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Albert Ball 4 August 1896 – 7 May 1917 (aged 20) Albert Ball Place of birth Nottingham, England Place of death Annœullin, France Allegiance United Kingdom Service/branch British Army (1914–15) Royal Flying Corps (1915–17) Years of service 1914–1917 Rank Captain Unit No. 9 Squadron RFC (1915–16) No. 13 Squadron RFC (1916) No. 11 Squadron RFC (1916) No. 60 Squadron RFC (1916) No. 56 Squadron RFC (1917) Battles/wars First World War Western Front Awards Victoria Cross Distinguished Service Order & Two Bars Military Cross Légion d'honneur (France) Order of St. George (Russia) Albert Ball VC, DSO & Two Bars, MC (14 August 1896 – 7 May 1917) was an English First World War fighter pilot and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British or Commonwealth armed forces. At the time of his death, he was the leading Allied ace with forty-four victories, and second only to Manfred von Richthofen ('the Red Baron') among all First World War aces. He remained the United Kingdom's fourth highest-scorer, behind Edward Mannock, James McCudden, and George McElroy.[1] Raised in Nottingham, Ball joined the Sherwood Foresters at the outbreak of the First World War and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in October 1914. He learnt to fly in his spare time and gained his pilot's licence in October 1915. Transferred to the Royal Flying Corps (RFC), he undertook training at Central Flying School, where he was awarded his wings on 26 January 1916. In February, he joined No. 13 Squadron RFC at Marieux in France, flying reconnaissance missions before being posted in May to No. 11 Squadron, a fighter unit. From May 1916 until his return to England on leave in October, Ball accrued many aerial victories, earning two Distinguished Service Orders and the Military Cross. He became the first fighter ace in England to capture the public's imagination. During his rest period he became engaged, but by April 1917 was anxious for a return to action. He was posted to No. 56 Squadron, which deployed to the Western Front on 7 April. Ball continued his record of victories before his final flight on 7 May, when he crashed to his death in a field in France whilst pursuing the Red Baron's brother, Lothar von Richthofen. He managed to force von Richthofen to the ground, but soon after emerged from a cloud bank upside down and impacted the ground before he could recover. He did not die immediately, but lived long enough to be pulled from the aircraft by a local girl, opening his eyes once more before passing away. He is commemorated by several memorials in Nottingham, including a statue and plaque in the grounds of Nottingham Castle. Contents 1 Early life 2 First World War 2.1 Flight training and reconnaissance tour 2.2 First fighter tour 2.3 Home front 2.4 Second fighter tour 2.5 Final flight 3 Legacy 4 Other awards and honours 5 Notes 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External links // Early life Albert Ball was born on 4 August 1896 at 32 Lenton Boulevard in Lenton, Nottingham. After a series of moves to houses throughout Lenton, his family settled at 43 Lenton Road, in a home known as Sedgley.[2][3] His father was Sir Albert Ball, a successful businessman who rose in status from a plumber to an alderman, and later Lord Mayor of Nottingham.[4] Young Albert's parents were considered loving and indulgent. In his youth, he had his own small hut behind the family house where he tinkered with engines and electrical equipment. He was raised with a knowledge of firearms, and conducted target practice in Sedgley's gardens. Possessed of keen vision, he soon became a crack shot.[5] He was also deeply religious.[6] Ball studied at both The King's School, Grantham and Nottingham High School before transferring to Trent College at the age of fourteen. He remained there between 1909 and 1913, displaying only average ability but developing his curiosity for things mechanical. His best subjects were carpentry, modelling, violin, and photography. He also served in the Officers Training Corps. When Albert graduated at the age of seventeen, his father staked him to a start in business as Universal Engineering Works in a building next door to the family home.[2] First World War Following the outbreak of the First World War, Ball enlisted in the British Army, joining the 7th (Robin Hood) Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment). By October 1914, he was ranked Sergeant, and gained his commission as a Second Lieutenant later that month. He was assigned to training recruits, but this rear-echelon role irked him.[2] In an attempt to see action, he transferred to the North Midland Cyclist Company, Divisional Mounted Troops, but remained confined to a posting in England.[3] While still in the Cyclist Company, Ball decided to take private flying lessons at Hendon, where his interest in engineering could find an outlet, and possibly help him to see action in France sooner. Beginning in June 1915, he paid his own way to undertake pilot training in his own time at the Ruffy-Baumann School, which charged £75 to £100 for instruction. He would wake at 3:00am to ride his Harley-Davidson motorcycle to Ruffy-Baumann and get in some flying at dawn, before beginning his daily military duty at 6:45.[2][7] His training at Ruffy-Baumann was not unique; Edwin Cole was learning to fly there at the same time.[8][9] Although considered an average pilot at best, Ball qualified for Royal Aero Club Certificate No. 1898 on 15 October 1915, and promptly requested transfer to the Royal Flying Corps (RFC).[2] Flight training and reconnaissance tour Ball in front of a Caudron G.3 Ball was seconded to No. 9 (Reserve) Squadron RFC on 23 October 1915, and trained at Mousehold Heath aerodrome near Norwich. In the first week of December, he soloed in a Maurice Farman Longhorn after standing duty all night, and his touchdown was rough. When his instructor commented sarcastically on the landing, Ball lost his temper and angrily exclaimed that he had only fifteen minutes experience in the plane, and that if this was the best instruction he was going to get, he would rather return to his old unit. The instructor relented, and Ball then soloed again and landed successfully on five consecutive flights. This rough landing was not the last Ball was involved in, however; he survived two others, including one at 120 miles per hour (190 km/h).[10] Completing his training at Central Flying School, he was awarded his wings on 26 January 1916. He was officially seconded from the North Midland Cyclist Company to the RFC as a pilot on 29 January 1916,[11][12] On 18 February 1916, Ball joined No. 13 Squadron RFC at Marieux in France, flying a two-seater Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2c on reconnaissance missions. He occasionally flew the squadron's single-seat Bristol Scout, preferring the freedom of independent operations that this gave him. His aggressive fighting spirit was encouraged by his commanding officer.[citation needed] It was while flying the F.E.2 "pusher" that Ball fought his first combat. On 29 March, he swooped on a German two-seater; Lieutenant S.A. Villiers—Ball's observer sitting in the front seat—fired a drum and a half of Lewis Gun ammunition at the enemy aircraft. In turn, a second German plane swooped on Ball's machine and his two foes were able to dive away. After this inconclusive skirmish, Ball wrote home in one of his many letters, "I like this job, but nerves do not last long, and you soon want a rest".[13] In a letter home during April 1916, Ball described his idea of a fighter plane "better than the Fokker".[14] Throughout his flying service he was primarily a "lone-wolf" pilot, carefully stalking his prey from below until he drew close enough to use his top-wing Lewis Gun on its Foster mounting, angled to fire upwards into the enemy's fuselage.[15] He also attacked heedless of odds. These tactics were in direct contrast to most other aces in the war; whose doctrine as stated by Germany’s Oswald Boelcke the RFC’s Edward Mannock emphasised swooping attacks from above in advantageous situations.[citation needed] First fighter tour On 7 May 1916, Ball was posted to 11 Squadron, flying both F.E.2bs and Nieuport 11 fighters.[16][17] After his first day of flying with his new unit, he wrote a letter home complaining about fatigue. He was unhappy with the hygiene of his assigned billet in the nearest village, and elected to live in a tent on the flight line. Later he built a hut to replace the tent, reasoning that it was better to be closer to his aeroplane.[18] This was a habit that Ball was to repeat throughout his military career. He was as much a loner on the ground as in the air, preferring to stay in his hut on the flight line away from other squadron members. His off-duty hours were spent tending his small garden and practicing the violin.[2][19] While not unsociable per se, he was extremely sensitive and shy.[20] Ball acted as his own mechanic on his aircraft and, as a consequence, was often untidy and dishevelled.[21] His iconoclasm in dress extended to his habit of flying without a helmet and goggles.[22] Nieuport 17, a type flown by Ball in No. 60 Squadron While flying Bristol Scout no. 5312 on 16 May 1916, Ball scored his first aerial victory, driving down an Albatros C. He then switched to Nieuport no. 5173 for his next four victories, becoming an ace and a balloon buster on 25 June by destroying an observation balloon with phosphor bombs.[3][23] On 16 July, Ball went to his commanding officer and requested a few days rest. Instead of a complete break from flying, he was temporarily reassigned to aerial reconnaissance with 8 Squadron, where he flew a Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c from 17 July to 14 August.[3] During this tour of duty, Ball undertook an unusual mission. On the evening of 28 July, he flew a French espionage agent across enemy lines. Dodging an attack by three German fighters, as well as anti-aircraft fire, he landed in a deserted field, only to find that the agent refused to deplane.[24] It was during brief period while he was back on reconnaissance duties that the London Gazette announced that he had been awarded the Military Cross "for conspicuous skill and gallantry on many occasions," particularly for "one occasion [when] he attacked six in one flight".[25] Ball's twentieth birthday was marked by his promotion to temporary captain and his return to No. 13 Squadron.[26] Using two Nieuports—nos. A134 and A201—he increased his number of victories to eleven by 22 August; on this day he scored three victories.[23] He ended the day by fighting fourteen Germans some 15 miles (24 km) behind their lines. With his plane badly damaged and out of fuel, he struggled back to Allied lines to land.[27] He then transferred with part of No. 11 Squadron to No. 60 Squadron RFC in August, taking Nieuport A201 with him.[16] He was assigned to lead A Flight, but had licence to fly solo missions.[3] His new commanding officer even assigned Ball his own personal aircraft and maintenance crew.[28] One of the squadron mechanics painted up a non-standard red propeller boss; A201 became the first of a series of Ball's airplanes to have such a paint job.[29] By 31 August, he had increased his score to seventeen victories.[16] The next day, he left A201 behind and went on leave.[3] While he had been in France, his feats had received considerable publicity. He found that his celebrity was such that he could not even walk down the streets of Nottingham without being stopped and congratulated.[30] He returned to No. 60 Squadron as a flight commander, and to immediate success.[3] He scored a morning and an evening victory on 15 September, flying two different Nieuports. On the evening sortie, he armed his plane with eight Le Prieur rockets on the outer struts, set to fire electrically. He intended to use them on an observation balloon. However, when he spotted three German Roland C.IIs, he broke their formation by salvoing his rockets at them, then picked off one of the confused pilots with machine-gun fire. After that, he settled in an improved airplane, Nieuport 17 no. A213. He had it rigged to fly tail-heavy, and had a holster built into the cockpit for the Colt automatic that he always toted.[31] Three times during September he scored triple victories in a day with his new plane, as well as three other separate "kills",[23] ending the month with his total score standing at thirty-one.[19] By the end of September, he had told his commanding officer that he had to have a rest and that he was taking unnecessary risks because of his nerves. On 3 October, he was sent on leave, en route to a posting at the Home Establishment in England.[32] Home front Ball had been awarded the Distinguished Service Order and bar simultaneously on 26 September 1916. The first award was "for conspicuous gallantry and skill" which saw Ball take on two enemy formations.[33] The bar was also "for conspicuous skill and gallantry" when he attacked four enemy aircraft in formation, and then on another occasion, twelve enemy machines.[34] Now that Ball had returned to England he expected a quiet spell of family leave for rest and recuperation. Instead, he was lionised as a national hero with a reputation as a fearless pilot and expert marksman.[2] A crowd of journalists awaited him on his family's doorstep. In an interview, he mentioned being downed six times in combat.[35] On 18 November, he was invested with his Military Cross and both DSOs at Buckingham Palace by King George V.[2] A second bar to the DSO followed on 25 November,[36] making him the first triple winner of the award.[3] There would be only one more triple DSO award to an aviator in the entire war,[37] to Britain's top ace of all time, Edward Mannock.[38] Ball was promoted to the substantive rank of Lieutenant on 8 December.[39] Austin AFB 1 outside Longbridge Works, mid-1917 Instead of returning to combat after his leave, Ball was posted to instructional duties in England with No. 34 (Reserve) Squadron, teaching pilot trainees.[2][40] It was during this time in England that he contacted the Austin Motor Company about building his proposed fighter plane. The prototype Austin-Ball A.F.B.1 was fast, with a top speed of 138 miles per hour, and could climb to 10,000 feet in less than nine minutes. Armament featured a machine gun firing through the propeller hub (thus avoiding the synchronization problems between gun and propeller that would trouble the contemporaneous Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5), and another mounted on the top wing in Ball's favoured location.[41] All in all, the Austin-Ball was at least comparable to the latest British fighter variant, the S.E.5a, which topped out at 120 miles per hour.[42] On 19 February, in a tribute from his native city, Ball became only the seventh Honorary Freeman of Nottingham.[43] On 25 March, while off-duty, he met 18-year-old Flora Young. He impulsively invited her to fly with him, and she promptly accepted. They borrowed a leather flying coat for her, and took off. He chatted lightly with her after they landed and that night, in the first of many notes he wrote to her, he admitted his attraction. Soon he was spending every spare moment with her. On 5 April, they became engaged; she wore his silver ID wrist bracelet in lieu of an engagement ring.[44] Second fighter tour Inaction chafed Ball, and he began agitating for a return to action.[citation needed] He finally managed to acquire a posting as a flight commander with No. 56 Squadron RFC, first to be equipped with the new Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 scout, and considered to be as close to an "elite" unit as any established by the RFC.[45] Ball had been slated to serve with the squadron for only a month to mentor rookie pilots.[46] He considered the S.E.5 to be under-developed, and was allowed to retain Nieuport 17 no. B1522 when the squadron went to France; permission for the Nieuport came from Hugh Trenchard who went on to become the first Chief of the Air Staff of the Royal Air Force.[47] No. 56 Squadron moved to the front in France on 7 April 1917;[2] it was the beginning of a hectic month for Ball.[23] S.E.5 no. A4850, fresh from its packing crates, had been extensively modified for Ball, with the cockpit 'greenhouse' and Vickers machine gun removed and the windscreen lowered to improve speed and performance. He had a slightly larger fuel tank installed, and a second Lewis Gun fitted to fire downwards through the floor of the cockpit.[48] Ball's aircraft was easy to recognise, since he had a red propeller boss from a German L.V.G. that he had shot down fitted to his plane. However, on 9 April, A4850 was refitted, and the downward-firing Lewis gun removed. A small Avro windscreen and a replacement Vickers gun were mounted.[47] In a letter to Flora Young on 18 April, Ball mentioned getting his own hut on the flight line, and installing his flight members nearby.[49] Ball in the cockpit of his S.E.5, April 1917 On 23 April 1917, Ball was under strict orders to stay over British lines, but still engaged the Germans five times in his Nieuport. In his first combat that day, using his preferred belly shot, he sent an Albatros into a spin, following it down and firing away until it struck the ground. It was the first kill for No. 56 Squadron's tour of duty. Regaining an altitude of 5,000 feet, he tried to dive underneath an Albatros two-seater and pop up under its belly as he was wont to do. However he overshot, and the German rear gunner put a burst of 15 bullets through the Nieuport's wings and spars. Ball limped the Nieuport home for repairs. Undaunted, he returned to battle in an S.E.5. In his third combat of the day, he fired five rounds before his machine gun jammed. After landing to clear the gun, he returned to jump five Albatros fighters and sent one down in flames. His fifth battle, shortly thereafter, seemed inconclusive, as the enemy plane managed to land safely. However, its observer had been mortally wounded.[50] Three days later, on 26 April, Ball scored another double victory, flying S.E.5 no. A4850, and one more on 28 April, to bring his total to thirty-six.[23] This last day's fighting left this S.E.5 so battered by enemy action that it was dismantled and sent away for repair.[51] Despite continual problems with jamming guns in the S.E.5s, Ball had a week of triumphs to open the next month. On 1 May, flying a brand-new S.E.5, no. A8898, he destroyed an Albatros and drove another one down. The next day, he switched to a different S.E.5, no. A4855, and scored two more victories. Switching back to A8898, he destroyed an Albatros D.III fighter on 4 May, and another pair the following day.[23] The latter of these victims nearly rammed him in a head-on firing pass, and Ball flew his seriously damaged plane home in an advanced state of nervousness.[52] The squadron armourers and mechanics undertook repair of the faulty machine-gun synchronizer on A8898. Ball had been sporadically flying the Nieuport again, and he was successful with it on 6 May, destroying one more Albatros D.III in an evening flight, for his forty-fourth kill. He had continued to undertake his habitual lone patrols, but had lately been fortunate to survive. The heavier battle damage that Ball's aircraft were now suffering bore witness to the improved team tactics being developed by his German opponents.[53] Final flight The Last Fight of Captain Ball, VC, DSO and 2 Bars, MC, 7th May 1917 by Norman Arnold, 1919 On the evening of 7 May 1917, near Douai, eleven British aircraft from No. 56 Squadron led by Ball in an S.E.5 encountered German fighters from Jasta 11. A running dogfight in deteriorating visibility resulted, and the aircraft became scattered. Cecil Arthur Lewis, a participant in this fight, described it in his memoir Sagittarius Rising.[54] Ball was last seen by fellow pilots pursuing the red Albatros D.III of Lothar von Richthofen, who eventually landed near Annoeullin with a punctured fuel tank. Ball's squadron-mate Cyril Crowe observed Ball flying into a dark thundercloud. A German pilot officer on the ground, Lieutenant Hailer, then saw Ball's plane falling upside-down from the bottom of the cloud, at an altitude of 200 feet, with a dead prop; early model S.E.5 engines could not run inverted.[55] Hailer and his three companions hurried to the crash site. They saw no bullet holes in the wrecked plane. Richthofen was credited by the Germans with shooting Ball down; however there is some doubt as to what happened, especially as Richthofen's claim was for a Sopwith Triplane, not an S.E.5, which was a biplane. Given the amount of propaganda the German high command generated touting the younger von Richthofen, a high-level decision may have been taken to credit Ball's death to him.[56] It is probable that Ball was not shot down at all, but had become disoriented and lost control during his final combat,[23] the victim of a form of temporary vertigo that has claimed other pilots.[55] A young French woman had pulled Ball from the wreckage, and he died in her arms of injuries suffered in the crash; a German doctor later described a broken back and a crushed chest, along with other lesser injuries.[57][58] It was only at the end of May that the Germans dropped messages behind Allied lines announcing that Ball was dead, and had been buried with full military honours.[59] Legacy Captain Albert Ball, VC, DSO, MC. Notts and Derby Regt, and RFC by Edward Newling, 1919 On 7 June 1917, the London Gazette announced that Ball had received the Croix de Chevalier, Legion d'Honneur by the French government.[60] The following day, he was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions from 25 April to 6 May 1917:[61] “ Lt. (temp. Capt.) Albert Ball, D.S.O., M.C., late Notts. and Derby. R., and R.F.C. For most conspicuous and consistent bravery from the 25th of April to the 6th of May, 1917, during which period Capt. Ball took part in twenty-six combats in the air and destroyed eleven hostile aeroplanes, drove down two out of control, and forced several others to land. In these combats Capt. Ball, flying alone, on one occasion fought six hostile machines, twice he fought five and once four. When leading two other British aeroplanes he attacked an enemy formation of eight. On each of these occasions he brought down at least one enemy. Several times his aeroplane was badly damaged, once so seriously that but for the most delicate handling his machine would have collapsed, as nearly all the control wires had been shot away. On returning with a damaged machine he had always to be restrained from immediately going out on another. In all, Capt. Ball has destroyed forty-three German aeroplanes and one balloon, and has always displayed most exceptional courage, determination and skill. ” Ball was posthumously promoted to Captain on 15 June.[62] His confirmed victories during the war were one balloon and twenty-eight aircraft destroyed, one of which was shared. He was also credited with six aircraft downed "out of control", and nine "forced to land".[63] Although the Austin-Ball A.F.B.1 prototype was successful, it never went into production. With Ball dead, it had no advocate.[64] Albert Ball, Sr., bought the French field where his son had died and erected a plain memorial stone on the crash site.[65] In further remembrance of his son, Ball Sr. built a row of eight homes in Lenton to house the families of local servicemen killed in action. Opened on 7 September 1922, the homes featured some unusual design elements. The row was built to evoke an aircraft, with the homes the wings, and the central porch reminiscent of a cockpit. The two centre homes had curving doors, windows, and walls that also fit the theme. Windows on the row were suggestive of propellers. They were also built with ease of use for the elderly in mind.[2] There are several memorials to Ball around Nottingham, including a statue and a plaque in the grounds of Nottingham Castle;[66] the statue was dedicated in September 1921.[67] His Victoria Cross is displayed inside the castle along with other Ball memorabilia at the Sherwood Foresters Museum.[68] A memorial to Ball, along with his parents and sister, appears on the exterior wall of the southwest corner of Holy Trinity Church in Lenton.[2] In 1967, the Albert Ball VC Scholarships were instituted at his alma mater, Trent College.[69] The dining hall at Trent College features the propeller from one of his aircraft, mounted on one wall with a plaque describing his achievements.[70] In 1999, a school in Annœullin was, upon its inception, named in honour of Albert Ball, the choice of so naming the school having been made by the children themselves.[58] One of the houses at Nottingham High School Junior School is also named after Ball.[71] Other awards and honours Distinguished Service Order (DSO) 2nd Lt. (temp. Lt.) Albert Ball, M.C., Notts. & Derby. R. and R.F.C. For conspicuous gallantry and skill. Observing seven enemy machines in formation, he immediately attacked one of them and shot it down at 15 yards range. The remaining machines retired. Immediately afterwards, seeing five more hostile machines, he attacked one at about 10 yards range and shot it down, flames coming out of the fuselage. He then attacked another of the machines, which had been firing at him, and shot it down into a village, when it landed on the top of a house. He then went to the nearest aerodrome for more ammunition, and, returning, attacked three more machines, causing them to dive under control. Being then short of petrol he came home. His own machine was badly shot about in these fights. Supplement to the London Gazette, 26 September 1916 (29765/9419)[72] Distinguished Service Order (DSO) Bar Lt. Albert Ball, D.S.O., Notts. & Derby R. and R.F.C. For conspicuous skill and gallantry. When on escort duty to a bombing raid he saw four enemy machines in formation. He dived on to them and broke up their formation, and then shot down the nearest one, which fell on its nose. He came down to about 500 feet to make certain it was wrecked. On another occasion, observing 12 enemy machines in formation, he dived in among them, and fired a drum into the nearest machine, which went down out of control. Several more hostile machines then approached, and he fired three more drums at them, driving down another out of control. He then returned, crossing the lines at a low altitude, with his machine very much damaged. Supplement to the London Gazette, 26 September 1916 (29765/9421)[72] Distinguished Service Order (DSO) Bar 2nd Lt. (temp. Capt.) Albert Ball, D.S.O., M.C., Notts. & Derby. R. For conspicuous gallantry in action. He attacked three hostile machines and brought one down, displaying great courage and skill. He has brought down eight hostile machines in a short period, and has forced many others to land. Supplement to the London Gazette, 25 November 1916 (29837/11531)[72] Military Cross (MC) 2nd Lt. Albert Ball, 7th Bn. Notts. & Derby. R., T.F., and R.F.C. For conspicuous skill and gallantry on many occasions, notably when, after failing to destroy an enemy kite balloon with bombs, he returned for a fresh supply, went back and brought it down in flames. He has done great execution among enemy aeroplanes. On one occasion he attacked six in one flight, forced down two and drove the others off. This occurred several miles over the enemy's lines. Supplement to the London Gazette, 27 July 1916 (29684/7435)[72] Notes ^ "The Aces of World War I". The Aerodrome. http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/by_score.php. Retrieved 29 July 2009.  ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Albert Ball V.C.". The Lenton Listener. Issue 14, September–October 1981. http://www.lentontimes.co.uk/images/gallery/albert_ball/albert_ball_listener_14.htm. Retrieved 29 July 2009.  ^ a b c d e f g h "Captain Albert Ball VC DSO MC". Colonel Frank Seeley School. http://www.albertball.homestead.com/Biography.html. Retrieved 29 July 2009.  ^ Albert Ball, VC. pp. 18–19.  ^ Albert Ball, VC. pp. 20–21.  ^ Albert Ball VC. p. 138.  ^ Albert Ball VC. pp. 30–31.  ^ "The Royal Aero Club of the United Kingdom: Official Notices to Members". Flight: p. 1017. 14 December 1915. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1915/1915%20-%201053.html. Retrieved on 6 March 2010.  ^ 1915 Aviators Certificates – UK at Grace's Guide. Retrieved on 6 March 2010. ^ Albert Ball VC. pp. 35–37.  ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29473, p. 1660, 11 February 1916. Retrieved 30 July 2009. ^ London Gazette: no. 29470, p. 1589, 11 February 1916. Retrieved 30 July 2009. ^ Albert Ball VC. p. 48.  ^ The British Fighter Since 1912. p. 111.  ^ Nieuport Aces of World War 1. pp. 9–11, 28–29.  ^ a b c Nieuport Aces of World War 1. p. 11.  ^ British and Empire Aces of World War 1. pp. 62–63.  ^ Albert Ball, VC. pp. 50–54.  ^ a b Nieuport Aces of World War 1. p. 12.  ^ Albert Ball, VC. pp. 85–86.  ^ Albert Ball VC. pp. 32, 114.  ^ Albert Ball VC. pp. 17, 118, photos facing pages 96, 113.  ^ a b c d e f g "Albert Ball". The Aerodrome. http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/ball.php. Retrieved 29 July 2009.  ^ Albert Ball, VC. pp. 64–68.  ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29684, p. 7435, 25 July 1916. Retrieved 30 July 2009. ^ Albert Ball, VC. p. 71.  ^ Albert Ball, VC. p. 76.  ^ Albert Ball, VC. pp. 77, 91.  ^ Albert Ball, VC. pp. 84–85.  ^ Albert Ball, VC. p. 82.  ^ Albert Ball, VC. p. 91.  ^ Albert Ball, VC. pp. 101–102.  ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29765, p. 9419, 26 September 1916. Retrieved 30 July 2009. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29765, p. 9421, 26 September 1916. Retrieved 30 July 2009. ^ Albert Ball VC. pp. 105–106.  ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29837, p. 11531, 24 November 1916. Retrieved 30 July 2009. ^ "Distinguished Service Order". The Aerodrome. http://www.theaerodrome.com/medals/gbritain/dso.php. Retrieved 27 July 2009.  ^ "Edward Mannock". The Aerodrome. http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/mannock.php. Retrieved 27 July 2009.  ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29891, p. 271, 2 January 1917. Retrieved 30 July 2009. ^ Albert Ball VC. pp. 106.  ^ The British Fighter Since 1912. pp. 111–112.  ^ "S.E.5". The Aerodrome. http://www.theaerodrome.com/aircraft/gbritain/raf_se5.php. Retrieved 27 July 2009.  ^ Albert Ball VC. pp. 110.  ^ Albert Ball, VC. pp. 114–115.  ^ Above the Trenches. pp. 36.  ^ Albert Ball, VC. pp. 129, 140.  ^ a b Albert Ball, VC. p. 120.  ^ Albert Ball, VC. p. 113.  ^ Albert Ball, VC. p. 121.  ^ Albert Ball, VC. pp. 123–124.  ^ Albert Ball, VC. pp. 125–128.  ^ Albert Ball, VC. pp. 137–138.  ^ Albert Ball, VC. pp. 130, 131.  ^ Albert Ball, VC. pp. 143.  ^ a b Albert Ball, VC. pp. 157.  ^ Albert Ball, VC. pp. 155–156.  ^ Albert Ball, VC. pp. 141–152.  ^ a b "French school children honour British WWI fighter ace Captain Albert Ball VC, DSO & 2 Bars, MC. Royal Flying Corps". VictoriaCross.org. http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/bbball.htm. Retrieved 29 July 2009.  ^ Albert Ball, VC. pp. 158, photo facing page 160.  ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30110, p. 5451, 1 June 1917. Retrieved 30 July 2009. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30122, p. 5702, 8 June 1917. Retrieved 30 July 2009. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30129, p. 5862, 12 June 1917. Retrieved 30 July 2009. ^ Above the Trenches. pp. 60.  ^ British Fighters Since 1912. p. 112.  ^ Albert Ball, VC. pp. 160.  ^ "captain albert ball vc monument , grounds of nottingham castle". Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/decipher_shot/2495682808/. Retrieved 29 July 2009.  ^ "Nottingham Castle - Museum & Art Gallery". BBC. 25 June 2008. http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A37235630. Retrieved 29 July 2009.  ^ "Albert Ball - World War I Flying Ace". BBC. 8 May 2008. http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A33315022. Retrieved 29 July 2009.  ^ Albert Ball, VC. pp. 161–162.  ^ Trent College dining hall ^ Ball's House ^ a b c d http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/ball.php Retrieved 27 December 2009. References Bowyer, Chaz (1977). Albert Ball, V C. William Kimber & Co. ISBN 0 7183 0045 9.  Franks, Norman (2000). Nieuport Aces of World War 1. Oxford: Osprey. ISBN 1855329611.  Franks, Norman (2007). SE5/5a Aces of World War 1. Oxford: Osprey. ISBN 184603180X. OCLC 84151449.  Mason, Francis K. (1977). The British Fighter Since 1912. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1557500827.  Shores, Christopher (2001). British and Empire Aces of World War 1. Oxford: Osprey. ISBN 1841763772. OCLC 464318884.  Shores, Christopher; Franks, Norman; Guest, Russell (1990). Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces, 1915–1920. London: Grub Street. ISBN 0948817194. OCLC 22113328.  Further reading Barker, Ralph (2002). The Royal Flying Corps in World War I. Robinson. ISBN 1841194700.  Captain Ball VC: The Career of Flight Commander Ball VC DSO by Walter Alwyn Briscoe and H Russell Stannard Published by Herbert Jenkins Ltd, London 1918 External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Albert Ball Albert Ball - British Flying Ace of World War 1 Albert Ball Albert Ball - Hall of Fame of the Air Burial location of Albert Ball "France" Location of Albert Ball's Victoria Cross "Sherwood Foresters Museum" Albert Ball News Item "(French school children honour WWI Fighter Ace)" "A Song about Albert Ball" v • d • e Aviation in World War I People and aircraft Commanders · Aces · Aircraft of the Entente Powers · Aircraft of the Central Powers · Zeppelins · World War I aircraft Entente Powers air services British air services (Royal Flying Corps, Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Air Force) · French Air Service · Imperial Russian Air Force · Italian Military Air Corps · United States Army Air Service · Greek Air Services (Army Air Service, Naval Air Service) Central Powers air services German air services (Army Air Service, Navy Air Service) · Austro-Hungarian Imperial and Royal Aviation Troops · Ottoman Air Force · Bulgarian Army Aeroplane Section Persondata Name Ball, Albert Alternative names Short description Date of birth 4 August 1896 Place of birth Nottingham, England Date of death 7 May 1917 Place of death Annœullin, France