VICTORIA CROSS: WWI AIRMEN AND THEIR AIRCRAFT

Complete history of the First World War aviation VC awards • Packed with photographs and colour profiles of recipients and their aircraft The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of some Commonwealth countries and previous British Empire territories. It takes precedence over all other orders, decorations and medals. It may be awarded to a person of any rank in any service and civilians under military command, and is presented to the recipient by the British monarch during an investiture held at Buckingham Palace. It is the joint highest award for bravery in the United Kingdom with the George Cross, which is the equivalent honour for valour not in the face of the enemy. However, the VC is higher in order of precedence and would be worn first by an individual who had been awarded both decorations (which has not so far occurred). The VC was introduced on 29 January 1856 by Queen Victoria to reward acts of valour during the Crimean War. Since then the medal has been awarded 1,356 times to 1,353 individual recipients. The record for the number of Victoria Crosses awarded in a single conflict was 634 during the First World War. This book presents the story in words, photographs and colour profiles of the 19 aviation recipients of the Victoria Cross in the First World War and their aircraft that figured in the action. These include Albert Ball, Lanoe Hawker, McCudden, Mannock, Jerrard, Bishop and more…