|
|
|
| Name: |
James Ira Thomas "Taffy" Jones |
|
| Country: |
Wales |
| Rank: |
Captain |
| Service: |
Royal Flying Corps |
| Units: |
10, 74 |
| Victories: |
37 |
| Born: |
18 April 1896 |
| Place of Birth: |
|
St. Clears, Carmarthenshire |
| Died: |
29 August 1960 |
| Place of Death: |
|
Swansea, Glamorgan |
| Cemetery: |
Cana Chapel, Bancyfelin, Carmarthenshire |
|
| |
James Ira Thomas Jones enlisted in 1913. When the war began, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and joined 10 Squadron as an air mechanic. In July 1915 he was sent to France and by January 1916 he was flying combat missions as an observer. He returned to England for pilot training in May 1917 and received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate 5153 on the Maurice Farman biplane at Military School, Ruislip on 26 August 1917. Posted to 74 Squadron in early 1918, he developed a close bond with his flight commander, Mick Mannock, and developed an unfortunate habit of crashing aircraft while attempting to land. In just three months he scored 37 victories flying the S.E.5a. Jones later volunteered to fight the Bolsheviks and was posted to the Archangel front but saw no further air combat. He retired from the Royal Air Force in 1936 but was recalled to active duty in 1939. During the Battle of Britain, whilst flying an unarmed Hawker Henley, he attacked a Junkers Ju 88 bomber with a Verey pistol.
The author of three books, Ira Jones died in hospital from injuries sustained in a fall from a ladder at his home in 1960.
"It is wonderful how cheered a pilot becomes after he shoots down his first machine; his moral[e] increases by at least 100 per cent." Ira Jones1
"My habit of attacking Huns dangling from their parachutes led to many arguments in the mess. Some officers, of the Eton and Sandhurst type, thought I was 'unsportsmanlike' to do it. Never having been to a public school, I was unhampered by such considerations of form. I just pointed out that there was a bloody war on, and that I intended to avenge my pals." Ira Jones2
|
|
| |
| Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) |
Lt. (temp. Capt.) James Iva Thomas Jones,
M.M.
In eleven days this officer attacked and destroyed six enemy aeroplanes, displaying great courage, skill and initiative.
|
|
| |
| Military Cross (MC) |
T./Lt. James Ira Thomas Jones, M.M., R.A.F.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This officer, one of an offensive patrol, engaged and shot down in flames a two-seater, which fell to earth. Ten days later, on offensive patrol, he shot down a Hanover two-seater, which crashed. The next day, when patrolling, he pursued, overtook and shot down an Albatross two-seater. During the same flight he met a Halberstadt two-seater and killed the observer, who either jumped or fell overboard, but had to break off as his ammunition was finished. The next day he shot a balloon down in flames. Three days later he got a good burst with both guns on a Pfalz scout, both wings coming off. He has driven two others down out of control.
|
|
| |
| Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) Bar |
Lieut. (T./Capt.) James Ira Thomas Jones,
M.C., D.F.C., M.M.
A gallant officer who in the last three months has destroyed twenty-one enemy aeroplanes. On one occasion he attacked a Halberstadt two-seater, which was escorted by two scouts. On his approach the scouts deserted the two-seater, which he shot down in flames. He then pursued the two scouts, one of which he destroyed.
(M.C. gazetted 16th September, 1918, D.F.C. gazetted 3rd August, 1918, M.M. gazetted 10th August, 1916.)
|
|
| |
| Distinguished Service Order (DSO) |
Lieut. (T./Capt.) James Ira Thomas Jones,
M.C., D.F.C., M.M.
Since joining his present Brigade in May last this officer has destroyed twenty-eight enemy machines. He combines skilful tactics and marksmanship with high courage. While engaged on wireless interception duty he followed a patrol of nine Fokker biplanes, and succeeded in joining their formation unobserved. After a while two Fokkers left the formation to attack one of our artillery observation machines. Following them, Captain Jones engaged the higher of the two, which fell on its companion, and both machines fell interlocked in flames.
|
|
| |
| Victories |
|
Date |
Time |
Unit |
Aircraft |
Opponent |
Location |
| 1 |
08 May 1918 |
1825 |
74 |
S.E.5a (C6406) |
C (DESF) |
Bailleul-Nieppe |
| 2 |
12 May 1918 |
1822 |
74 |
S.E.5a (C6406) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) |
N of Wulverghem |
| 3 |
17 May 1918 |
0930 |
74 |
S.E.5a (C1117) |
Hannover C (DESF) |
Merville-Estaires |
| 4 |
17 May 1918 |
0930 |
74 |
S.E.5a (C1117) |
Albatros C (OOC) |
Merville |
| 5 |
18 May 1918 |
1250 |
74 |
S.E.5a (C1117) |
Albatros C (DESF) |
Nieppe |
| 6 |
19 May 1918 |
1655 |
74 |
S.E.5a (C1117) |
Balloon (DES) |
NW of Armentières |
| 7 |
22 May 1918 |
1245 |
74 |
S.E.5a (C1117) |
Pfalz D.III (DESF) |
Quesnoy |
| 8 |
22 May 1918 |
1815 |
74 |
S.E.5a (C1117) |
Pfalz D.III (OOC) |
Fromelles |
| 9 |
26 May 1918 |
1955 |
74 |
S.E.5a (C1117) |
Pfalz D.III (DES) |
N of Armentières |
| 10 |
27 May 1918 |
1100 |
74 |
S.E.5a (C1117) |
Albatros C (DES) |
NE of Nieppe Forest |
| 11 |
27 May 1918 |
1130 |
74 |
S.E.5a (C1117) |
Halberstadt C (OOC) |
Neuf Berquin |
| 12 |
30 May 1918 |
1505 |
74 |
S.E.5a (C1117) |
LVG C (DES) |
E of Bailleul |
| 13 |
30 May 1918 |
2035 |
74 |
S.E.5a (C1117) |
Halberstadt C (DES) |
SE of Bois du Beiz |
| 14 |
31 May 1918 |
1910 |
74 |
S.E.5a (C1117) |
Pfalz D.III (DES) |
Ploegsteert Wood |
| 15 |
31 May 1918 |
1945 |
74 |
S.E.5a (C1117) |
Pfalz D.III (OOC) |
Comines |
| 16 |
01 Jun 1918 |
0740 |
74 |
S.E.5a (C1117) |
Pfalz D.III (DES) |
E of Dickebusch Lake |
| 17 |
18 Jun 1918 |
1230 |
74 |
S.E.5a (C1117) |
DFW C (DES) |
N of Bailleul |
| 18 |
21 Jun 1918 |
2015 |
74 |
S.E.5a (D6895) |
LVG C (DESF) |
Ploegsteert Wood |
| 19 |
25 Jun 1918 |
1215 |
74 |
S.E.5a (D6895) |
Halberstadt C (DESF) |
Steenwerck |
| 20 |
25 Jun 1918 |
1230 |
74 |
S.E.5a (D6895) |
Fokker D.VII (DES) |
Estaires |
| 21 |
27 Jun 1918 |
1130 |
74 |
S.E.5a (D6895) |
Hannover C (DESF) |
La Couture |
| 22 |
29 Jun 1918 |
1945 |
74 |
S.E.5a (D6895) |
Fokker D.VII (DES) |
Comines |
| 23 |
01 Jul 1918 |
1350 |
74 |
S.E.5a (D6895) |
Rumpler C (DES) |
Tourcoing |
| 24 |
24 Jul 1918 |
0720 |
74 |
S.E.5a (D6895) |
DFW C (DES) |
Merville |
| 25 |
24 Jul 1918 |
1720 |
74 |
S.E.5a (D6895) |
DFW C (DESF) |
Merville |
| 26 |
24 Jul 1918 |
1730 |
74 |
S.E.5a (D6895) |
DFW C (OOC) |
E of Kemmel |
| 27 |
25 Jul 1918 |
1105 |
74 |
S.E.5a (D6895) |
DFW C (DESF) |
SE of Neuve Eglise |
| 28 |
26 Jul 1918 |
0515 |
74 |
S.E.5a (D6895) |
DFW C (DES) |
W of Bailleul |
| 29 |
30 Jul 1918 |
1210 |
74 |
S.E.5a (D6895) |
Rumpler C (DESF) 1 |
Cassell-Ypres |
| 30 |
30 Jul 1918 |
1230 |
74 |
S.E.5a (D6895) |
LVG C (DES) |
Merville |
| 31 |
30 Jul 1918 |
1750 |
74 |
S.E.5a (D6938) |
Fokker D.VII (OOC) |
E of Armentières |
| 32 |
03 Aug 1918 |
1940 |
74 |
S.E.5a (E5967) |
LVG C (DES) |
SE of Merville |
| 33 |
04 Aug 1918 |
1710 |
74 |
S.E.5a (D6958) |
Hannover C (DES) |
W of Estaires |
| 34 |
06 Aug 1918 |
0750 |
74 |
S.E.5a (D6958) |
Fokker D.VII (DESF) |
Sailly sur la Lys |
| 35 |
06 Aug 1918 |
0750 |
74 |
S.E.5a (D6958) |
Fokker D.VII (DESF) |
Sailly sur la Lys |
| 36 |
07 Aug 1918 |
1225 |
74 |
S.E.5a (D6958) |
LVG C (DES) |
SE of Estaires |
| 37 |
07 Aug 1918 |
1715 |
74 |
S.E.5a (D6958) |
C (DES) |
E of Houthoulst Forest |
|
| 1 |
Shared with George Gauld, Harold Shoemaker |
|
|
| |
| |
Aces ·
Aircraft ·
Books ·
Forum ·
Help ·
Links ·
Medals ·
Search ·
Today
Copyright 1997-2025 The Aerodrome. All rights reserved.
|
|
