Was O'Grady the Irish pilot?
No; but please try again. Here's the next clue to aid your search. Thanks; Ernie P.
Question: What warbird pilot do I describe?
Clues:
(1) Although he was the top ace from his country, in his conflict, he still remains almost an unknown today.
(2) Quite old for a fighter pilot; perhaps particularly so in his time and place.
(3) Flew a very well known type of aircraft; one almost ubiquitous in its day.
(4) He was the first pilot to shoot down another very well known aircraft.
(5) He was shot down and killed by another ace; an Irish ace.
(6) His aircraft burst into flames and lost its wings before crashing.
(7) The reason his name is almost unknown, despite being his country’s highest scoring ace, is pretty easy to understand, once all the facts are known.
(8) The ace who shot him down was flying a SPAD.
(9) The aircraft in (3) was an Albatross.
(10) The aircraft in (4) was an SE-5.