Mick Manick was one of the great aviators of the First World War and one of Britain's top scoring aces.

In this episode of the special Air War series of the old front line, we speak to Andy Saunders about Mick's life and death above the battlefields of the Western Front.

Welcome to this episode of the special Air War Month on the Old Front Line,

where we're looking at the experience of the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Air Force over the Western Front.

And I'm really pleased to be joined by

Andy Saunders. Andy is an aviation and military historian, author of numerous books, former editor

of Britain at War and Iron Cross magazines, and a regular broadcaster. Many years ago, Andy and I

worked on a BBC time watch called Aces Falling, where Andy spoke about his work on the death and burial of First World War Air Ace Edward Mick Manick and later wrote a book on the subject. In this episode we returned to Mick to look at his life and death in the Great War. So welcome Andy. Thanks Thanks for joining us. Hello, Paul, and thank you for

having me on. Now, you're more known for your work on the Second World War, particularly things like

the Battle of Britain and subjects like that. You don't often venture into the First World War.

So how did that start with Mick? Absolutely. No, you're completely right. I mean, I suppose I would have to say that the First World War. So how did that start with Mick? Absolutely. No, you're completely right.

I mean, I suppose I would have to say that the First World War and the Air War and the First World War

was, is somewhat outside of my comfort zone, as it were. I mean, it's not a subject that I'm

entirely unfamiliar with, obviously, but it's not the area that I normally work in.

Obviously, the story of Mick Manak is known to anyone and everyone who has any interest in military aviation in any case.

But how it was sparked for me was actually quite an extraordinary story in that

one Sunday many years ago, I don't know, 20 plus years ago, I just happened to be at a local

boot fair. And, you know, sometimes when the stallholders turn up, it's like sort of

bees around the honeypot, you know, as people are crowded around to see what goodies are coming

out of the car. And my attention was drawn to this particular car, which had a lot of people

gathering around it. And strapped to the roof of this

Volvo was a clearly a very old wooden two-bladed propeller. So I made my way over to try and

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