John Joseph Malone

John Joseph Malone, (20 December 1894 – 30 April 1917) was a Canadian flying ace of the Royal Naval Air Service during the First World War. He was credited with 10 aerial victories and received the Distinguished Service Order before dying in combat.

Early life John Joseph Malone was born in Inglewood, Ontario, Canada on 20 December 1894; his parents were Mary C. Wallace and Edmund J. Malone. At the time of the younger Malone's enlistment on 11 December 1914, they were residing in Regina, Saskatchewan. Malone gave his occupation as "gas engine mechanic". The medical officer noted that Malone was 5 feet 4 inches tall, with medium complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair. A scar on his hip was described as an identifying mark. A scrawl across the enlistment form seems to indicate that Malone was already "tagged" for flying duty; it reads, "Malone... to learn aviation".

First World War Malone learned to fly at the Curtiss Flying School at the Long Branch Aerodrome in Ontario. He earned his Royal Aero Club pilot's certificate on 15 July 1916, and was commissioned as a probationary flight sub-lieutenant in the Royal Naval Air Service the same day. He then shipped out for Britain.

On 1 February 1917, Malone was posted to No. 3 Wing RNAS (later designated No. 3 Naval Squadron RNAS). He scored his first aerial victory on 4 March. After scoring a triple victory followed by a single one, he was an ace. Another triple win followed, bringing his tally to eight.

On 24 April 1917, Malone managed to force a German two-seater to ground for a ninth triumph; Malone's engine then quit, forcing him to land his Sopwith Pup next to his victim. The German observer died of his wounds; his pilot was also wounded. Malone took custody of the pilot while under a barrage of artillery fire. Malone's pilot report states, in part:

Malone escorted him back to the squadron mess before the German departed into captivity.

A tenth win two days later ended his string. Four days later, on 30 April 1917, Malone was shot down and killed by Paul Billik, beginning the latter's career as an ace.

The award of Malone's Distinguished Service Order was posthumously gazetted on 23 May 1917:

List of aerial victories No.Date/timeAircraftFoeResultLocationNotes 1 4 March 1917 @ 1145 hours Sopwith Pup serial number 9898 Halberstadt D.II fighter plane Driven down out of control Manancourt, France 2 17 March 1917 @ 1025 hours Sopwith Pup s/n 9898 German reconnaissance plane Driven down out of control Northeast of Bapaume, France 3 17 March 1917 @ 1100 hours Sopwith Pup s/n 9898 Albatros D.II fighter Destroyed by fire Ervillers, France 4 17 March 1917 @ 1450 hours Sopwith Pup s/n 9898 Albatros D.II fighter Destroyed by fire Arras, France 5 21 April 1917 @ 1740 hours Sopwith Pup s/n 6208 German reconnaissance plane Driven down out of control 5 miles north of Queant, France 6 23 April 1917 @ Sopwith Pup s/n 6208 Albatros D.III fighter]Destroyed Croisilles, France 7 23 April 1917 @ Sopwith Pup s/n 6208 Albatros D.III fighter Driven down out of control Croissilles, France 8 23 April 1917 @ 0745 hours Sopwith Pup s/n 6208 Albatros D.III fighter Driven down out of control Croissilles-Havrincourt, France 9 24 April 1917 @ 1650 hours Sopwith Pup s/n 6208 DFW reconnaissance plane Captured Morchies-Louverval Victory shared with Herbert Travers and Francis Casey 10 26 April 1917 @ 1915 hours Sopwith Pup s/n 6202 Albatros D.III fighter Destroyed North of Cambrai, France