United Kingdom
France
Germany
Netherlands
Sweden
USA
Italy
Spain
More From Contributor
Albert Ball VC: The Fighter Pilot Hero Of The World War I
Albert Balls individuality and his insistence on fighting alone set him apart from other fighter pilots during World War One. His invincible courage and utter determination made him a legend not only in Britain but also amongst his enemies to whom the sight of his lone Nieuport Scout brought fear. In 1914 he enlisted in the British army with the 2/7th Battalion (Robin Hoods) of the Sherwood Foresters Notts and Derby Regiment. By the October of 1914 he had reached the rank of Sergeant and then in the same month was made a Second-Lieutenant to his own battalion.In June 1915 he paid for private tuition and trained as a pilot at Hendon. In October 1915 he obtained Royal Aero Club Certificate and requested transfer to the Royal Flying Corps. The transfer granted he further trained at Norwich
and Upavon being awarded the pilots brevet on 22 January 1916. On 16 May 1916 - flying Bristol Scout 5512 - he opened his score shooting down an Albatros C-type over Beaumont. On 29 May 1916 he shot down two LVG C-types whilst flying his Nieuport 5173. Captain Albert Ball made his final flight on 7 May 1917 when he flew SE5 A4850 as part of an eleven-strong hunting patrol into action against Jagdstaffel 11 led by Lothar Von Richthofen. It was a very cloudy day. Albert was pursuing Lothars Albatros Scout who crash-landed wounded. Then Albert was seen by many observers to dive out of a cloud and crash. He died minutes later in the arms of a French girl Madame Cecille Deloffre. He rose from obscurity to the top rank of contemporary fighter pilots in only 15 months. In that period he had been
awarded the MC DSO and two Bars and was credited with at least 44 victories. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.Colin Pengelly served in the RAF between 1958 and 1963. He then worked for the Admiralty from 1964 to 1997 and took early retirement. His interest in military aviation history started in 1952 and in the 1960s he assisted in the researches for Air Vice Marshal Collishaws work into British Air Casualties 1914/18. He has previously published The First Bellerophon in 1965. He lives in Weston-super-Mare
and Upavon being awarded the pilots brevet on 22 January 1916. On 16 May 1916 - flying Bristol Scout 5512 - he opened his score shooting down an Albatros C-type over Beaumont. On 29 May 1916 he shot down two LVG C-types whilst flying his Nieuport 5173. Captain Albert Ball made his final flight on 7 May 1917 when he flew SE5 A4850 as part of an eleven-strong hunting patrol into action against Jagdstaffel 11 led by Lothar Von Richthofen. It was a very cloudy day. Albert was pursuing Lothars Albatros Scout who crash-landed wounded. Then Albert was seen by many observers to dive out of a cloud and crash. He died minutes later in the arms of a French girl Madame Cecille Deloffre. He rose from obscurity to the top rank of contemporary fighter pilots in only 15 months. In that period he had been
awarded the MC DSO and two Bars and was credited with at least 44 victories. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.Colin Pengelly served in the RAF between 1958 and 1963. He then worked for the Admiralty from 1964 to 1997 and took early retirement. His interest in military aviation history started in 1952 and in the 1960s he assisted in the researches for Air Vice Marshal Collishaws work into British Air Casualties 1914/18. He has previously published The First Bellerophon in 1965. He lives in Weston-super-Mare
Product Description
Reviews/Comments
Add New
Vouchers
No voucher codes found.
Do you know a voucher code for this product or supplier? Add it to Insights for others to use.
Do you know a voucher code for this product or supplier? Add it to Insights for others to use.
Denmark