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| Name: |
James Ira Thomas "Taffy" Jones |
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| Country: |
Wales |
| Rank: |
Captain |
| Service: |
Royal Flying Corps |
| Units: |
10, 74 |
| Victories: |
37 |
| Born: |
18 April 1896 |
| Place of Birth: |
St. Clears, near Carmarthen |
| Died: |
29 August 1960 |
| Place of Death: |
Swansea |
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Ira Jones had an unfortunate habit of crashing aircraft when attempting to land. This may have stemmed from poor depth perception. Despite his vision problems, he survived 28 crashes and scored 37 victories in just 3 months whilst serving with 74 Squadron in France. Jones died in hospital from injuries sustained in a fall from a ladder at his home. He was 65.
"It is wonderful how cheered a pilot becomes after he shoots down his first machine; his morale increases by at least 100 percent." Ira Jones |
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| 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." Supplement to the London Gazette, 3 August 1918 (30827/9201) |
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| 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." Supplement to the London Gazette, 16 September 1918 (30901/10973) |
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| 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.)" Supplement to the London Gazette, 21 September 1918 (30913/11248) |
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| 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." Supplement to the London Gazette, 2 November 1918 (30989/12960) |
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| Victories |
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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 |
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| 1 |
Shared with George Gauld, Harold Shoemaker |
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