Britain
Edward 'Mick' Mannock
1887–1918 Fighter ace and squadron leader
Edward Mannock, the son of a British Army corporal and an Irish mother, grew up in poverty and came to flying late, at the age of 29. He was a slow starter but a fine leader, who coached new pilots in the tactics that kept them alive and shared his victories with them. Credited with 61 victories (some accounts say more), he commanded No. 85 Squadron and was killed on 26 July 1918 by ground fire after following a burning aircraft too low over the German lines. The Victoria Cross was awarded to him posthumously in July 1919.