FAMOUS BRITISH AIRMAN.

Taihape Daily Times, 9 July 1919, Page 6

FAMOUS BRITISH AIRMAN.

DESTROYED 73 GER-MAN'S. I TRIPLE D.S._O. and TRIPLE M.|C. With a record of 73 enemy rriachine:-"i destroyed, the distinction of British" “Ace” belongs to the late Major-‘A Edward Mannock, a triple D.S.O. and triple M.C. ‘Starch hag" been made by an oflicor of the Air Ministry :.r;3u.-g:st themeords of the squadrons ‘n Frairee, with the result that it is do vbtful whe.t‘ner the “ace” will every be oificially aw: rded, -as the R.A.I" policy is up”pcsed. to singling out in linduel airmen for mentionin this respu-.i;.. ' Major Mannock was killed in rather curious cil‘clinlstances last. summer in ‘the Arms region-just after he hrul accounted for his 73rd victim. Friends of his in the division holding the line? reported that it was the practice of’ German machines, usually two in num‘l‘ her, to fly over and “strafe” our treri-*‘ ches -at a particular hour each day?! Calling for a volunteer to acconipany him in another machine, Mapor Man’e=?‘ neck decided to intercept. the methodi‘-"" cal Huns next day. Three were sight"-'1 ed who retired when they saw the‘ British planes; but the major cut one and eventually sent. it dcwn. In the’ fight he lost altitude ‘considerably, .:Ind«’ coming within effective. range of] machine-gun fire from‘ the ground, 'wa§] himself fatally hit. He fell :1 .Sllol'l'.E distance behind’ the German lines. ‘ I

“Major Mannock was 030 of those geniuses in :air—figh;ting tactics which the war produced,“ said a brother oflicer. “He generally flew high up, and it was hard lines that he should have been ‘downed’ when,’ in a succesfu] effort to destroy. ari opponent. he had -approvach-ed the ground. Most of his victims were secured by the ‘Mover tactics he employed in outmanpeuvring them; for position. He had only been with his lasfi squadron three weeks. and from the mechanics upward he was eorniously popu]ar.”’

Major Mannock was 30 years of age, {mud he achieved his remarkable record. in one yea.r’s fighting. He won four doc-orations in 12 days, and in {L single day destroyed four opponents! His performances are the more extl‘aorElinary for .the fact that he was blind in one e_v:<—a defec‘? he contrived to conceal when ell‘rcrir=g the Air Force. V