Talk:Percy Jack Clayson

Further work definitely needed
There is something "off" about this article. It needs some real in-depth research. Above the Trenches and theaerodrome are at odds with one another.

First of all, out of the hundreds of bios I have done on WWI aces, this is the only one where a Royal Naval Air Service pilot transferred into the Royal Flying Corps. (RNAS pilots got involuntarily amalgamated into the RAF when it formed, but that's a different story.) The RNAS got paid better than the RFC, so why did Clayson voluntarily take a pay cut?

Second, checking the London Gazette shows that Clayson was not forwarded from another unit to the RFC; he is on the General List; i.e., he seems to have enlisted directly into the RFC.

Thirdly, when you unravel the gobbledy-gook victory list given, it doesn't total 29 wins.

Fourthly, the ATT victory list shows all kinds of shared victories, etc., while theaerodrome doesn't.

Georgejdorner (talk) 05:42, 20 February 2010 (UTC)


 * Do we have any primary source info that he was in the RNAS (the aerodrome forum suggests he could have been a mechanic), it seems to be a fact that is just repeated without any detailed information. MilborneOne (talk) 10:46, 20 February 2010 (UTC)

Indeed, you have put your finger upon the problem.

Georgejdorner (talk) 16:33, 21 February 2010 (UTC)

Place of birth and some notes
Just changed his place of Birth to Deptford, London, the 1910 Census says he was born in Deptford and the 1896 Birth Index says Greenwich district (which includes Deptford). Just a note but not notable enough for the article he appeared in the Times in May 1932 at a 1 Squadon reunion dinner and in December 1932 at a 70 Squadron reunion dinner. Also note a P J Clayson was married in Kensington in 1929 but no evidence it is the same one. MilborneOne (talk) 11:53, 20 February 2010 (UTC)