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Second Lieutenant Albert Ball with Caudron G III
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Second Lieutenant Albert Ball with Caudron G III
The 19-year-old Second Lieutenant Albert Ball (1896-1917) with a Caudron GIII of the Ruffy-Baumann School of Flying at Hendon during the summer of 1915. He became an air ace, with a total confirmed score of 44. He was awarded the MC and the DSO and Bar in his lifetime, and the VC posthumously. Date: 1915
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Media ID 14221624
© Hugh W. Cowin Aviation Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library
Ball Baumann Biplane Caudron Giii Hendon Lieutenant Propeller Albert
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the youthful determination of 19-year-old Second Lieutenant Albert Ball as he stands next to his Caudron G III aircraft at the Ruffy-Baumann School of Flying in Hendon during the summer of 1915. The First World War was in full swing, and the young Ball was already making a name for himself in the skies above the Western Front. Ball, born in Nottingham, England, in 1896, was an exceptional flyer, quickly rising through the ranks of the Royal Flying Corps. By the end of the war, he would become one of the most successful air aces, with a confirmed score of 44 enemy planes shot down. Ball's bravery and skill were recognized with several decorations, including the Military Cross (MC) and Distinguished Service Order (DSO) with Bar, both awarded during his lifetime. His ultimate recognition came posthumously, when he was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest military decoration, for his actions during a dogfight on May 7, 1917. Ball's uniform and the biplane's propeller in the background serve as a stark reminder of the dangerous reality of wartime aviation during the early 20th century. The Caudron G III, a two-seat biplane, was one of the most popular training aircraft of the time. Ball's mastery of this machine laid the foundation for his impressive career as a fighter pilot and his place in aviation history. This photograph, taken during a pivotal moment in Ball's life, offers a glimpse into the past, capturing the spirit of a young man who would become a hero in the annals of World War I aviation.
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