Flying high

My daughter and I were both at the dentist in Farnham today for routine hygienist appointments. I often find a session with the hygienist more uncomfortable than the dentist. Still, I got the thumbs-up, which makes a change. Afterwards we went to Farnborough as Jen wanted to get some clothing for her upcoming trek in Slovenia from the Decathlon store. I hadn’t been to the shopping centre at Farnborough before, so went for a look around and came across this full size replica of a British fighter plane from World War One. Suspended from the rooflight it looked very dramatic.

The plane is a Scout Experimental - SE5A. It was the first aircraft made by the Royal Aircraft Establishment in Farnborough as a fully factory-made plane. It dates from 1917-18. My grandfather served with the Royal Flying Corps in the Great War as ground crew. He was a carpenter and I wonder if he ever worked on one of these planes. The airplane is identified as that of Major Edward (Mick) Mannock, VC, DSO and two bars. He was a leading British 'ace' of the war but was eventually shot down in July 1918 at the age of 31. He was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously in 1919. I used to read the 'Biggles' novels by WE  Johns as a boy and I am wondering now if the character of the hero of the books was based on that of Mick Mannock.