# Tap Jones

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{{Short description|Royal Air Force air marshals}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
|honorific_prefix = [Air Marshal](/source/Air_Marshal)
|name= Sir Edward Jones
|honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|KCB|CBE|DSO|DFC}}
|image= 
|image_size= 
|alt= 
|caption= 
|nickname= "Tap"
|birth_date= {{birth date|1914|08|31|df=yes}}
|birth_place= [Widnes](/source/Widnes), [Lancashire](/source/Lancashire), England
|death_date= {{death date and age|2007|02|20|1914|08|31|df=yes}}
|death_place= 
|allegiance= United Kingdom
|branch= [Royal Air Force](/source/Royal_Air_Force)
|service_years= 1935–1969
|rank= [Air Marshal](/source/Air_Marshal)
|unit= 
|commands= [Near East Air Force](/source/Near_East_Air_Force_(Royal_Air_Force)) (1966–69)<br/>[British Forces Cyprus](/source/British_Forces_Cyprus) (1966–69)<br/>RAF Malta (1965–66)<br/>[RAF Germany](/source/Royal_Air_Force_Germany) (1961–63)<br/>Central Reconnaissance Establishment (1959–60)<br/>[RAF Wyton](/source/RAF_Wyton) (1957–58)<br/>[RAF Valley](/source/RAF_Valley) (c.1951–53)<br/>[No. 121 Wing](/source/No._121_Wing_RAF) (1944–45)<br/>[RAF Hawkinge](/source/RAF_Hawkinge) (1942–43)<br/>[No. 80 Squadron](/source/No._80_Squadron_RAF) (1940–41)
|battles= [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War)<br/>[Suez Crisis](/source/Suez_Crisis)
|awards= [Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath](/source/Knight_Commander_of_the_Order_of_the_Bath)<br/>[Commander of the Order of the British Empire](/source/Commander_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire)<br/>[Distinguished Service Order](/source/Distinguished_Service_Order)<br/>[Distinguished Flying Cross](/source/Distinguished_Flying_Cross_(United_Kingdom))<br/>[Mentioned in Despatches](/source/Mentioned_in_Despatches)<br/>Flying Cross (Greece)<br/>[Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau](/source/Order_of_Orange-Nassau) (Netherlands)
|relations= 
|other_work=
}}
[Air Marshal](/source/Air_Marshal) '''Sir Edward Gordon "Tap" Jones''', {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|KCB|CBE|DSO|DFC}} (31 August 1914 – 20 February 2007) was an officer in the [Royal Air Force](/source/Royal_Air_Force) for 34 years, from 1935 to 1969. He commanded a squadron of [obsolescent](/source/obsolescent) [biplane](/source/biplane) [Gladiator](/source/Gloster_Gladiator) [fighters](/source/fighter_aircraft) during the [Greek Campaign](/source/Greek_Campaign) in the [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War), where he shot down five Italian [Fiat CR.42](/source/Fiat_CR.42) fighters. He served in mainly operational posts in Europe until he retired. Unusually, he never served a post in the [Air Ministry](/source/Air_Ministry) or the [UK Ministry of Defence](/source/UK_Ministry_of_Defence).<ref name="surfcity.kund.dalnet.se">[http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/commonwealth_jones.htm Air Marshal Sir Edward 'Tap' Gordon Jones]</ref>

==Early life==
Jones was born in [Widnes](/source/Widnes), [Lancashire](/source/Lancashire) (now [Cheshire](/source/Cheshire)), the third of four sons of Lieutenant Colonel Albert Jones.<ref name=tele>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071119024059/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/news/2007/02/27/db2701.xml Obituary], ''[The Daily Telegraph](/source/The_Daily_Telegraph)'', 27 February 2006</ref> His father was the borough medical officer. Jones spent time in India as a child, where his brothers nicknamed him "Doolally Tap" (meaning "slightly mad"). He retained the nickname "Tap" for the rest of his life.<ref name=tele/>

After grammar school, he studied medicine at [Liverpool University](/source/Liverpool_University), where he met his future wife.<ref name=tele/> His three brothers all became doctors, like their father, but Jones soon switched to [veterinary science](/source/veterinary_science).<ref name=tele/> He was a keen sportsman, representing the university and Lancashire at [rugby union](/source/rugby_union). He also enjoyed shooting and the outdoor life, but he showed little interest in his studies.<ref name=tele/>

==Royal Air Force==
Edward joined the RAF in 1935.<ref name=air>[http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Gordon-Jones_EG.htm Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Air Marshal Sir Edward Gordon Jones]</ref> He trained as a pilot at [Netheravon](/source/RAF_Netheravon) and joined "B" Flight of [No. 17 Squadron](/source/No._17_Squadron_RAF)<ref name=air/> in [Kenley](/source/Kenley), flying [Gauntlet](/source/Gloster_Gauntlet) fighters.<ref name=tele/> In March 1937 the [flight](/source/flight) was detached to form [No. 80 Squadron](/source/No._80_Squadron_RAF)<ref name=air/> which flew the Gladiator, the RAF's last biplane fighter.<ref name=tele/> As a [pilot officer](/source/pilot_officer), he was its [adjutant](/source/adjutant) from May 1937.<ref name=air/> He also played rugby for the RAF.

Promoted to [flying officer](/source/flying_officer), his squadron deployed to Egypt in April 1938.<ref name=tele/> He became commander of "A" Flight of [No. 80 Squadron](/source/No._80_Squadron_RAF) in March 1940, while he was based in [Amriya](/source/RAF_El_Amiriya) in Egypt.<ref name="surfcity.kund.dalnet.se"/>

===Second World War===
After Italy declared war on the United Kingdom and France on 10 June 1940, Jones took charge of a flight armed with modern [Hurricane](/source/Hawker_Hurricane) fighters. He took charge of a flight of Gladiator when it moved to [Trikala](/source/Trikala) in central Greece in November 1940. He was in action within days, engaging a formation of more modern [Fiat CR.42](/source/Fiat_CR.42) fighters, also biplanes, of the Italian [Regia Aeronautica](/source/Regia_Aeronautica) to the north of [Ioannina](/source/Ioannina). He shot down one on 27 November, then two more the next day over [Delvinakion](/source/Delvinakion), but was injured in the [dogfight](/source/dogfight) and spent a month recovering from a bullet wound in his neck. He returned to duty on 21 December, and took command of No. 80 Squadron on 27 December, after its commander, Squadron Leader Bill Hickey, was [killed in action](/source/killed_in_action).<ref name="surfcity.kund.dalnet.se"/>

Jones shot down two further Fiats on 28 February 1941, and was awarded an immediate [Distinguished Flying Cross](/source/Distinguished_Flying_Cross_(United_Kingdom)). He also received a Flying Cross from the Greek government.

After leave in Egypt, Jones returned to No. 80 Squadron. It had been re-equipped with modern [Hurricane fighter](/source/Hurricane_fighter)s shortly before Germany invaded Greece on 6 April 1941. His battered squadron withdrew to [Crete](/source/Crete), then back to Egypt. Finally, it moved to [RAF Aqir](/source/RAF_Aqir) in [Palestine](/source/Palestine_(region)) to regroup, where it fought against the [Vichy French](/source/Vichy_French) in [Syria](/source/Syria). He left No. 80 Squadron in 1942, and was awarded the [Distinguished Service Order](/source/Distinguished_Service_Order).<ref name=tele/>

He spent a year with the [Rhodesia](/source/Rhodesia)n Air Training Group, then took command of the [RAF Hawkinge](/source/RAF_Hawkinge) in [Kent](/source/Kent).<ref name=air/> After qualifying at the [Army Staff College](/source/Army_Staff_College)<ref name="ReferenceA">''Isle of Man Daily Times.'' Monday, 9 February 1959; Page: 4</ref> he was promoted to Acting [Group Captain](/source/Group_Captain) in May 1943,<ref name=air/> and joined the staff preparing tactical fighter operations for [D-Day](/source/D-Day).<ref name=tele/> His group, [No. 83 Group](/source/No._83_Expeditionary_Air_Group_(United_Kingdom)),<ref name=air/> transferred to [France](/source/France) shortly after D-Day, and moved eastwards with the front line. He stayed with the Group during the whole campaign in Northwest Europe as Group Captain Operations<ref name="ReferenceA"/> and being appointed an [Officer of the Order of the British Empire](/source/Officer_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire) in December 1944, when he returned to operational duties, taking command of [No. 121 Wing](/source/No._121_Wing_RAF) with its four squadrons of [Typhoon](/source/Hawker_Typhoon) fighters, based at [Volkel](/source/Volkel) in the Netherlands.<ref name=air/> He was appointed a [Commander of the Dutch Order of Orange-Nassau](/source/Order_of_Orange-Nassau) in 1945.

==Post-war career==
Jones had a succession of mainly operational appointments in Europe after the War. Unusually, he never served a post in the [Air Ministry](/source/Air_Ministry) or the Ministry of Defence.<ref name=tele/>

He served at the School of Land/Air Warfare and commanded No. 2 Wing, [No. 1 Initial Training School](/source/No._1_Initial_Training_School_RAF) at [RAF Jurby](/source/RAF_Jurby) following which he commanded No. 202 Advanced Flying School at [RAF Valley](/source/RAF_Valley), [Anglesey](/source/Anglesey).<ref name="ReferenceA"/> He was appointed a [Commander of the Order of the British Empire](/source/Commander_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire) in 1956.<ref name=air/> He served at the Headquarters of the [Second Tactical Air Force](/source/Second_Tactical_Air_Force)<ref name=tele/> and with the Air Task Force during the [Suez Crisis](/source/Suez_Crisis). He took command of [RAF Wyton](/source/RAF_Wyton) in 1957, the home base of the RAF's [strategic reconnaissance](/source/strategic_reconnaissance) forces.<ref name=air/>

He was promoted to acting [air commodore](/source/air_commodore) in January 1959,<ref name=air/> and took command of the Central Reconnaissance Establishment.<ref name=air/> He was appointed a [Companion of the Order of the Bath](/source/Companion_of_the_Order_of_the_Bath) in 1960.<ref name=air/> He commanded [RAF forces in Germany](/source/Royal_Air_Force_Germany) from 1961 to 1963,<ref name=air/> then spent two years as Senior RAF Officer at the [Imperial Defence College](/source/Imperial_Defence_College).<ref name=air/> He took command of air forces in [Malta](/source/Malta) as Deputy Commander-in-Chief (Air) of Allied Forces in the [Mediterranean](/source/Mediterranean) in 1965.<ref name=air/>

He was promoted to [air marshal](/source/air_marshal) in November 1966, and took up the position of Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief [Near East Air Force](/source/Near_East_Air_Force_(Royal_Air_Force)) (including responsibility for [British Forces Cyprus](/source/British_Forces_Cyprus) and Administration of the [Sovereign Base Areas](/source/Akrotiri_and_Dhekelia)).<ref name=air/> He was advanced to [Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath](/source/Knight_Commander_of_the_Order_of_the_Bath) in 1967,<ref name=air/> and retired from the RAF in August 1969.<ref name=air/>

He continued to enjoy sport in his retirement.<ref name=tele/>

==Family==
He married Margery Thurston Hatfield in 1938. His wife died in 2002. He was survived by their two sons.<ref name=tele/>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070311093704/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article1490149.ece Obituary], ''[The Times](/source/The_Times)'', 27 February 2007
*[http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/commonwealth_jones.htm Biography]

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=[Sir Thomas Prickett](/source/Thomas_Prickett)}}
{{s-ttl|title=Commander-in-Chief [Near East Air Force](/source/Near_East_Air_Force_(Royal_Air_Force))<br>Commander [British Forces Cyprus](/source/British_Forces_Cyprus)|years=1966–1969}}
{{s-aft|after=[Sir Denis Smallwood](/source/Denis_Smallwood)}}
{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Tap}}
Category:1914 births
Category:2007 deaths
Category:Royal Air Force air marshals
Category:British World War II flying aces
Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
Category:Academics of the Royal College of Defence Studies
Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
Category:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order
Category:Royal Air Force personnel of World War II
Category:People from Widnes
Category:Military personnel from Cheshire
Category:Lancashire County RFU players

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tap Jones](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tap_Jones) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tap_Jones?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.