Arthur G. Jones-Williams

Captain Arthur Gordon Jones-Williams (6 October 1898 – 17 December 1929) was a World War I flying ace originating from Wales. He was credited with eleven aerial victories.^[1] In 1929, he made two attempts at setting a nonstop flight record.^[2][3]

World War I service

As of 25 January 1917, Second Lieutenant Jones-Williams was seconded from the Welsh Regiment to the Royal Flying Corps.^[4]

Jones-Williams's first victory string was achieved while flying a Nieuport fighter for 29 Squadron.^[1] He flew as a wingman to D'Arcy Fowlis Hilton; he was also friends with Charles Cudemore.^[5]

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.^[1]

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.^[6] On 1 August 1919, he was granted a permanent commission as a captain.^[7][8] On 1 January 1928, he was promoted from Flight Lieutenant to Squadron Leader.^[9]

Between 24 and 26 April 1929, Jones-Williams and his co-pilot Lieutenant Norman Jenkins made the first flight from the United Kingdom to British India, covering 4,130 miles (6,651 kilometers) between RAF Cranwell and Karachi in 50 hours 48 minutes in a Fairey Long-Range Monoplane,^[2][3][10] falling only 336 miles (541 kilometers) short of the world non-stop flight distance record.^[10]

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, French Tunisia, on 17 December 1929. He died an intestate bachelor, leaving an estate worth 202 British pounds.^[11]

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)^[12][13]

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.^[14]

Order of the British Empire was awarded in June 1927.^[15]

References