John Joseph Malone

John Joseph Malone
Nickname(s) "Jack"
Born 20 December 1894
Inglewood, Caledon, Ontario, Canada
Died 30 April 1917
Vicinity of Rumaucourt, France
Arras Flying Services Memorial Pas de Calais, France
Allegiance King George V of the British Empire
Service/branch Royal Naval Air Service
Rank Flight Sub-Lieutenant
Unit No. 3 Naval Squadron RNAS
Awards Distinguished Service Order, Mentioned in Dispatches

Flight Sub-Lieutenant John Joseph Malone was a Canadian flying ace of the Royal Naval Air Service during World War I. He was credited with 10 aerial victories and won the Distinguished Service Order for his valor before dying in combat.

Early life

John Joseph Malone was born in Inglewood, Ontario, Canada on 20 December 1894; his parents were Mary C. Wallace and Edmund J. Malone. At the time of the younger Malone's enlistment on 11 December 1914, they were residing in Regina, Saskatchewan.[1] Malone gave his occupation as "gas engine mechanic". The medical officer noted that Malone was 5 feet 4 inches tall, with medium complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair. A scar on his hip was described as an identifying mark. Interestingly, a scrawl across the enlistment form seems to indicate that Malone was already "tagged" for flying duty; it reads, "Malone (indecipherable two words) to learn aviation".[2]

World War I

Malone learned to fly at the Curtiss Flying School at the Long Branch Aerodrome in Ontario. He earned his Royal Aero Club pilot's certificate on 15 July 1916, and was commissioned as a probationary Flight Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Air Service the same day.[3] He then shipped out for Britain.

On 1 February 1917, he was posted to No. 3 Wing RNAS (later designated No. 3 Naval Squadron RNAS). He scored his first aerial victory on 4 March 1917. After scoring a triple victory followed by a single one, he was an ace. Another triple win followed, bringing his tally to eight.[4]

On 24 April 1917, Malone managed to force a German two-seater to ground for a ninth triumph; Malone's engine then quit, forcing him to land his Sopwith Pup next to his victim. The German observer died of his wounds; his pilot was also wounded. Malone took custody of the pilot while under a barrage of artillery fire, and escorted him back to the squadron mess for a drink before the German departed into captivity.[3]

A tenth win two days later ended his string. Four days later, on 30 April 1917, Malone was shot down and killed by Paul Billik, beginning the latter's career as an ace.[4] John Joseph Malone is honored at the Arras Flying Services Memorial.[5][6]

His posthumous award of the Distinguished Service Order was gazetted on 23 May 1917:

For successfully attacking and bringing down hostile aircraft on numerous occasions. At about 6.30 a.m. on April 23rd, 1917, while on patrol, he attacked a hostile scout and drove it down under control. He then attacked a second scout, which, after the pilot had been hit, turned over on its back and went down through the clouds. A third scout, attacked by him from a distance of about 20 yards, descended completely out of control. While engaging a fourth machine he ran out of ammunition, so returned to the advanced landing ground, replenished his supply, and at once returned, and attacked another hostile formation, one of which he forced down out of control. On the afternoon of April 24th, 1917, he engaged a hostile two-seater machine, and, after badly wounding the observer, forced it to land on our side of the lines.[7]

List of aerial victories

No. Date/time Aircraft Foe Result Location Notes
1 4 March 1917 @ 1145 hours Sopwith Pup serial number 9898 Halberstadt D.II fighter plane Driven down out of control Manancourt, France
2 17 March 1917 @ 1025 hours Sopwith Pup s/n 9898 German reconnaissance plane Driven down out of control Northeast of Bapaume, France
3 17 March 1917 @ 1100 hours Sopwith Pup s/n 9898 Albatros D.II fighter Destroyed by fire Ervillers, France
4 17 March 1917 @ 1450 hours Sopwith Pup s/n 9898 Albatros D.II fighter Destroyed by fire Arras, France
5 21 April 1917 @ 1740 hours Sopwith Pup s/n 6208 German reconnaissance plane Driven down out of control 5 miles north of Queant, France
6 23 April 1917 @ Sopwith Pup s/n 6208 Albatros D.III fighter] Destroyed Croisilles, France
7 23 April 1917 @ Sopwith Pup s/n 6208 Albatros D.III fighter Driven down out of control Croissilles, France
8 23 April 1917 @ 0745 hours Sopwith Pup s/n 6208 Albatros D.III fighter Driven down out of control Croissilles-Havrincourt, France
9 24 April 1917 @ 1650 hours Sopwith Pup s/n 6208 DFW reconnaissance plane Captured Morchies-Louverval Victory shared with Herbert Travers and Francis Casey
10 26 April 1917 @ 1915 hours Sopwith Pup s/n 6202 Albatros D.III fighter Destroyed North of Cambrai, France [4]

See also

Endnotes

  1. ↑ Marc Leroux. "John Joseph Malone Died: April 30, 1917". Canadiangreatwarproject.com. Retrieved January 2014.
  2. ↑ "John Malone (attestation)". Theaerodrome.com. Retrieved January 2014.
  3. 1 2 "John Joseph Malone 1889–". Canadaveteranshallofvalour.com. Retrieved January 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 "John Malone". Theaerodrome.com. Retrieved January 2014.
  5. ↑ "Flight Sub-Lieutenant John Joseph Malone". Findagrave.com. Retrieved January 2014.
  6. ↑ "Malone, John, Joseph". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved January 2014.
  7. ↑ "Honours". Flight. 31 May 1917. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
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