Edward Corringham "Mick" Mannock was a British-Irish flying ace who served in the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force during the First World War. Mannock was a pioneer of fighter aircraft tactics in aerial warfare. At the time of his death he had amassed 61 aerial victories, making him the fifth highest scoring pilot of the war. Mannock was among the most decorated men in the British Armed Forces. He was honoured with the Military Cross twice, was one of the rare three-time recipients of the Distinguished Service Order, and was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.
Mannock in his flying kit, c. 1917
Mannock (far left) with family members
Mannock with his dog
The officers of No. 85 Squadron, including Major Mannock, in front of their S.E.5a scouts at Saint-Omer aerodrome.
Fighter aircraft are military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat. In military conflict, the role of fighter aircraft is to establish air superiority of the battlespace. Domination of the airspace above a battlefield permits bombers and attack aircraft to engage in tactical and strategic bombing of enemy targets.
An F-16 Fighting Falcon (left), P-51D Mustang (bottom), F-86 Sabre (top), and F-22 Raptor (right) fly in a formation representing four generations of American fighters.
Airco DH.2 "pusher" scout
The USAF Lockheed Martin F-35A
SPAD S.A.2, with gunner in "basket" up front