16 Facts About Ernest Mason

Ernest Mason DFC was a British flying ace of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

Ernest Mason was credited with at least fifteen aerial victories.

Ernest Mason subsequently commanded No 94 Squadron and was killed during its first sortie with P-40 Kittyhawk fighters.

Ernest Mitchelson Mason was born in Darlington, in County Durham, the United Kingdom, on 29 July 1913, the son of E Mason and his wife Teresa, who were from Blackpool.

Ernest Mason was interested in engineering and mechanics and acquired a motorcycle when he was 14.

Ernest Mason joined the Royal Air Force on a short service commission in March 1938.

Ernest Mason was confirmed as pilot officer on 7 March 1939.

Ernest Mason was initially posted to a bomber squadron but subsequently arranged a transfer to No 80 Squadron, a unit of Fighter Command, by the time of the outbreak of the Second World War.

Ernest Mason was promoted to flying officer early the following month.

On 9 December 1940, the opening day of the offensive, Ernest Mason achieved his first aerial victories, one of five pilots sharing in the destruction of two Savoia-Marchetti SM.

Ernest Mason was by this time the leading Allied ace of the Libyan campaign.

Ernest Mason has continually shown a fine fighting spirit and has contributed materially to the heavy losses caused to enemy aircraft.

At the start of 1942, Ernest Mason was posted back to Egypt to command No 94 Squadron.

Ernest Mason's aircraft was shot down by Otto Schulz from Jagdgeschwader 27 and he was killed.

Ernest Mason is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial in Egypt.

Ernest Mason damaged six aircraft, three of which were shared with others.