Adrian Tonks
Encyclopedia
Captain Adrian James Boswell Tonks was a British World War I flying ace
. He was credited with 12 official aerial victories, and won a Distinguished Flying Cross for his successes. He also won a second DFC for his valor in pressing home bombing assaults on the enemy.
Tonks was posted to 4 Naval Squadron as a Sopwith Camel
pilot. He scored his first aerial victories on 22 August 1917, when he sent down two German Albatros D.V
fighter planes out of control southeast of Ostend
. On 9 November, it was a DFW
reconnaissance two-seater that he put down out of control north of Pervijze
, Belgium. On 23 November 1917, he scored another "out of control" victory east of Keiem
, over another Albatros D.V.
Tonks would be promoted from Flight Sub-Lieutenant to Flight Lieutenant
on 1 January 1918. He resumed scoring on 30 June 1918, driving down a Fokker D.VII
out of control over Zeebrugge
. On both 10 and 13 August, he drove down another Fokker D.VII. On 15 August, he sent down three Fokker D.VIIs out of control east of Ypres
. On 28 September 1918, he destroyed a Fokker D.VII over Werken
, and sent another down out of control. He then turned to bombing missions.
Tonks won two Distinguished Flying Crosses in quick succession. The first one, awarded 2 November 1918, was granted for his valor in aerial combat. Its accompanying citation read:
"A brave and determined airman who has destroyed four enemy aeroplanes and driven down six out of control. In a recent engagement with twelve enemy scouts he destroyed one and drove off others who were attacking some pilots in his flight. In these combats he expended all his ammunition, but seeing three enemy machines attacking one of ours, he, with great gallantry, dived amongst them with a view to distracting their attention...."
He received the Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross in lieu of a second award on 3 December 1918. As its text related:
"Since 28th September this officer has led eleven low bombing raids, displaying conspicuous courage and skill, and inflicting serious damage on enemy from low altitudes. During bombing raids Captain Tonks has destroyed two enemy machines, proving himself a bold and daring fighter."
's Hadra War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt.
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
. He was credited with 12 official aerial victories, and won a Distinguished Flying Cross for his successes. He also won a second DFC for his valor in pressing home bombing assaults on the enemy.
World War I
On 13 August 1916, Tonks was appointed a probationary Flight Sub-Lieutenant.Tonks was posted to 4 Naval Squadron as a Sopwith Camel
Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...
pilot. He scored his first aerial victories on 22 August 1917, when he sent down two German Albatros D.V
Albatros D.V
|-See also:-Bibliography:*Bennett, Leon. Gunning for the Red Baron. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2006. ISBN 1-58544-507-X....
fighter planes out of control southeast of Ostend
Ostend
Ostend is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke , Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast....
. On 9 November, it was a DFW
DFW
DFW may refer to:*Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport*Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, a metropolitan area in north Texas*Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources*Division of Fisheries and Wildlife...
reconnaissance two-seater that he put down out of control north of Pervijze
Pervijze
Pervijze is a small rural village in the Belgian province of West-Flanders, and a part of the municipality of Diksmuide. Pervijze has an area of 12.23 km² and almost 900 inhabitants...
, Belgium. On 23 November 1917, he scored another "out of control" victory east of Keiem
Keiem
Keiem is a small town situated some 7 km north of Diksmuide in West Flanders, Belgium. Administratively it forms part of Diksmuide Municipality....
, over another Albatros D.V.
Tonks would be promoted from Flight Sub-Lieutenant to Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
on 1 January 1918. He resumed scoring on 30 June 1918, driving down a Fokker D.VII
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...
out of control over Zeebrugge
Zeebrugge
Zeebrugge is a village on the coast of Belgium and a subdivision of Bruges, for which it is the modern port. Zeebrugge serves as both the international port of Bruges-Zeebrugge and a seafront resort with hotels, cafés, a marina and a beach.-Location:...
. On both 10 and 13 August, he drove down another Fokker D.VII. On 15 August, he sent down three Fokker D.VIIs out of control east of Ypres
Ypres
Ypres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote...
. On 28 September 1918, he destroyed a Fokker D.VII over Werken
Werken
Werken is a town in Kortemark, a part of Belgium.See also: West Flanders-External links:*...
, and sent another down out of control. He then turned to bombing missions.
Tonks won two Distinguished Flying Crosses in quick succession. The first one, awarded 2 November 1918, was granted for his valor in aerial combat. Its accompanying citation read:
"A brave and determined airman who has destroyed four enemy aeroplanes and driven down six out of control. In a recent engagement with twelve enemy scouts he destroyed one and drove off others who were attacking some pilots in his flight. In these combats he expended all his ammunition, but seeing three enemy machines attacking one of ours, he, with great gallantry, dived amongst them with a view to distracting their attention...."
He received the Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross in lieu of a second award on 3 December 1918. As its text related:
"Since 28th September this officer has led eleven low bombing raids, displaying conspicuous courage and skill, and inflicting serious damage on enemy from low altitudes. During bombing raids Captain Tonks has destroyed two enemy machines, proving himself a bold and daring fighter."
Post World War I
On 3 January 1919, Tonks was confirmed in his rank as captain. He died and was buried in plot B.158 in AlexandriaAlexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
's Hadra War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt.