Sorry Taffy

[Vigilant]

For some unaccountable reason I got it into my head that Ira 'Taffy' Jones had written some pretty queer stuff when lionising Mick Mannock. I even went so far as to suggest in a recent thread that there were far right undertones.

I've now reread "King of Air Fighters" and bought "Tiger Squadron" and found that I was talking complete codswallop.

I apologise to the memory of a brave man.

He may have told the odd porky but he wasn't a bad writer even if i do say so myself (biased).

Hows the law work going Vig?

Piece of cake! Still need a training contract tho :-(

Glad to here it. Those training contracts are like gold dust. Personally i am looking at different careers now and i am even doing a history course as an option next year. What exactly did you say about old Taffy as i have not been around for a bit?

[Vigilant]

We appear to be going in opposite directions! I came from history to law, as there are even fewer jobs there. On the other hand, those there are are probably more fun, so good luck to you!

I had a memory of Taffy saying things along the lines of Mick being a new hero type, a man who put sentiment aside and just did his best to slaughter the enemy, and what a good thing that was. He does say things a little like this, but I'd given it a Nietzche-esque spin in my mind that was not at all warranted. Taffy was just an aggressive fighter pilot who had no illusions about the job. And why not! - that was what he was paid to do, and did very well in two world wars.

You misunderstand me, i am not switching to History, just taking one wild module. If i could find a job to do with history i would but they do not exist outside of teaching and i don't want to do that. I will probably aim for the Civil service as it will give me plenty of time to hang around sites like this!

I have to say that i have a bit of a soft spot for Mick, i think it is the whole Canterbury thing! Good luck with the job hunt, i suppose i better do some revision!

Mark

I am interested in having the books written by Ira Jones, he was my great uncle and it is only reciently that I found this out, so if anyone knows of where any of his books are available, I would apreciate any assistance

regards


Tony

[Vigilant]

Here's the result of a search at Amazon.com and some advertising blurb...

1.An Air Fighter's Scrapbook (Vintage Aviation Library, 24)
by Ira Jones.


2. King of Air Fighters : The Biography of Major 'Mick' Mannock, V.C., D.S.O., M.C. (Vintage Aviation Library, No 21)
by Ira Jones.

3. Tiger Squadron : The Story of 74 Squadron, R.A.F., in Two World Wars (Wings of War)
by Ira Jones.

Ordering Out-of-Print Books From Amazon.com Is...

Easy! Just place an order by adding the book to your Shopping Cart and proceed through the order form.

Quick! We'll search for a used copy and send an order update within one to two weeks.

Risk-Free! When we locate a copy of your book, we'll send a price quote. We'll attempt to acquire the book only after you confirm your wish to purchase.

If you go to amazon.co.uk they have a copy of Tiger squadron for sale at around £22. An airfighters scrapbook probably isn't worth getting if you only want the information in it as it isn't that good (it was publish in 1942 and would appear to be propaganda for the fly boys) but for family history sake you will probably want a copy. The only one i have seen is in my University library (not much use!). They also have a copy of king of the airfighters but i haven't had a chance to view that yet.

Mark

Thanks for the info guys, will get onto amazon books right away, tally ho

regards


tony