Amy Winehouse died on 12 July 2011.
Albert Ball , VC , DSO & Two Bars , MC -LRB- 14 August 1896 -- 7 May 1917 -RRB- was an English fighter pilot during the First World War .. Victoria Cross. DSO. Distinguished Service Order. Military Cross. fighter pilot. fighter pilot. At the time of his death he was the United Kingdom 's leading flying ace , with 44 victories , and remained its fourth-highest scorer behind Edward Mannock , James McCudden , and George McElroy .. flying ace. flying ace. Edward Mannock. Mick Mannock. James McCudden. James McCudden. George McElroy. George McElroy. Born and raised in Nottingham , Ball joined the Sherwood Foresters at the outbreak of the First World War and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in October 1914 .. Nottingham. Nottingham. Sherwood Foresters. Sherwood Foresters. second lieutenant. second lieutenant. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps -LRB- RFC -RRB- the following year , and gained his pilot 's wings on 26 January 1916 .. Royal Flying Corps. Royal Flying Corps. wings. Aircrew brevet. Joining No. 13 Squadron RFC in France , he flew reconnaissance missions before being posted in May to No. 11 Squadron , a fighter unit .. No. 13 Squadron RFC. No. 13 Squadron RAF. From then until his return to England on leave in October , he accrued many aerial victories , earning two Distinguished Service Orders and the Military Cross .. Military Cross. Military Cross. He was the first ace to become a British national hero .. After a period on home establishment , Ball was posted to No. 56 Squadron , which deployed to the Western Front in April 1917 .. Western Front. Western Front ( World War I ). He crashed to his death in a field in France on 7 May , sparking a wave of national mourning and posthumous recognition , which included the award of the Victoria Cross for his actions during his final tour of duty .. Victoria Cross. Victoria Cross. The famous German flying ace Manfred von Richthofen , remarked upon hearing of Ball 's death that he was `` by far the best English flying man '' .. flying ace. flying ace. Manfred von Richthofen. Manfred von Richthofen