Product Description

Arguably the highest scoring R.A.F. fighter pilot of the First World War, Edward 'Mick' Mannock's life, and most particularly his death, are still shrouded in mystery. Did he achieve as many victories as are sometimes ascribed to him? How did he die? Where did he die, and more pertinently, where do his remains now lie?

Respected investigative historians Norman Franks and Andy Saunders have assessed all the evidence and cut through the speculation to build up a complete picture of the man and his achievements as a fighter pilot. Having unearthed much new and enlightening information, they present herein, perhaps the first truly balanced overview of his life.

Vitally, they now also reveal exactly where Mannock VC fell in battle ninety years ago, and have now begun a quest to persuade the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to accept their findings, published here for the first time, along with numerous original photographs.

REVIEWS

"...provides a detailed analysis of Mannock's combat record...addresses lingering aspects of Mannock's legend. ..is bound to stand as the definitive reference for years to come. Five Stars." Aerodome, 09/2008

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #782470 in Books
• Published on: 2008-08
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 192 pages

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Customer Reviews

After 90 years...The DEFINITIVE Biography of Mick Mannock!
The 'King of the Air Fighters,' Edward Corringham 'Mick' Mannock, was killed in action on 26 July 1918. In the intervening years various articles and biographies have appeared, many of which have muddied the historical waters regarding Britain's WWI ace of aces. Now, at last, we have a definitive account of the life and times of this extraordinary fighter pilot and combat leader, courtesy of two top-notch authors, Norman Franks and Andy Saunders.

MANNOCK is a wonderfully-researched and engagingly-written book. Though a fairly slim volume - 192 pages - it packs more factual information on him than most of the other Mannock biographies combined. Not only does MANNOCK create a vivid portrait of the great fighter ace, it also sets the record straight regarding many of the myths that have arisen since 1918.

For example: Mannock downed 73 aircraft. False: He never claimed anywhere near 70. Taffy Jones, who flew with him and wrote a biography of Mick, put his score at 73 to displace Billy Bishop, who Jones hated, as top British ace. (Bishop claimed 72*).
Item: Mannock was blind in one eye. False: Mannock had slight vision problems in one eye but he wasn't blind.
Item: Mannock hated Germans with a passion. Exaggerated: Mannock often used anti-German tirades and "sizzle, sizzle, wonk" gallows humor to install in his pilots the killer instinct and to buck up his own failing morale.
Item: Mannock was suffering from combat fatigue in mid-1917 and should have been sent on leave rather than being made CO of 85 Squadron. True: Though Mannock successfully hid his nervous fatigue from the medico and some 74 Squadron pilots, he was clearly in need of rest. Being a patriot he refused to ask for such leave and did his duty.
Item: Mannock's body was never found. False: The authors make a convincing case for where Mannock's body is buried and why the mix-up occurred.

Along with many vivid, first-hand reminiscences of Mannock the man and the warrior, the Franks/Saunders books features over 70 evocative photographs of Mick, his squadronmates, their aircraft, squadron life scenes and their German opponents and the aircraft they flew. Several maps are also included.

In short, MANNOCK is aviation history at its best. It deserves six stars and then some! Highly recommended.

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*Since the authors credit Mannock with 61 victories, readers might assume Billy Bishop then becomes top dog since he claimed 72. However the veracity of Bishop's claims has been widely questioned, many aviation historians now discounting almost all his kills. See THE MAKING OF BILLY BISHOP for details.

Mannock Revisited
I have a fairly extensive library of WW1 aviation references, including several biographical references on Edward 'Mick' Mannock. I was unsure that this volume would be worth purchasing, fearing that nothing new and informative would be included. I am delighted to say that my fears were groundless.

This book is less biographical than most others, focusing instead on the service career of Mick Mannock. In particular, it brings Mannock's victory total more in line with current research, rather than inflating this aspect of his career for the authors' personal agendas.

Lest it be thought that the biographical elements of this book have been given short shrift, there are a number of fascinating insights into Mannock the man which more comprehensive biographical works have omitted.

The book concludes with an orderly analysis of the controversy over the location of Mannock's gravesite, and a review of the citations covering his several decorations.

All in all, this book includes something for both veteran researchers, and those just discovering the world of aviation in the Great War. Not only that, but it reads well.