JONES, George

George Jones, born on 18 October, 1896, was the youngest of five brothers, at least three of whom enlisted for the 1st World War. There was George Henry, born 1877; Henry Joseph and Samuel Albert, born 1878; David,  born 1889. In 1887, a sister was born, Alice Catherine, followed by Emily Caroline in 1883 and Daisy Amelia in 1891. George was born in 1896 making a family of eight for Henry Joseph Jones and his wife Jane, nee Smith.

George was 18 years and 8 months when he enlisted, a motor mechanic by trade, 5' 7" tall, Methodist by faith. He was  Senior Cadet for two years and spent one year serving with the Light Horse before enlisting. He had been born in Rushworth, Victoria, gone to State School and achieved his qualifications at The Working Man's College, Melbourne. He enlisted on 25 May, 1915, and was placed with the 9th Light Horse, 8th Reinforcement.

He was to have a most remarkable career, rising from the rank of Private at the beginning to become a senior commander in the Royal Australian Airforce (RAAF).

During World War I, George Jones saw action as an infantryman in the Gallipoli Campaign of 1915, before transferring to the Australian Flying Corps, graduating from training at Oxford on 18 July 1917. He was then posted to the 4th Squadron AFC to serve in France. First appointed as  a Pilot, he then rose to Captain and Flight Commander. 

On 24 March, 1918, George Jones was wounded in action on a strafing run. A bullet passed through the petrol tank of his plane, into Jones' back and passed through him, exiting his left side. In the report of 17 April, his wound was described as wound of entry over lumbar spine, wound of exit on axillary line. Wound healed and no disability, Patient a little pale. No dressing. Wound quite healed. He was sent back to the Royal Air Force Base in Horseferry Rd., London, on 14 May, 1918, described as fit for light duties, and on 5 April, 1919, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. The citation read:

 A most gallant and daring leader in aerial fighting, in which he destroyed seven enemy aircraft. Captain Jones has always displayed marked courage in all his duties. 

Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No.91, 23rd July, 1919

George Jones married Muriel Agnes Cronan on 15 November, 1919. Their sons Ronald, born in 1920, and Ian, born 1934, followed.  In 1921, George Jones joined the newly formed RAAF in 1921, and rose steadily through training and personnel commands prior to World War II. Following Muriel's death, George Jones married Gwendolyn Bauer in 1970. 

Air Marshal Sir George Jones, KBE, CB, DFC (18 October 1896 – 24 August 1992) was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). In 1941, he was appointed Chief of Air Staff, servinf from 1942-1952, the longest continuous tenure of any RAAF chief. He then rose to become Air Marshal in 1948. Jones was a surprise appointee to the Air Force's top role, and his achievements in the position were coloured by a divisive relationship during World War II with his nominal subordinate, the head of RAAF Command, Air Vice-Marshal William Bostock.

After World War II, George Jones had overall responsibility for transforming what was then the world's fourth largest air force into a peacetime service that was also able to meet overseas commitments in Malaya and Korea. Following his retirement from the RAAF, he continued to serve in the aircraft industry and later ran unsuccessfully for political office. He was knighted in 1953, following his retirement from the RAAF on 13/01/1952:

On this day in Air Force history, Air Vice-Marshall Jones retired on 13 Januaryy, 1852, after a 10 year term as Chief of Air Staff (C.A.S.) - second only to the first C.A.S. Air Marshall Sir Richard Williams.

George Jones died on 24 August, 1992, at the age of 96. A memorial plaque on the War Memorial in High St., Rushworth, records his remarkable life.