Last known image of Mick Mannock, courtesy of Robin Vansemmortier Collection

Last known image of Mick Mannock, courtesy of Robin Vansemmortier Collection.

Edward Corringham "Mick" Mannock VC, DSO & Two Bars, MC & Bar (24 May 1887 – 26 July 1918) was a British flying ace in the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force during the First World War. Mannock was a pioneer of fighter aircraft tactics in aerial warfare. At the time of his death he had amassed 61 aerial victories, making him the fifth highest scoring pilot of the war.

Major Edward Mannock had recently been appointed to command 85 Squadron On the 10th July 1918.

He got terrible news , his Friend James McCudden had been killed in a flying accident!

On the morning of July 9, McCudden who was in ENGLAND bid farewell to his sister Mary in London. “I’d like you to look after these for me, sis,” he said, handing her a package that contained his decorations. Later that afternoon while he was taking off from Auxi-le-Château to join his new command, his S.E.5a stalled during a steep climbing turn, perhaps due to a faulty carburetor, and he crashed into a nearby wood. He was found unconscious near the wreck, suffering from head injuries. Rushed to a field hospital, 23-year-old James McCudden died that evening!

The news of his friends demise sent "Mick " into a morbid flux & he took the loss very personally...

A killing spree ensued! bend on revenge for the death of his Friend he shot down six German aircraft between 14 and 26 July and would follow them all the way down to the ground making curtain they were dead by shooting up the crash site!

One of the observers left an account of the action. Private Edward Naulls (2nd Battalion Essex Regiment) was in the trenches near Pacault Wood.

I was with D Company, 2nd Battalion of the Essex Regiment, on the Lys sector of the front. Stand-down was at 5 a.m. Shortly afterwards a 'Jerry' [aircraft] appeared over no-man's-land. A little while later two British fighter 'planes arrived and engaged the Jerry in combat…. A few bursts from their guns sent it crashing in flames towards Merville, near Lestrem, at La Croix Marmuse. 

His account continues….

Mannock dived to within 40ft of the ground. I think this is a fair estimate because the trees in Pacault Wood were not more than 30ft high and Mannock's 'plane cleared them by a few feet. Inglis circled at about 100ft. Suddenly, there was a lot of rifle fire from the Jerry trenches and then a machine-gun opened up. I saw tracers enter Mannock's engine on the port side. In a few seconds a tiny bluish-white flame spread, enveloping the engine and cockpit, then a cloud of smoke and flame.

With the propeller still turning the 'plane went down in a long glide and crashed in flames beyond Pacault Wood near La Pierre au Beure. A great column of black smoke shot up. Inglis started to climb away but his engine stalled —I distinctly heard it splutter twice before it stopped — and he forced-landed behind the front line near St Floris."

RIP Sir.