Berkshire County. Its area code is 413. Its ZIP code is 01201...
, several search parties went into woods trying to relocate plane wreckage discovered by a lost hunter from Brooklyn several days previously. They were spurred by a reward offer of $500 posted by James's uncle six years previously.
On 19 May 1927, U. S. Coast Guard Boat 290 found an airplane wing floating in Fort Pond Bay
Fort Pond Bay
Fort Pond Bay is a bay off Long Island Sound at Montauk, New York that was site of the first port on the end of Long Island. The bay has a long naval and civilian history.-New-York Province and the American Revolution:...
, Long Island Sound. Captain James's brother, E. D. James, wrote a letter requesting a description of the wing, hoping to identify it.
Despite extensive searches for him spurred partially by rewards offered, no sign of James has ever been found.
See also
- Flying aces
- No. 45 Squadron RAFNo. 45 Squadron RAF-First World War:Formed during World War I at Gosport on 1 March 1916 as Number 45 Squadron, the unit was first equipped with Sopwith 1½ Strutters which it was to fly in the Scout role. Deployed to France in October of that year, the Squadron found itself suffering heavy losses due to the quality...
- List of World War I aces credited with 11–14 victories