RAE test pilots 1940
 

Hi guys

I would appreciate details regarding the following RAE test pilots, circa 1940:

Wg Cdr W.E. Purdin
Wg Cdr J.W. Homer

Sqn Ldr C.C. McMullin
Sqn Ldr A.N. Combe
Sqn Ldr H.J. Wilson (correction)
Sqn Ldr H.C.D. Hayter
Sqn Ldr G.E. Watt


Flg Off J.R. Tobin
Flg Off F. Gomersall
Flg Off J.E. Pebody
Flg Off H.A. Marsh

Plt Off R.J. Falk
Plt Off A.O.F. Moffet


ALL IDENTITIES NOW ESTABLISHED! Many thanks, guys

Cheers
Stay safe
Brian

Re: RAE test pilots 1940
 

Brian

Here's a start on a few of your men:

Moffet: Alan Ormerod Moffet (40736). Posted from 263 Sqn to RAE Experimental section wef 22/7/40. (KIFA 21.07.1945 in Meteor EE291)

Tobin: James Richard TOBIN (39909). Posted from 263 Sqn to RAE Experimental section wef 22/7/40.

Gomersall: Frank GOMERSALL (36123).

Falk: Roland John FALK ( 77978) (Roly Falk flew the prototype Vulcan on its first flight in August '52)

HTH Niall

Re: RAE test pilots 1940
 

Purdin: possibly Group Captain William Edmund Purdin (08061), (1899-1973).

Some background on him here which mentions an RAE connection:

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/a...8-a54100e417fa

Note name given on above link is William "Edward" Purdin, but some Gazette links such as here:

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...ent/9/data.pdf
show "Edmund".

Re: RAE test pilots 1940
 

Sqn Ldr L D Wilson DFC AFC who later commanded 102 Sqn

Re: RAE test pilots 1940
 

Hi Brian,

Colin Campbell McMullen 32118, an Australian in the RAF
Biographical details here
http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/McMullen.htm
Not sure if the 201 Sqn listing is correct - in June of 1934 McMullen was posted to 203 Sqn RAF at Basrah, Iraq and left in Mar 35.

McMullen studied Veterinary Science at Sydney University and was also a Rugby player with University and Drummoyne Clubs. Along with another Australian W.J. Hickey (32035) they resigned from the Citizen Air Force in Nov 1931 and I think both attended 3 FTS at Grantham from the 17th. I have a note they were posted to 1 Sqn RAF prior to 43 Sqn RAF (17 Mar 32) but have not checked.

Regards, Drew

Re: RAE test pilots 1940
 

Many thanks, guys

I've now amended the list to include identification of some, and will keep my fingers crossed for the others.

Cheers
Keep safe
Brian

Re: RAE test pilots 1940
 

Hi Brian

S/LDR. A.N. COMBE. AFC. 26258. (Later G/C)

Iain

Re: RAE test pilots 1940
 

Brian,

F/Lt Jack Ethelbert PEBODY AFC, RAF (36105). Lost aboard the S.S."Napier Star", on 18 December, 1940. Torpedoed by U-100, south of Iceland, en route to New Zealand. Pebody's wife, Rosina, resided at Farnborough.

https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/723.html

https://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contr...Simms/3601.htm

See also:
War Prizes An illustrated survey of German, Italian and Japanese aircraft brought to Allied countries during and after the Second World War.
Butler,Phil
Earl Shilton:Midland Counties Publications,1994.
pp.12-13 & 15.

Col.

Re: RAE test pilots 1940
 

Hi guys

Many thanks for the latest, Iain and Col.

Just four left to identify:

Wg Cdr Homer
Sqn Ldr Hayter
Sqn Ldr Watt
Flg Off Marsh

Cheers
Stay safe
Brian

Re: RAE test pilots 1940
 

Homer was John Wood Homer (26056). He was killed in India in a plane crash on 18 July 1944.

In December, 1940 he was posted from RAE to take command of 93 Squadron, which was trying to use the Pandora aerial mine to bring down German bombers at night.

This link : https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ils/r/D8384427

goes to the page where Homer take command of 93 squadron. You can see enough in the preview page that you don't need to download anything.

Basically the line reads that on December 2, 1940 (2/12/40) Wing Commander J. W. Homer posted from S.D.L. Royal Aircraft Establishment , Farnborough to command No. 420 Flight. (420 Flight was the precursor of 93 squadron.)


http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/93_wwII.html

The Pandora concept: http://airwargreatbritain.blogspot.c...ial-mines.html

Re: RAE test pilots 1940
 

Hello,

For more on 26056 G/C John Wood Homer RAF, see here:

http://rafcommands.com/forum/showthr...8-7-1944/page2 (Post #3).

and ...

OBITUARY - Fallen Officers.

Group Captain John Wood Homer, whose death on active service is announced, was the last surviving son of Mr. and Mrs. G. J. W. Homer, of Walrond Road, Swanage, Dorset. He was born at Cardiff on July 16, 1907, and educated at Clifton. Entering Cranwell as a cadet in September, 1926, he first served with a bomber squadron, but in 1930 qualified as a flying instructor and in 1932 as an armament specialist. He became a flight lieutenant in 1934, squadron leader in 1938, wing commander in 1942. He had served as armament officer at the air armament school, flying training schools, and at group and command headquarters. From 1934 to 1938 he was armament officer at the R.A.F. Depot in the Middle East Command. Details of his service in the present war have not been revealed. He leaves a widow and one son.

See: The Times. Wednesday, August 2, 1944. p.7 (Issue 49924).

Col.

Re: RAE test pilots 1940
 

I believe Flying Officer Marsh may be Henry 'Harry' Alan Marsh.

Story is here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Marsh

or here: http://thetartanterror.blogspot.com/...1901-1950.html

Both mention him being with R.A.E. in 1940.

Re: RAE test pilots 1940
 

Watt: Likely George Ernest Watt.

http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/George_Watt.html


"In 1938 George moved to the Imperial College and was promoted to Squadron Leader on the 1st of February 1939. He remained at the college till war broke out, and he was then posted to Farnborough to become an experimental test pilot."

Also mentioned several times in this for research on G forces on pilots:

https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documen...n_Medicine.pdf

Re: RAE test pilots 1940
 

Many thanks, guys

What an excellent response to my query. I'm ever amazed at the combined knowledge just waiting to be utilized! Special thanks to Col and Rolland.

My interest in these guys (plus well-documented Sqn Ldr Arthur Clouston) is that ALL flew at least one operational sortie during the Battle of Britain, flying Spitfires, Hurricanes and Gladiators of the RAE Defence Flight. Without appropriate recognition!

Amendment! Should be Sqn Ldr H.J. 'Willie' Wilson, not L.D. Wilson.

More to come, hopefully

Cheers
Stay safe
Brian

Re: RAE test pilots 1940
 

Hugh Joseph "Willie" Wilson:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Wilson_(RAF_officer)


Too bad we can't find the correct "Sqn Ldr Hayter".

Re: RAE test pilots 1940
 

Hello,

In all probability:

24025 W/C Herbert Cecil Douglas "Rex" HAYTER RAFO.

Squadron Leader H. C. D. "Rex" Hayter arrived from the RAE in February 1943 to take over B Per T, and was promoted to take over the newly created B Squadron in September 1944.

See:
The Secret Years Flight Testing at Boscombe Down 1939-1945.
Mason,Tim.
Manchester:Crecy Publishing,2010.
p.28.

https://www.gravestonephotos.com/pub...p?grave=210362

Col.

Re: RAE test pilots 1940
 

Excellent, Col

Full house!

Cheers
Stay safe
Brian