Old Front Line
WW1 Podcast with Paul Reed
The Search for Mick Mannock
For our 250th episode of the podcast, and as part of our continuing Air War series we are joined by aviation historian and author Andy Saunders to look at the life, and death, of Edward ‘Mick’ Mannock VC DSO & Two Bars, MC & Bar and the search for his potential burial place on the Western Front. Is the grave of an Unknown Aviator at Laventie British Cemetery Mick Mannock’s final resting place?
Andy’s book: Mannock: The Life and Death of Major Edward Mannock VC, DSO, MC, RAF by Frank, Norman and Saunders, Andy. (Grub Street 2008)
You can order the book via our Amazon Affiliate link: Mannock by Andy Saunders.
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7 Comments on “The Search for Mick Mannock”
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Hi Paul and Andy a really fascinating and absorbing episode in the Air War Month. I recall watching the documentary and the search for Mick Mannock. I thoroughly enjoyed the book ‘Aces Falling’ when I subsequently read that some years ago. One of the first books I ever read as a boy on the subject of the Great War was ‘Fighter Pilot’ which was a biography of Mick Mannock as I recall. Wish I still had the book. Well done another superb episode. Mike
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Thank you, Mike!
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Hello Paul, a fascinating episode with the mystery of Mannock’s grave adding to his already unusual story. Am I right in thinking that there is a parallel between the deaths of Mannock and von Richtofen, who I think also broke his own rule by following his quarry down, leaving himself exposed to ground fire?
Perhaps Von Richtofen too had been flying too long and too often in rag and stick aircraft with the ever-present threat of death, and so his judgement also lapsed.
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Yes, I think there are some similarities, and it is something that comes up in the next discussion in the Air War series out next Saturday.
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Another great podcast. I have one question. As far as I am aware, the usual āBelieved to be buriedā headstones were usually around the walls of a CWGC cemetery and have not replaced other gravestones in a cemetery, it would not replace an actual headstone over a grave.
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Really enjoying this series – just watched ‘Aces Falling’ for the first time too. Now I’ve got to watch it again to take all the detail in, what a great story!
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Thanks for an interesting podcast about a fascinating and enigmatic man. As a Socialist and an Irish Nationalist I’m sure that for Mannock his presence in a public schools dominated mess would have been awkward to say the least!
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