An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir Dec 2015 / Jan 2016 www.dfmagazine.ie 32 | IRIsH ACEs OF THE RFC AnD RAF In THE FIRsT WORlD WAR The Lives Behind the Legends I jumped at the chance to read this book, brought up as I was on a diet of WWI aces such as Mannock (61 'kills') and ball (44), germany's baron von Richtoffen (80) and boelke (40), and France's Rene Fonck (75, and leading Allied ace) and Charles nungesser (21). It is a fine production, with attractive cover sleeve artwork and containing many interesting pictures. I must confess I would be happier if there were more pictures as these are becoming more available now and they surely would add to the overall content in a positive way. The chapter layout is well structured and appealing, with each ace's story starting with brief biographical details, awards, and number of kills, which sets the stage nicely for each chapter. The content lives up to the high print quality and produc- tion, and I couldn't put it down. A gripping, well researched, well interpreted analysis of these Irish aces. The details of their background, school life, early military service, and the locations mentioned where they grew up and were educat- ed here are what really sets this book apart and add greatly to its interest for the Irish reader. We all probably associate aces with single-seat aircraft pi- lots and I was surprised by the number of observers/gunners classified as aces, having more than five kills. These airmen crewed missions with a variety of pilots, yet managed to dis- pose of several enemy aircraft through accurate deflection shooting while their own craft was taking evasive action! A remarkable feat, and the kill was credited to the gunner, not the pilot. Noteworthy amongst these was Sgt JJ Cowell, a Limerick man who scored 15 kills as an air gunner and one following completion of his pilot training. He was awarded the Military Medal twice, as well as the Distinguished Con- duct Medal. Another of note was 2/Lt Giles Noble Blenne- rhassett, from Sligo, who accumulated eight kills and was also awarded the Military Medal. Like Cowell, he trained as a pilot, serving in Home Defence fighter units to counter Ger- man bomber raids on London towards the end of the war. Following the Armistice he was posted to 11th (Irish) Group based at Baldonnel in 1919. Few of the aces survived the war but those that did have their post-war lives traced out in satisfying detail. A few even served again in WWII. One of these, Lt Harry George Crowe from, Donnybrook, Dublin, enlisted in the Royal Irish Regiment, seeing action on the Somme front then at Messines. Having survived a year in combat at a time when infantry officers' lives were measured in days, he was accepted as an air gunner, sub- sequently being credited with eight victories and winning the Military Medal. He then qualified as a pilot, graduating just as the war ended. After the war he was posted to RAF Collinstown, moving to RAF Baldonnel then Fermoy before a number of overseas postings. Following service as Air Group Commander (India) in WWII he received an OBE in 1944 and the Cloud and Banner Decoration with Special Cravat from the Peoples' Republic of China in 1946: a remarkable career and span of service! One name that caught my eye was that of Major TF Hazell, MC DSO DFC and Bar, whose name I came across in the last two years after the discovery of his badly neglected grave in Newport, Co Mayo. Hazell was an accomplished air fighter with 46 kills to his name. His burial in Newport is appropri- ate, due to the Nieuport Scout being his favourite aircraft. His grave has now been restored and as next year is the centenary of the award of his 'Wings, there might even be a celebration in Mayo of his outstanding war service. If you have an interest in early combat aviation, are an avid reader of WWI, or are an Irish military researcher or his- torian, then I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is a tour de force, opening up an intriguing and previously unrecorded aspect of Irish engagement in WWI. It certainly has a place in the context of this decade of commemora- tion, marking as it does an alternative aspect to early 20th Century Irish fighting spirit and military service. Reviewed by Brig gen Willliam Paul Fry, gOC Air Corps Author: Joe Gleeson Publisher: Fonthill Media (October 2015) fonthillmedia.com IsBn: 978-1781554869 Price: €31.65 H/B Pages: 272

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