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Albert Ball VC (Hardback)

Fighter Pilot Hero of World War I

Aviation > Aviation Biography & Memoirs Aviation > WWI Military > Victoria Crosses WWI > By Year > 1914 WWI > By Year > 1915 WWI > By Year > 1916 WWI > By Year > 1917

By Colin Pengelly
Imprint: Pen & Sword Aviation
Pages: 224
ISBN: 9781844159048
Published: 6th April 2010

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Albert Ball's individuality and his insistence on fighting alone set him apart from other fighter pilots during World War One. His invincible courage and utter determination made him a legend not only in Britain but also amongst his enemies, to whom the sight of his lone Nieuport Scout brought fear.

In 1914 he enlisted in the British army with the 2/7th Battalion (Robin Hoods), of the Sherwood Foresters, Notts and Derby Regiment. By the October of 1914 he had reached the rank of Sergeant and then in the same month was made a Second-Lieutenant to his own battalion.

In June 1915 he paid for private tuition and trained as a pilot at Hendon. In October 1915 he obtained Royal Aero Club Certificate and requested transfer to the Royal Flying Corps. The transfer granted, he further trained at Norwich and Upavon, being awarded the pilot's brevet on 22 January 1916. On 16 May 1916 - flying Bristol Scout 5512 - he opened his score, shooting down an Albatros C-type over Beaumont. On 29 May 1916 he shot down two LVG C-types, whilst flying his Nieuport 5173. Captain Albert Ball made his final flight on 7 May 1917 when he flew SE5 A4850 as part of an eleven-strong hunting patrol into action against Jagdstaffel 11, led by Lothar Von Richthofen. It was a very cloudy day. Albert was pursuing Lothar's Albatros Scout who crash-landed, wounded. Then Albert was seen by many observers to dive out of a cloud and crash. He died minutes later in the arms of a French girl, Madame Cecille Deloffre. He rose from obscurity to the top rank of contemporary fighter pilots in only 15 months. In that period he had been awarded the MC, DSO and two Bars and was credited with at least 44 victories. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.

Whilst telling the story of Ball, the reader also gains a valuable insight into the daily life and experience of being part of a Flying Squadron.

Jon Sandison, Freelance

It is an interesting read and provides the personal insight into a real individual behind the legend that he became.

Read the complete review here.

Military Model Scene, Robin Buckland

Well written biogrpahy. 10/10

The Great War magazine, July 2017 - reviewed by Mark Marsay

As featured in

Essence Magazine

As featured in.

Wartime Memories Project

As seen in the Nottingham Post.

Nottingham Post

This informative account of the ace's life and death is particularly incisive, using a balance of German and British sources. A good and interesting book. It is recommended highly.

Between the Bookends
 Colin Pengelly

About Colin Pengelly

Colin Pengelly specialises in Naval history and Great War Aviation. He is a member of The Navy Records Society. This is his third book. His biography of Albert Ball VC is also published by Pen and Sword Books. He lives at Weston-super-Mare.

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