Air Marshal Sir Edward “Tap” Gordon Jones, (31 August 1914 – 20 February 2007) was an officer in the Royal Air Force for 34 years, from 1935 to 1969. He commanded a squadron of obsolescent biplane Gladiator fighters during the Greek Campaign in the Second World War, where he shot down five Italian 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 or the UK Ministry of Defence. Early life Jones was born in Widnes, Lancashire (now Cheshire), the third of four sons of Lieutenant Colonel Albert Jones. 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. After grammar school, he studied medicine at Liverpool University, where he met his future wife. His three brothers all became doctors, like their father, but Jones soon switched to veterinary science. He was a keen sportsman, representing the university and Lancashire at rugby union. He also enjoyed shooting and the outdoor life, but he showed little interest in his studies. Royal Air Force Edward joined the RAF in 1935. He trained as a pilot at Netheravon and joined "B" Flight of No. 17 Squadron in Kenley, flying Gauntlet fighters. In March 1937 the flight was detached to form No. 80 Squadron which flew the Gladiator, the RAF's last biplane fighter. As a pilot officer, he was its adjutant from May 1937. He also played rugby for the RAF. Promoted to flying officer, his squadron deployed to Egypt in April 1938. He became commander of "A" Flight of No. 80 Squadron in March 1940, while he was based in Amriya in Egypt. 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 fighters. He took charge of a flight of Gladiator when it moved to Trikala in central Greece in November 1940. He was in action within days, engaging a formation of more modern Fiat CR.42 fighters, also biplanes, of the Italian Regia Aeronautica to the north of Ioannina. He shot down one on 27 November, then two more the next day over Delvinakion, but was injured in the dogfight and spent a month recovering