Hubert Jones Hubert William Godfrey Jones ( 7 October 1890 – 14 May 1943 ) , also known as Hubert Wilson Godfrey Jones Penderel , was a World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories . Hubert Jones was born in Llandeilo , the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Jones . His brother , Captain E . A . H . Penderel of the Tank Corps and Royal Fusiliers resided at Garth , Rhyd - y - fro , Pontardawe . On 18 October 1928 he assumed the surname of Penderel . On 30 March 1929 at All Saints Cathedral Cairo , he married Aetheldreda Luxton , daughter of Mr and Mrs Luxton Loney , of Ocean Avenue , Edgecliff In 1931 he petitioned the High Court for nullity of marriage . On 14 May 1943 Group Captain ( Pilot ) Penderel of RAF Middle Wallop , having passed through RAF Martlesham Heath , on a secret trial flight in Hurricane HV 895 over the Sudbourne battle training area , crashed and was killed at Orford Ness . His ashes were interred at Llanguicke ( St . Ciwg ) Churchyard . Military service . In July 1916 Captain H . W . G . Jones attained his aviator ' s certificate at the Beatty School of Flying , Hendon , and was appointed on 22 July as a Flying Officer to the Royal Flying Corps Military Wing . On 26 March 1917 Lieutenant ( Temporary Captain ) Hubert William Godfrey Jones , Welsh Regiment and R . F . C . , was awarded the Military Cross " for conspicuous gallantry in action . With a patrol of three scouts he attacked a hostile formation of ten enemy machines . Although wounded , he continued the combat and drove down an enemy machine . Later , although again wounded , he remained with his patrol until the enemy retired . " In The Rolls of Honours in " Flight " on 1 March 1917 and 5 April 1917 Captain Jones was reported by the War Office as wounded . On 26 May 1917 Captain Jones was awarded the Italian Silver Medal for Military Valour . On 2 August 1917 Jones was appointed as an Instructor at the Central Flying School . On 22 January 1919 the Air Ministry officially recorded that Captain Jones had rendered valuable war service in the Royal Air Force . On 30 June 1923 the 4th Royal Air Force Display at Hendon was held before King George V , the Queen and the Duke and Duchess of York . Flight Lieutenant Jones was one of the three member RAF Northolt team which came second in the relay race . On 4 July 1926 the 7th Royal Air Force Display at Hendon was held before the King and Queen of England , King Alfonso and the Queen of Spain , the Duke of York and the Secretary of State for Air Sir Samuel Hoare . The " event of the day " was " an exhibition of Group evolutions of two wings of three Fighter Squadrons of nine machines — 54 in all . " Squadron Leader Jones led Fighter Squadron No . 19 from Duxford flying Gloster Grebes . " Flight " said , " It was , without doubt , one of the most wonderful displays of skilful piloting that has yet been presented at any of the Displays " . Jones also led No . 19 Fighter Squadron in a low - bombing competition involving an attack on a moving tank in which " several direct hits were scored " . On 30 June 1928 the 9th Royal Air Force Display at Hendon was held before King George V and the Queen , the King of Spain and the Duke of York and an estimated crowd of 150 , 000 . Squadron Leader Jones led No . 19 Squadron in a dive bombing display . In August 1928 in the Air Manouevres , Squadron Leader Jones led No . 19 Duxford Squadron of Siskins , being one of 12 fighter squadrons forming part of the defence force in the manoeuvres , " to test the efficiency of units and to teach lessons in co - ordination of air and ground defence , flying organization , spotting arrangements , fighting tactics etc . " Between 12 January and 13 March 1931 , Squadron Leader Penderel commanded the No . 216 ( Bomber ) Squadron RAF formation 6 , 000 miles return flight , of three Vickers Victoria troop carriers from their base at Heliopolis Aerodrome Cairo to Cape Town , where he was welcomed on 7 February by the Governor - General Earl of Clarendon and Lady Clarendon . On 3 June 1931 Squadron Leader Penderel was awarded the Air Force Cross which , on 25 June 1931 , was conferred on him by His Majesty King George V at Buckingham Palace . On 1 December 1937 Wing Commander Penderel was appointed to command the School of Naval Co - operation , Ford . On 26 September 1939 Group Captain Penderel was the first commander of No . 201 Group RAF , which was formed from General Reconnaissance Group , Middle East of the Royal Air Force ( RAF ) . Promotions and Other Appointments : Air racing . Hubert Jones piloted flying machines in British air races during the 1920s and 1930s , his skill being such that he was alloted a scratch handicap . On 12 August 1924 in the Third King ' s Cup Round Britain Race , Jones piloted a Siddeley Siskin III with a 395 Siddeley " Jaguar " engine , entered by Sir Glynn Hamilton West . The course was about starting from Martlesham Heath and finishing at Lee - on - Solent . Jones was placed 4th out of 9 competitors . Jones was photographed alighting from his machine at Gosport , and later crossing the finishing line in the time of 7 hours 34 minutes 12 seconds under the caption , " The fastest machine in the King ' s Cup Race . " On 3−4 July 1925 in the Fourth King ' s Cup Circuit of Britain Race , Jones piloted an Armstrong - Whitworth Siskin IV , entered by Sir Glynn Hamilton West . The handicap race started and finished in Croydon and comprised two circuits of Britain . Jones finished 2nd out of 14 competitors , and was photographed " receiving congratulations " under the caption , " He started in the race as a Flight - Lieutenant , and finished up as a Squadron - Leader ! " On 9−10 July 1926 in the Fifth King ' s Cup Air Race , Jones piloted a Martinsyde A . D . C . 1 with a 395 Siddeley " Jaguar " engine , entered by Lt . Col . M . O . Darby . The handicap race of started and finished at Hendon . Jones won two prizes : 3rd out of 14 competitors ; and the " fastest " time of 9 hours 45 minutes 14 seconds at an average speed of . On 15 July 1931 in the Hanworth – Blackpool Air Race , Penderel piloted a Spartan Arrow , entered by Colonel Louis Strange and he finished 1st out of 14 competitors . On 30 June 1934 in the Fifteenth Royal Air Force Display at Hendon , Penderel represented RAF Fighting Area HQ and was one of ten competitors who piloted a Fury Kestrel IIs in the 14 miles Headquarters Race . " Flight " describes the scene , " The scratch man , Wing Com . Penderel , Fighting Area , had already overtaken several others when he came round over the enclosures on the first lap , and from then on he could be seen overhauling other machines steadily . " Due to the efficacy of the handicapping , Penderel finished outside the first three places . Exploration . Between 1932 and 1933 Penderel undertook a number of expeditions to explore Gilf Kebir . One of his expeditions with Count László Almásy loosely formed the basis for " The English Patient . " On 8 January 1934 , Penderel gave a lecture on his expeditions to the Royal Geographical Society , who admitted him as a Fellow of their society , F . R . G . S .