FAMOUS BRITISH AIRMAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17205, 5 July 1919, Page 2 (Supplement)

FAMOUS BRITISH AIRMAN.

DESTROYED 73 GERMANS.' TRIPLE 1 ,.5.0.^ TRIPLE M.C. With, a record ,of . 73 enemy machines destroyed the distinction of British " ace" belongs to' the late Major Edward nock, a triple D.S.O. and triple M.0.» • Search has been made by an' officer of the ;Air Ministry amongst the records, of | the squadrons in Franco, with this result: : I but it is doubtful whether the "ace" will ever bo officially awarded, an the R.A.F. policy is; opposed, to .'singling '. out individual- airmen for mention in tins respect. : Major Mannock ■ was hilled in rather curious circumstances last summer in the Am« region—just after ■■ he had accounted for his .eventy-third victim. .Friends of his in ; ! the division-holding the lino reported that it was tho practice cf German machine?!, usually, two in number, to fly over arid '' strafe", our trenches at a particular hour each day. Calling for a volunteer to \ accompany him in another, machine, Major Mannock decided to intercept the methodical Huns next day. Three were sighted, who retired when they saw the British 'planes; but the major cut one j and eventually shot it down. In the fight | ho lost altitude considerably, coming | within effective range of 'machine-gun fire from ground, was v iafe|ly hit. 1 ' He fell, a short distance behind the-Ger-man lines. ;» - • . , < ~ if',

-jaajor Alannock was-one'of- those geniuses in air-fighting tactics which' the war produced," said a brother officer. "He generally flew; high up, and it was hard lines that he should have been ' downed' when, in a successful effort to destroy an opponent, ho had approached the ground. Host of his victims -were secured by the clever tactice he employed in outmanoeuvring them for position. He had only been with his last squadron three weeks, and from the mechanics upwards he was enormously popular." Major Mannock was 30 years of age' and he achieved his remarkable record in one year's fighting. He won four decorations in 12 days, and, in a single day destroyed foir opponents! Hi« performances are the saore extraordinary for the fact that he was blind in one eye—a defect he contrived to conceal when entering the Air Force.