Tap Jones commanded a squadron of obsolescent biplane Gladiator fighters during the Greek Campaign in the Second World War, where he shot down five Italian Fiat CR.
26 Facts About Tap Jones
1.
2.
Tap Jones served in mainly operational posts in Europe until he retired.
3.
Tap Jones retained the nickname "Tap" for the rest of his life.
4.
Tap Jones was a keen sportsman, representing the university and Lancashire at rugby union.
5.
Tap Jones enjoyed shooting and the outdoor life, but he showed little interest in his studies.
6.
Tap Jones trained as a pilot at Netheravon and joined "B" Flight of No 17 Squadron in Kenley, flying Gauntlet fighters.
7.
Tap Jones became commander of "A" Flight of No 80 Squadron in March 1940, while he was based in Amriya in Egypt.
8.
Tap Jones took charge of a flight of Gladiator when it moved to Trikala in central Greece in November 1940.
9.
Tap Jones was in action within days, engaging a formation of more modern Fiat CR.
10.
Tap Jones shot down two further Fiats on 28 February 1941, and was awarded an immediate Distinguished Flying Cross.
11.
Tap Jones received a Flying Cross from the Greek government.
12.
Tap Jones's battered squadron withdrew to Crete, then back to Egypt.
13.
Tap Jones left No 80 Squadron in 1942, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order.
14.
Tap Jones spent a year with the Rhodesian Air Training Group, then took command of the RAF Hawkinge in Kent.
15.
Tap Jones stayed with the Group during the whole campaign in Northwest Europe as Group Captain Operations and being appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in December 1944, when he returned to operational duties, taking command of No 121 Wing with its four squadrons of Typhoon fighters, based at Volkel in the Netherlands.
16.
Tap Jones was appointed a Commander of the Dutch Order of Orange-Nassau in 1945.
17.
Tap Jones had a succession of mainly operational appointments in Europe after the War.
18.
Tap Jones was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1956.
19.
Tap Jones served at the Headquarters of the Second Tactical Air Force and with the Air Task Force during the Suez Crisis.
20.
Tap Jones took command of RAF Wyton in 1957, the home base of the RAF's strategic reconnaissance forces.
21.
Tap Jones was promoted to acting air commodore in January 1959, and took command of the Central Reconnaissance Establishment.
22.
Tap Jones was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1960.
23.
Tap Jones commanded RAF forces in Germany from 1961 to 1963, then spent two years as Senior RAF Officer at the Imperial Defence College.
24.
Tap Jones took command of air forces in Malta as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Allied Forces in the Mediterranean in 1965.
25.
Tap Jones was promoted to air marshal in November 1966, and took up the position of Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Near East Air Force.
26.
Tap Jones was advanced to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1967, and retired from the RAF in August 1969.