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Aviation History
1959
1959 - 2255.PDF
222 J. G. Burns C. A. Capper W/C. N. J. Capper R. E. Clear D. A. S. Colvin Lt-Cdr. R. R. Crayton THE FLYING-DISPLAY PILOTS . . . J. G. Burn* (NA.39): Joined Blackburn Aircraftin January this year after being with Hunting Aircraft since February 1958. Previously servedin the R.A.F., which he entered in 1946 as a Cranwell cadet. With No. 56 Sqn.; went toC.F.S. in 1951; took No. 13 E.T.P.S. course in 1954; at the A. and A.E.E. from 1956 to 1957.Has been awarded two Queen's Commendations for Valuable Services in the Air. C. A. Capper (Sea Vixen): Joined de Havilland in1953 as an experimental test pilot, having started flying in the R.A.F. in 1942. Flying instructorin Canada, 1943-44; test pilot at No. 308 M.U., Allahabad 1946; with No. 4 Sqn. in B.A.F.O.,1946-48, before going to the E.P.T.S. Test pilot at the Aero Flight, Famborough, 1949-52. Chieftest pilot, D.H. Christchurch, since Jan. 1959. W/C. N. J. Capper (Twin Pioneer): Chief testpilot and flight manager of Scottish Aviation, which he joined in 1936. Learned to fly at No. 2F.T.S., Digby, in 1929; served in the R.A.F. until 1934 and then again from 1939 to 1944. Hasflown 8,000 hr as an airline pilot, flying instructor and test pilot. Holds the A.F.C. R, E. Clear (Sea Vixen): Development test pilotat de Havilland Christchurch since last January. Joined Airspeed in 1936; introduced the firstOxford trainers to the R.A.F. and R.C.A.F., 1937-39. Appointed test pilot in 1940; E.T.P.S.course 1945. Since 1957 test and development flying of Ambassadors, Vampire trainers, Venoms,Sea Vixens. D. A. S. Colvia (Westminster): Joined WestlandAircraft in 1949 and is the company's longest- serving test pilot. In the R.A.F. from 1940 to1946. with Nos. 64 and 249 Sqns., being awarded the D.F.C. Joined Scottish Aviation after thewar as an airline pilot and first flew helicopters in 1948. Lt-Cdr. R. R. Crayton (Leonides Major Whirl-wind) : Joined Westland Aircraft as a test pilot last year on retiring from the Royal Navy, whichhe entered in 1941. Flew fixed-wing aircraft (with No. 836 Sqn.. at Stretton as a test pilot,at the C.F.S. and R.A.F. Syerston) until 1952, when he took a helicopter course. Thereafter oninstructional duties (1953-54), with No. 848 Sqn. in Malaya and with Nos. 845 and 701 Sqns. G/C. J. Cunningham (Comet 4B): de HavillandAircraft chief test pilot since 1946 and a director since last year. Started flying for the company in1938. Served in the R.A.F., becoming the highest- scoring (20) night-fighter pilot. First flew theComet in 1949 and has subsequently set up many records with these aircraft. Chief pilot on theComet 3 world flight in 1955; last year captained a Comet 4 on the fastest-ever Atlantic crossing byan airliner and the fastest long flight (Hong Kong to London in daylight, 16 hr 16 min flying time).Is an O.B.E. and D.L.; holds the D.S.O. and two Bars and the D.F.C. and Bar. S/L. L. De Vigne (Gnome Whirlwind): Test pilotwith Westland Aircraft since 1953, having served in the R.A.F. from 1940 to 1951. Won the D.S.O.and D.F.C. serving with No. 627 Sqn. (Mos- quitos) in the P.F.F. Test pilot with No. 41Group, Maintenance Command, 1945-46; took No. 6 E.T.P.S. course, 1957; Service and civiliantest pilot with R.A.E. Farnborough, 1948-52, being awarded A.F.C. Chief test pilot, Arm-strong Siddeley Motors, 1952-53. Carried out initial test flights on the deflected jet Meteor(Nene). J. S. Fay (Widgeon): Test pilot and chief flyinginstructor of Westland Aircraft, having joined the company in 1952. Served in the F.A.A. from1940 to 1945—with No. 832 Son. in H.M.S. Victorious^ at the Service Trials Unit, the Heli-copter Unit at Hanworth and A.S.E. Haslemere. With the B.E.A. Helicopter Unit 1947-52. Authorof The Helicopter and How It Flies. T. M. S. Ferguson (Canberra PR.9): JoinedEnglish Electric as production test pilot in January 1955; now senior production test pilot.Started flying in August 1950, when he entered the R.A.F.; after demobilization served withNo. 603 (City of Edinburgh) Sqn., R.Aux.A.F. W. P. I. Fillingham (Comet 4B): de Havillanddevelopment test pilot at Hatfield. Joined the company in 1936 as a student at the D.H.Technical School; appointed a test pilot in 1939. Went to the Canadian de Havilland Co. in 1943to test-fly the Mosquito and train other pilots, later demonstrating Mosquitos in both America andAustralia. Won the King's Cup Race in 1953; is an A.F.R.Ae.S. E. G. Franklin (Argosy): Chief test pilot of Arm-strong Whitworth Aircraft since January 1948, having re-joined the company (with whom he hadbeen an apprentice) in 1945 as a test pilot. Served durine the war with Nos. 78 and 35 Sqns.(Whitleys and Halifaxes). winning the D.F.C. and being awarded the A.F.C. for instructional duties.Started test-flying in 1942, before completing a second tour of operations (in the P.F.F.).Attended No. 2 course at the E.T.P.S. in 1944, before going to the A. and A.E.E. and thento A.W.A. S/L. W. R. GeHatly (Rotodyne): Joined theR.N.Z.A.F. in 1940. Between 1942 and 1945 did 77 light bomber and G.R. operations; from Oct.1944 to July 1945 commanded No. 293 Sqn. R.A.F. permanent commission, May 1947. C.G.I,at No. 231 O.C.U., 1947-48; flight commander, No. 139 Sqn., until Feb. 1950. E.T.P.S. course,1950; helicopter flight commander at A. and A.E.E., 1951-54. R.A.F. Staff College course,1954-55, then joined Fairey Aviation. Council member, Helicopter Association, 1953-55 andMay 1956-May 1959. Duke of Edinburgh's pilot on the first royal flight in a helicopter (March J. A. Hanslip (Comet 4B): de Havilland develop-ment test pilot at Hatfield, having rejoined the company as a test pilot in 1947. Had previouslybeen with D.H. at Leavesden, then trained as a pilot in the R.N.V.R. and served in the F.A.A.from 1942 to 1945. Before going to Hatfield was at the Chester (1948-53) and Christchurch(1953-58) factories of de Havilland. S/L. J. G. Harrison (Vulcan): Chief test pilot ofA. V. Roe since January last year, having joined the company as a test pilot in February 1954.Entered the R.A.F. as an apprentice in 1935; started flying in 1941. Completed training inCanada and became an instructor there. In 1944 posted to a Mosquito O.T.U. and then servedwith No. 605 Sqn. in 2nd T.A.F. E.T.P.S. course, 1949; joined the aerodynamics flight atthe R.A.E., being awarded the A.F.C. S/L. H. G. Hazelden (Dart-Herald): Appointedchief test pilot of Handley Page three months after joining the company in 1947. Flew Hamp-dens on No. 44 Sqn. during the war, winning the D.F.C. and Bar. Subsequently instructed atNo. 14 O.T.U. then went to No. 83 Sqn. Took the E.T.P.S. course and went to the A. andA.E.E., later commanding the Heavy Aircraft Test Sqn. Appointed O.C. the Civil AircraftTest Section and awarded a King's Commenda- tion. Received the Queen's Commendation lastyear. A. J. Heyworth (Conway-Vulcan): Rolls-Roycechief test pilot since 1954. having been posted to the company from the R.A.F. in 1954 for specialduties. Served with Bomber Command during the war, with No. 12 Sqn., completing two toursof operations. Won two D.F.C.s and was men- tioned in despatches. P. Hillwood (P. 11): Began test-flying in 1945,while still in the R.A.F.. following instructional duties. Pilot on the return journey of the Can-berra which on August 26, 1952, made a record two-way Atlantic crossing in 10 hr 3 min 18.13 secat an average speed of 605.52 m.p.h. With R. P. Beamqnt was awarded the Britannia Trophy forthis flight. In February 1956 set up an official London - Cairo record of 551.8 m.p.h. in aCanberra B.8. G/C. J. Cunningham S/L. L De Vigne J. S. Fay T. M. S. Ferguson W. P. I. Fillingham F. G. Franklin S/L. W. R. Gellatly J. A. Hanslip S/L. J. G. Harrison S/L. H. G. Hazelden A. J. Heyworth P. Hillwood
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