Albert Ball Biography

He joined the army upon the outbreak of war in August 1914, receiving a commission into the Sherwood Foresters. Two years later he was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps and quickly established himself as an ace of great daring.

Rapidly proving himself a natural fighter pilot - invariably flying French Nieuports, which he constantly tweaked in seek of improved manoeuvrability - Ball gained widespread public renown for his achievements in the air war.

He shot down 43 enemy planes and one balloon. He also contributed greatly to British air supremacy at the Battle of the Somme.

One evening in 1917 eleven British aircraft from 56 Squadron, including Albert Ball's, encountered German fighters near Douai in France. A running battle was fought in deteriorating visibility, and the aircraft became scattered. Both Ball and the famous German ace, Lothar von Richthofen, crashed. Ball was killed, but von Richthofen survived and was credited by the Germans with shooting Ball down.

There is however some doubt as to exactly what happened. German propaganda of the time made great play of German aerial aces, and von Richthofen may even have been ordered to make the claim. It is possible that Ball was not shot down at all, but became disoriented and lost control.

Albert Ball, who was only 20-years-old at the time, was awarded the Victoria Cross.