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