Arthur G. Jones-Williams
Encyclopedia
Captain Arthur Gordon Jones-Williams was a World War I flying ace
originating from Wales. He was credited with eleven aerial victories. In 1929, he made two attempts at setting a nonstop flight record.
.
Jones-Williams's first victory string was achieved while flying a Nieuport
fighter for 29 Squadron. He flew as a wingman to D'Arcy Fowlis Hilton
; he was also friends with Charles Cudemore
.
Between 14 April and 23 September 1917, Jones-Williams drove down out of control eight German fighter planes. His second victory came while flying a Sopwith Camel
for 65 Squadron. Between 5 September and 4 October 1918, he drove down out of control three more German fighters.
to Squadron Leader
.
Between 24 and 27 April 1929, Jones-Williams, along with his co-pilot Lieutenant Norman Jenkins, set a near-record nonstop flight record of 4,130 miles between London and Karachi, piloting a Fairey Long-range Monoplane
and covering the distance in 50 hours, 48 minutes. Jones-Williams tried to better that record later in the year, and died while attempting a nonstop flight from England to South Africa. He crashed at Djbel Lit, Zaghaouan, Tunisia on 17 December 1929. He died an intestate bachelor, leaving an estate worth 202 British pounds.
2nd Lt. Arthur Gordon Jones-Williams, Welsh R. and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has continuously shown the utmost dash and gallantry in attacking superior numbers of hostile machines. On one occasion he attacked twelve hostile scouts and succeeded in destroying one and driving down another. Supplement to the London Gazette, 18 July 1917 (30188/7234)
Military Cross (MC) Bar
2nd Lt. (T./Capt.) Arthur Gordon Jones-Williams, M.C., Welsh R. (attd. R.F.C.).
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when engaged in combat with hostile aircraft. On several occasions he attacked enemy formations although they were in superior numbers, fighting them in more than one instance single-handed, and showing the finest offensive spirit. He drove several machines down completely out of control, fighting until his ammunition was expended. Supplement to the London Gazette, 17 September 1917 (30287/9559)
French Croix de Guerre with Palme was gazetted 5 April 1919.
Order of the British Empire was awarded in June 1927.
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
originating from Wales. He was credited with eleven aerial victories. In 1929, he made two attempts at setting a nonstop flight record.
World War I service
As of 25 January 1917, Second Lieutenant Jones-Williams was seconded from the Welsh Regiment to the Royal Flying CorpsRoyal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
.
Jones-Williams's first victory string was achieved while flying a Nieuport
Nieuport
Nieuport, later Nieuport-Delage, was a French aeroplane company that primarily built racing aircraft before World War I and fighter aircraft during World War I and between the wars.-Beginnings:...
fighter for 29 Squadron. He flew as a wingman to D'Arcy Fowlis Hilton
D'Arcy Fowlis Hilton
Lieutenant D'Arcy Fowlis Hilton was an American World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.-Early life:D'Arcy Fowlis Hilton was the son of Francis Alfred and Isabel...
; he was also friends with Charles Cudemore
Charles Cudemore
Captain Charles William Cudemore was a World War I flying ace credited with 15 aerial victories.-World War I service:...
.
Between 14 April and 23 September 1917, Jones-Williams drove down out of control eight German fighter planes. His second victory came while flying a Sopwith Camel
Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...
for 65 Squadron. Between 5 September and 4 October 1918, he drove down out of control three more German fighters.
Post war service
Jones-Williams, while still a second lieutenant, had been brevetted a Temporary Captain when he had been raised to a flight leader's slot on 25 May 1917. On 1 August 1919, he was granted a permanent commission as a captain. On 1 January 1928, he was promoted from Flight LieutenantFlight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
to Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
.
Between 24 and 27 April 1929, Jones-Williams, along with his co-pilot Lieutenant Norman Jenkins, set a near-record nonstop flight record of 4,130 miles between London and Karachi, piloting a Fairey Long-range Monoplane
Fairey Long-range Monoplane
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Cooksley, Peter. "Long Range Fairey". Air Enthusiast, Fifty-one, August to October 1993.Stamford, UK:Key Publishing. ISSN 0143-5450. pp. 49–53....
and covering the distance in 50 hours, 48 minutes. Jones-Williams tried to better that record later in the year, and died while attempting a nonstop flight from England to South Africa. He crashed at Djbel Lit, Zaghaouan, Tunisia on 17 December 1929. He died an intestate bachelor, leaving an estate worth 202 British pounds.
Honors and awards
Military Cross (MC)2nd Lt. Arthur Gordon Jones-Williams, Welsh R. and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has continuously shown the utmost dash and gallantry in attacking superior numbers of hostile machines. On one occasion he attacked twelve hostile scouts and succeeded in destroying one and driving down another. Supplement to the London Gazette, 18 July 1917 (30188/7234)
Military Cross (MC) Bar
2nd Lt. (T./Capt.) Arthur Gordon Jones-Williams, M.C., Welsh R. (attd. R.F.C.).
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when engaged in combat with hostile aircraft. On several occasions he attacked enemy formations although they were in superior numbers, fighting them in more than one instance single-handed, and showing the finest offensive spirit. He drove several machines down completely out of control, fighting until his ammunition was expended. Supplement to the London Gazette, 17 September 1917 (30287/9559)
French Croix de Guerre with Palme was gazetted 5 April 1919.
Order of the British Empire was awarded in June 1927.