Ronald T. Mark (aviator)
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Ronald Turnbull Mark (born 1898, date of death unknown) was a World War I flying ace
credited with 14 aerial victories.
. He had joined them in January 1918. At 0830 hours on 18 February 1918, he teamed with Horace Barton
and Andrew Cowper
to drive a German DFW
two-seater reconnaissance airplane down out of control. He scored his second win that same day, driving a Pfalz D.III
fighter down out of control. The next morning, ten minutes combat saw Mark help Cowper, Reuben Hammersley
, and Peter MacDougall
burn another DFW recce machine and destroy a Rumpler
two-seater. On the 26th, Mark teamed with Ian Donald Roy McDonald
, Herbert Richardson
, and four other British pilots to destroy a new Fokker Dr.I
triplane fighter. Ronald Mark was now an ace. By checking internal evidence to Mark's victory list, these seem to have been the days described in the citation for his Military Cross
:
"...He showed great determination and resource during operations in attacking enemy troops and transport with machine gun fire. Observing some enemy transport in a village, he attacked it repeatedly and caused it to stampede. While on an offensive patrol he attacked and destroyed an enemy two-seater machine. He has destroyed one other enemy machine and driven down others out of control."
On 11 March, Mark, Herbert Richardson, Alfred John Brown, and two other pilots drove down a two-seater. Two days later, Mark repeated the feat, but single-handed. Two days after that, he teamed with Richardson and Cowper to destroy an observation plane. By 3 May, he had run his string to 14, sharing a victory each with Conway Farrell and Cyril Lowe
. On 21 May, he took off on the derring-do sortie described as justification for a second award of the Military Cross:
"...This officer and another pilot were escorting a formation of machines engaged on bombing a village, when seven enemy scouts attacked the bombers. They both attacked these scouts, but at the outset the other pilot's machine was set on fire, and 2nd Lt. Mark's right-hand top plane broke. During the fight that ensued each came to the rescue of the other. 2nd Lt. Mark first caused the other pilot's pursuer to break off his attack, and then the other pilot shot down the scout attacking 2nd Lt. Mark. The action of both these officers, in practically immanoeuvrable machines, in coming to the rescue of each other in turn showed courage and self-sacrifice of a very high order." Unmentioned is the finale; Mark's crashlanding of his damaged plane set it afire. Somehow Mark survived unscathed.
on probation "for the duration of hostilities". Exactly one year later, he was confirmed in his rank.
Ronald Turnbull Mark is mentioned only once more in the official records, in connection with a family estate, on 4 December 1953.
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...
credited with 14 aerial victories.
World War I service
Mark flew Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5as for 24 Squadron on the Western FrontWestern Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
. He had joined them in January 1918. At 0830 hours on 18 February 1918, he teamed with Horace Barton
Horace Barton
Captain Horace Dale Barton was a World War I flying ace credited with 19 aerial victories.He originally spent 1914–1916 with the army in German Southwest and East Africa. He then joined the Royal Flying Corps in England. His first assignment after pilot's training was 84 Squadron. On 3 January...
and Andrew Cowper
Andrew Cowper
Andrew King Cowper MC & Two Bars was an Australian fighter pilot and flying ace of the First World War. Born in Bingara, New South Wales, he was educated in the United Kingdom at Eastbourne College...
to drive a German 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...
two-seater reconnaissance airplane down out of control. He scored his second win that same day, driving a Pfalz D.III
Pfalz D.III
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962. ISBN 0-93385-271-1.* Grosz, Peter M. Pfalz D.IIIa . Berkhamsted, Herts, UK: Albatros Publications, 1995. ISBN 0-94841-425-1.* Guttman, Jon. Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1 ...
fighter down out of control. The next morning, ten minutes combat saw Mark help Cowper, Reuben Hammersley
Reuben Hammersley
Lieutenant Reuben George Hammersley was a World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.-Reference:...
, and Peter MacDougall
Peter MacDougall
Lieutenant Peter Aitken MacDougall was a World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.-References:...
burn another DFW recce machine and destroy a Rumpler
Rumpler
The Rumpler Tropfenwagen was a car developed by Austrian engineer Edmund Rumpler.Rumpler, born in Vienna, was a designer of aircraft when on the 1921's Berlin car show he introduced the Tropfenwagen. It was to be the first streamlined car . The Rumpler had a Cw-value of only 0.28...
two-seater. On the 26th, Mark teamed with Ian Donald Roy McDonald
Ian Donald Roy McDonald
Captain Ian Donald Roy McDonald was a World War I flying ace credited with 20 aerial victories. Although born in the British West Indies, he returned to England to serve in the air force. After his successful career in combat, he spent a short while at home before returning to the colors...
, Herbert Richardson
Herbert Richardson (aviator)
Lieutenant Herbert Brian Richardson was a World War I flying ace credited with 15 aerial victories.Richardson scored his first aerial victory on 18 February 1918. He then scored steadily through 4 April 1918. All his wins were scored while flying a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a fighter...
, and four other British pilots to destroy a new Fokker Dr.I
Fokker Dr.I
The Fokker Dr.I Dreidecker was a World War I fighter aircraft built by Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. The Dr.I saw widespread service in the spring of 1918...
triplane fighter. Ronald Mark was now an ace. By checking internal evidence to Mark's victory list, these seem to have been the days described in the citation for his Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
:
"...He showed great determination and resource during operations in attacking enemy troops and transport with machine gun fire. Observing some enemy transport in a village, he attacked it repeatedly and caused it to stampede. While on an offensive patrol he attacked and destroyed an enemy two-seater machine. He has destroyed one other enemy machine and driven down others out of control."
On 11 March, Mark, Herbert Richardson, Alfred John Brown, and two other pilots drove down a two-seater. Two days later, Mark repeated the feat, but single-handed. Two days after that, he teamed with Richardson and Cowper to destroy an observation plane. By 3 May, he had run his string to 14, sharing a victory each with Conway Farrell and Cyril Lowe
Cyril Lowe
Cyril Nelson "Kit" Lowe MC DFC was an English rugby union footballer who held England's international try scoring record for over sixty years, First World War flying ace credited with nine victories, and supposedly the inspiration for W. E. Johns' character "Biggles".- Early life :Lowe was born in...
. On 21 May, he took off on the derring-do sortie described as justification for a second award of the Military Cross:
"...This officer and another pilot were escorting a formation of machines engaged on bombing a village, when seven enemy scouts attacked the bombers. They both attacked these scouts, but at the outset the other pilot's machine was set on fire, and 2nd Lt. Mark's right-hand top plane broke. During the fight that ensued each came to the rescue of the other. 2nd Lt. Mark first caused the other pilot's pursuer to break off his attack, and then the other pilot shot down the scout attacking 2nd Lt. Mark. The action of both these officers, in practically immanoeuvrable machines, in coming to the rescue of each other in turn showed courage and self-sacrifice of a very high order." Unmentioned is the finale; Mark's crashlanding of his damaged plane set it afire. Somehow Mark survived unscathed.
World War II service and beyond
On 2 April 1940, Ronald Turnbull Mark was granted a commission as Pilot OfficerPilot Officer
Pilot officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below flying officer...
on probation "for the duration of hostilities". Exactly one year later, he was confirmed in his rank.
Ronald Turnbull Mark is mentioned only once more in the official records, in connection with a family estate, on 4 December 1953.