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Born 1908; educated at University School, Hastings, Merchant Taylors and City of London School; served apprenticeship in cotton trade, 1925-1929; joined RAF on short service commission, 1929; posted to No 5 Flight Training School, Sealand, Flintshire, 1929; served with 111 Fighter Sqn, Hornchurch, Essex, 1930-1932; Flying Officer, 1931; posted to Fleet Air Arm, 1932, and served with School of Naval Co-operation, Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire, 1932-1934; released from RAF, 1934; conversion course on flying boats while on Reserve, 1934; qualified as Flying Instructor, 1935; Chief Instructor and Manager, York County Aviation Club, 1935; Flying Instructor, RAF Reserve School, 1935-1936; Flying Instructor, Blackburns, Hanworth, Surrey, and Brough, Yorkshire, 1935-1937; Civil Test Pilot, Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, Hampshire, 1937-1939; recalled to RAF as Sqn Ldr, 1939; Commanding Officer, Aerodynamic Flight, Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, Hampshire, 1939-1941; served in World War Two, 1939-1945; temporarily attached to 74 Fighter Sqn, Biggin Hill, Kent, to assess fighter requirements, 1940; Wg Cdr, 1941; awarded AFC, 1941; Chief Test Pilot, Royal Aircraft Establishment, responsible for initial test flights on all captured enemy aircraft, 1941-1945; Test Pilot, British Air Commission, Washington DC, on loan to US Army Air Force, US Navy and US Marine Corps, 1943-1944; Assistant Director (Flying) Special Projects, Ministry of Aircraft Production, 1944-1945; seconded to 616 Fighter Sqn to train pilots on the Gloster Meteor jet fighter, 1944; acting Gp Capt, 1945; Commandant, Empire Test Pilots' School, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, 1945-1947; set new world air speed record of 606 miles per hour in Gloster Meteor IV, 1945; awarded CBE, 1946; Officers Advanced Training School, 1947; Wg Cdr Administrative, RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, 1948; retired from RAF, 1948; Managing Director and Chief Test Pilot for Planet Aircraft, 1948-1949; appointed Sales Manager (Engines), Blackburn and General Aircraft Limited, 1953; employed by Rolls Royce Limited, Small Engine Division, 1968; Associate Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society; Member of the Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators; died 1990.