Ira 'Taffy' Jones

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone has read any of the three books written by Ira Jones. I would like to find out which book gives the best information about his life both during and after World War 1. I am curious if 'An Air Fighter's Scrapbook' gives the best account of his own experiences.

regards

I've only read "Tiger Squadron" so can't compare / contrast with the other two. It was primarily autobiographical and covered the military-related aspects of his life through middle age.

[Ginger.]

I've got all three 'An Air Fighter's Scrapbook' is the one you want. It covers his service in Russia, later career and a writing lesson from Lawrence Of Arabia!
Especially interesting are the notes added at the end of the 1990 edition by Norman Franks. They give the service details of the Airmen Taffy mentions in the book.
Did you read an earlier thread on how he died falling off a ladder and his widow marrying his best mate!?

[Richard_Schrader]

Ginger;
I bet she pushed him!

Richard Schrader

Thank you very much gentlemen for your opinions and comments. I will have to get a copy of 'An Air Fighter's Scrapbook'.

regards

[Ginger.]

Germany's Black Knight pushed him to within an inch of his life, high in the empty blue.
Taffy Jones outlived all them that tried to kill him in combat.
"He must fall. Remember Ball."

[Vigilant]

I haven't read 'Air Fighters Scrapbook' but 'Tiger Squadron' does contain some interesting chapters on Taffy's early experiences as an observer flying BE2c's.

His first time in combat is particularly memorable:
"I fired again as he flashed underneath us. ... I could see it doing an Immelmann turn (nowadays called a half-roll), intended to bring the machine back underneath us and give the pilot a quick burst at our unprotected belly. ... Seeing this blighter, and being unable to do anything about it, was more than I could stand. I yanked the gun out of the rear socket, leaned over the right side of the cockpit and, holding the Lewis like a rifle, let go with a burst. I had reckoned, however, without the recoil of the gun and the effect of the slipstream on an insecurely held weapon. Before I had let off 20 rounds, the gun slipped out of my gloved hands. I shall never forget the look of horrified surprise on O'Hara Wood's face when he saw our only gun sailing down past the Fokker. My own feelings were beyond description." [p.38]

Taffy was also regularly air sick on his first flights, so it goes to show that even future aces could get off to an iffy start!

Vig.

[Richard_Schrader]

Ginger;
And boy did Jones fall, just like Ball!

Richard Schrader

[Ginger.]

Ginger throws the note and the old bog seat it was attached too to the ground. Scowling furiously at the tattered old Fokker doing slow victory rolls over his airfield he shouts.
"Ready the SE with the big G on it. Keep clear of the portaloos chaps just in case, this time that old bleeder's gone too far!"
Pulling on his gauntlets and goggles Ginger sprints to his kite. >

[Barker]

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 it 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.
— Captain James Ira Thomas 'Taffy' Jones, RFC, 37 victories in 3 months W.W.I.