Sir Edward Gordon Jones — obituary

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 02/27/2007

[NormsRevenge]

One helluva ride and career.
British Pride

RIP Air Marshal

[Blueflag]

FYI

http://www.battle-of-britain.com/BoB2/aircraft/British/Gladiator.htm

[NormsRevenge]

He flew one of these near the end of WW2.

Hawker Typhoon

[popdonnelly]

The Gladiator and the Fiat CR42 were contemporaries and comparable in performance - the last of the biplane fighters.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

My step dad went across at Windsor and volunteered for the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1940. He had some flying experience in small planes and the Canuks grabbed him. He was a trainer in the RCAF and later with the AAF when the Americans were mustered home.

[bd476]

Rest in Peace Air Marshall Jones



'Tap' Jones (middle) in late 1940.

On 28 November 1940 six Gladiators from 80 Squadron's 'A' Flight flew a fighter mission led by Flight Lieutenant Jones. Over Delvinakion they reported meeting twenty CR.42s.

This was in fact ten aircraft of 150o Gruppo C.T. led by Capitano Giorgio Graffer, commander of 365a Squadriglia.

In the ensuing dogfight Flying Officer H. U. Sykes (Gladiator N5812) and Sergente Corrado Mignani collided, both pilots being killed. Jones, after claiming two CR.42s shot down off the tails of fellow pilots, had Gladiator N5816 badly shot-up, his instrument panel smashed, and a bullet wound in his neck. He was escorted back to Yanina by Sergeant Donald Gregory, where he managed to land safely."

Biplane fighter aces-Wing Commander Sir Edward Gordon 'Tap' Jones KCB CBE DSO DFC, RAF no. 37357



The Shuttleworth Collection's Gloster Gladiator in the pre-war markings of 72 Squadron.

From the article in the Telegraph: "The third of four sons of Lt-Col Dr Albert Jones DSO, MC, Edward Gordon Jones was born on August 31 1914 at Widnes (England) and educated at the local grammar school...

...'Tap' Gordon Jones died on February 20. He married, in 1938, Margery Hatfield. They had met on St David's Day 1934, when he borrowed money from his ever-generous eldest brother to buy her a large bunch of daffodils. For the 63 years of their marriage, a similar bunch arrived every St David's Day."

[Myrddin]

I'm hoping our daffodils will come up in time for St. David's Day, but we're having snow every night and just melting it off the streets during the day. The green tips of the leaves have emerged, but I don't expect to see them in full bloom in time.

Here is my little patch from the front yard garden. The picture is from April 29, 2005. A bit late as usual.

[bd476]

Those are lovely daffodils! Thank you for sharing your photo.

About this year's daffodils, it's difficult growing when ...mae'n ddigon oer i rewi brain.

(It's cold enough to freeze a brass monkey)

[rmlew]

The Gloster Gladiator was obsolete. It is a testament to their flying skills and Jones's command that his men survived at all.
4 .303 machine guns in an all-metal biplane. That's so 1934, but they were fighting in 1940 against assorted Italian planes and Me-109Es.

[tanuki]

Maybe I'm a sucker for anachronisms, but I've always liked the Gladiator. To me, it is one of the most graceful and beautiful airplanes ever built.

[Myrddin]

Mae hi'n wyntog heddiw. Mae hi'n oer iawn.

[bd476]

Prynhawn Da. Mae hi'n wyntog.

(Good afternoon. It is windy.)

Please don't expect discussion from me in Cymraeg about the Santa Ana winds today.

Am y tywydd, gorau tewi. ;0)

(It is best to be silent about the weather.)

[fieldmarshaldj]

Rest in peace.

[Billthedrill]

RIP. The term "role model" has become so corrupted that sometimes we forget that men like this exist. 63 years of daffodils is a life's worth of daffodils.

[Myrddin]

My proficiency isn't all that hot either. If you enjoy nice music in Welsh, check out "Plethyn" and Linda Healy. You can find many nice titles at Sain. In addition to music, they have videos in Welsh. For a nominal fee they will convert a selection to NTSC from the PAL format used in Europe. I purchased a copy of Hedd Wyn in Welsh with English subtitles.

Nos da a pob hwyl!

[bd476]

Myrddin wrote: "...For a nominal fee they will convert a selection to NTSC from the PAL format used in Europe..."

What is NTSC and PAL?

Diolch yn fawr. Hwyl fawr am nawr!
(Thanks very much. Goodbye for now!)

[Myrddin]

NTSC is the composite video format used on American TV sets. The acronym means National Technical Standards Committee. Less charitable interpretations include Never The Same Color. PAL is the composite video format used in Europe (along with SECAM). It is incompatible with NTSC, thus the need to translate.

I have to get back to work tonight as well. If you want some free Welsh lessons, you can find them here on the BBC site. Catchphrase is excellent. You can buy their products as books and tapes too.

[bd476]

Great link Myrddin. Diolch!

I tried playing the beginner's instructional game "Colin and Cumberland."

Selsig, wyau a ffa for breakfast in the morning sounds good.

[Myrddin]

Selsig, wyau a ffa for breakfast in the morning sounds good.

Ydy, wir. Nos da tan yfory.