raf officer john cat eyes july july royal_air_force raf night fighter ace second world war test pilot war nicknamed cat eyes explain successes avoid communicating existence airborne radar enemy born midst world war keen entering aviation industry teenager temporarily father wishes avoid military approached company accepted engineering candidate concurrently joined member county middlesex squadron began training august flew solo march received wings summer gradually established test pilot gaining considerable flying time different types aircraft august rejoined squadron equipped version operator serve gunner radio operator war contribute victories july squadron designated specialised night fighter unit receive airborne interception radar promoted squadron leader september autumn subsided blitz began squadron equipped rugged heavily armed night november claimed victory time blitz ended june destroyed enemy aircraft claimed probable victories damaged prolonged rest period promoted wing commander appointed command squadron raf time tally reached enemy aircraft destroyed early added victories probable damaged combat career ended aerial victories probable damaged spent remainder conflict staff officer positions end war europe attained rank group captain war joined continued test pilot career flew world jet flew commercial jets time early 1960s continued flying industry late 1970s worked executive director retiring recognition wartime exploits contribution civil aviation appointed commander order british empire retirement nearly financially ruined ran financial difficulty forced live end life died days shy birthday early life born south london july midst world war father worked fort based birmingham rose position company secretary married family owned engineering company supplied fabric company heavy machinery 1920s grandfather lord mayor family located john born elder sisters mary younger brother william john attended preparatory school subsequently pupil public school school holiday took flight experiences encouraged enter officers training corps school personal tragedy occurred father died school particularly mathematics field keen entering aviation industry teenager joined aircraft company apprentice began engineering career projects invited assist building concurrently joined member county middlesex squadron recommendation friend family began training august flew solo march receiving commission pilot officer received wings summer met time year old electrical engineer later severe aerial gunner radar operator john successful air battles subsequently junior test pilot working light aircraft alongside company founder son chief test pilot company short test pilots caught eye flight experience grew reflected promotion flying officer december time john began care test flying manufacture design test pilots continued career march called readiness squadron munich crisis time squadron flying demon displeased converted machines fitted machine guns forward facing firepower long range fighter dubious value german expose aircraft originally intended bomber told sufficient night fighter role intended use variant april john returned test flying april narrowly escaped life alongside men safety taken minor air test response spins prototypes anti spin parachute preceding tests carried need resort safety measure aircraft left hand spin recovered climbing feet aircraft right hand spin engine cut nose aircraft stalled entered flat spin asked john tube try escape situation controls proved non responsive efforts decided parachute declined nose recovered spin engine left wind propeller started engine aircraft began descending airmen dangerously close range fortunately descended faster rate destroyed hit ground took pictures wreckage parachute exemplified cool nature response nazi soviet pact august raf test flying complete declaration war september growing tension europe war likely john forced commit raf raf trained felt far use raf test flying aircraft second world war august rejoined squadron equipped version john enthusiastic flying turret eliminated reduce weight increase speed flying suits cockpit heated caused discomfort crews winter period radios short range caused communication problems cockpit multi difficult clean liable reflect light cooperation hazardous unit unspecified problems blind flying instruments squadron incurred losses owing inexperience crews flying patrols north_sea essex number result difficulties aircraft january moved flew adorned finland sweden assist country soviet invasion promoted flight lieutenant march april squadron flew escort carrying winston_churchill lord admiralty paris attend meeting german invasion denmark norway unit time war consumed engaging intensive training wash included operation laying operations long relocated airfield flew sorties english channel patrols intensified recorded contact enemy france june night squadron july squadron designated specialised night fighter unit squadron receive airborne interception radar sent number radar sets friend crew mate saw opportunity join program promised bright future radar operator join january intervening period squadron frequently frustrated limitations magic boxes slow catch german bombers enemy given advantage flew night june luftwaffe flew major operation area victories claimed summer promoted acting squadron leader september commanding flight month unit received heavily armed powerful commanding officer second man fly went stage relation gun sight sight projected ring light spot centre small sheet glass directly pilots head spot centre provided aiming point ring variable diameter helped judge rage needed attack target light brilliance control ineffective rotating fraction produce maximum brilliance cause spot douglas formed met regularly discuss operational problems experienced aviator invited attend invited air views meeting referred meet gun sight expert engineering expertise assessment issue hall design hall later managing director years later worked ground control interception carrying exercises acquaintance chief air staff dropped douglas men keen hear experiences crew sets added mass produced operating frequency metres equipment consisted receiver control panel indicator unit system fixed nose aerial double shape pair protruding leading edge wing cannon pair elevation located wing surfaces near raf starboard indicator display consisted ray tubes displayed elevation bearing set range limitation miles circa feet minimum range detection usually feet closer ranges target merged transmission pulse obscured altitudes feet returns ground objects swamp tubes operators like left fair scales markings early sets position heading enemy plane height range bring range target usually mile bomber team specifically position directly astern underneath enemy german bombers carried dorsal gunner difficult locate enemy black colour landscape usually country swallow outline approaching night fighter approached enemy prove hazardous throwing pilot aim approaching slightly allowed attacking pilot avoid tactics allowed close range fire usually sufficient end engagement quickly successfully rival night fighter ace tactic cat eyes summer sit idle frustrated autumn battle subsided having failed gain air superiority luftwaffe resolved bomb british ports industries change german strategy began blitz phase aerial campaign night november luftwaffe raided birmingham germans hoped follow attacks highly effective raid november led aircraft bomber wing city took night hampshire patrol north london direction raid known ordered proceed temporary radar operator ground radar operator enemy aircraft crew forced westward search lights attracted attention able contact guide soon visual confirmation tell tale sign aircraft blank patch sky surrounded cluster stars keeping enemy blind spot flew adjusted speed match german pilot closing range fired cannons exploded hitting ground near victim flown claimed destroyed interrogation german survivors affirmed circumstances granted victory wait month victory december sent bombers led attack manchester enemy aircraft dark identified machine flying feet saw feet engaged enemy miles south enemy climbed feet following opened fire yards fire bomber high crew bombs france crash landed crew wounded machine written crew unaware victim night fighter supposed shot ship january nearly added germans attacked cardiff city heaviest raid war engaged spread aerial masts rear fuselage indicative expended ammunition working cannons cannon jammed clouds feet angle degrees machine returned france wounded gunner received credit probable victory january claimed damaged operator awarded january achievements including night sorties february invitation chief air staff arrived ordered report senior officers met summoned hangar time laid eyes flew prototype february greatly impressed controls generally pleasant handling characteristics concluded type fitted equipment perfect replacement claimed victory february luftwaffe carried air attacks devon engaged crashed outside bomber belonging completely destroyed crew killed fifth victory time march twice enemy aircraft claim damaged night april accounted fourth enemy aircraft claimed identity aircraft likely factory number code mission raid crew posted missing action night april fighter ace intercepted bombers attacked portsmouth portland harbour crashed channel crew squadron raf pilot flight lieutenant ward claimed victory saw glow fired hit sea credited victory crash squadron war diary acknowledged fact entry night nights later april accounted followed plus probable victory april possible victim later mission crew members killed pilot squadron claimed machine crashed lost crew channel stab machine lost northern france crew abandoned damaged aircraft accounted near portsmouth april successful night shooting bombers victories patrol near south coast engaged shot rounds returned sent patrol second sortie took headed south southampton busy employ granted request investigate cone directed attack duly shot crashed derelict houses southampton sent enemy lost contact appearing southampton spotted closed yards shot crashed area 9th victory code belonging piloted crashed road southampton killed action taken prisoner war april having downed enemy aircraft night fighting operations decorated distinguished service order accounted nights later achieved victory 12th king george accompanied king appeared hill far king met congratulated airmen success asked night king driven station outside tour facility eager impress king drove dispersal prepared patrol luftwaffe began operations night attacking liverpool took flight path patrol area took intercepted north controller asked king outside opportunity witnessing battle king heard results engines cannon fire code eventually crashed near south pilot survived pilot badly burned flight engineer killed gunfire night june accounted luftwaffe completed major raid blitz german bombers lost night following morning promoted temporary squadron leader propaganda early british press permission allowed approach write experiences reasons lack censorship morale early stages blitz perception civilian population germans attack britain night publication exploits attempt assure public raf fighting imposing losses luftwaffe singled attention purpose contribution success virtually ignored want allow enemy learn airborne radar german night fighters equipped devices large scale later legend created explain successes instead night fighter ace allowed publish picture read exceptional allowed dark visually ability domestic cat said diet provided allowed maintain excellent night vision ensuing public accepted cats eyes tag necessary deception propaganda story served purpose populace released public january success night defences told germans raf improving techniques new premier night fighter aces raf appreciate press attention case stemmed deeper religious convictions combat killing priest war cooperate biographers approached exploits described print war war actively lime light country best selling newspapers asked interview declined embarrassment father gave interviews famous son stories forthcoming newspapers soon lost interest certainly aware result press attention competitive rivalry developed book scramble mentioned pride night surpassed score permanently wing commander dynamics air war changed june german invasion soviet_union opened eastern german bomber force heavily committed theatre fighting mediterranean north african theatres diverted german air strength operations luftwaffe britain changed dramatically small numbers bombers hit run attacks selected targets near coast remainder replacing mass raids preceding autumn winter decline pace operations train new crews practice leadership different day fighter counterparts day unit fly formation engage enemy communicate radio follow directions example commanding officer combat position lead way night fighter lone hunter took crew operate air instead ensure proficiency battle teaching men master aircraft constantly touch scientists tracked new developments took new crews generate confidence machine night pilots learn fly instruments adverse weather conditions sustained periods contributed use mock interception target aircraft flown regularly flew operations flying new powered engines interception july hit return fire engines caught fire far sea flew base extinguished fire wheels landing following month greater success night august intercepted claimed damaged second confirmed model coded belonging fell sea north west found body washed ashore august september caught downed 15th victory awarded bar september time acting wing commander winter passed relative inactivity spring began campaign germany earnest attack adolf_hitler enraged attack ordered luftwaffe begin strikes began called april engaged damaged operating exeter able escape cloud specialist german unit operating new navigational aids allowed fly navigate thick cloud rain deliberately operated weather proved difficult night fighters interception night attempting usual tactic british crew approached suddenly tight left hand turn allowing gunners fire broad bomber disappeared mist asked help tracked flying north near engaging german pilot managed turn head position dive past upside continually evaded turning underneath near impossible angles came understand dealing soon turning match began german attempted escape twisting diving forced feet lost contact ground hid signal returned base news soon came crashed slopes apparently broken clouds feet vertically ground near isolated village intelligence later determined machine code bomber impact pilot squadron leader killed crew unique victory fired guns minute chase following episode promoted temporary wing commander june following downing 16th enemy aircraft received bar july feats destroying enemy aircraft firing single bullet diving cloud great speed drove enemy aircraft ground soon ordered staff positions compulsory order fighter pilots men considered fit operational duties departed middle chance test new inch viii radar range miles kilometres new radar radical improvement information displayed single tube ground echo reduced seen screen flying low interfere overall picture director training units left staff officer group headquarters instructors job operational training unit managed persuade deploy headquarters group raf training organisation promoted squadron leader awarded distinguished flying medal pair remained grounded months january tour allowed operations given command squadron raf equipped based selected operator radar set displayed entire picture small ray tube set left instrument panel gave composite image duo decided control interception initial stages reached point enemy action ranges free pilot looking ray tube night march luftwaffe active late contact contact climbed box operated box shape separated evenly spaced markers fighter given box flew allotted marker beacon lights illuminated target formed cone pick contact soon contact closed cannons jammed sitting time trying vain encourage guns fire german crew suddenly away furious quarters squadron got airborne seen enemy ground influence small night fighter community bring personnel old unit currently cornwall new viii radar uniform facility took command smooth bluff nose dome dish antenna time luftwaffe sending increased numbers fighters england night low level able hit coastal areas speed agility meant difficult prospect intercept german pilots respects lack flying experience units carry radar short range aside small mirror pilot night lost probably fifth squadron june intercepted far airfield controller crew room commanding officer closing enemy aircraft heading london heard aircraft brief burst fire followed explosion later learned pilot fast bomber wing thrown canopy code fell deployed parachute picked crew broken arm night august claimed september proved 19th victory claim year seen crash sea achieved 20th final air victory night january chasing france near shooting machine code belonging crashed killed january luftwaffe initiated filed claims offensive lasted night february claimed damaged near lost destruction attributed pilot night february claimed probable victory landed surviving attack night fighter code returned crewmen injured missions nearly shot closing astern gunners suddenly opened fire took manoeuvres single round struck nearly shattering glass fragments struck face later removed field hospital later captured german crew told intelligence officers new radar rear german aircraft detect night fighters bombers difficult surprise encounter enemy pursuit near french coast march awarded bar citation describing example praise april decorated soviet_union 1st class promoted wing commander war substantive september serving series staff positions remainder war group captain march relinquished command squadron appointed group captain command night operations group raf youngest hold rank asked report company test fly commented machine ideal night fighter familiar workings recommended cockpit extended allow navigator fuel tanks enlarged type formidable test flying carried sortie normandy british sector june began enemy aircraft unable hold contacts june flying bomb offensive began tasked assisting interception coordinated efforts group raf engaged operations occupied europe concerned dangers bomb exploding damaging attacking fighter commanding officers current group captain ace enemy aircraft shot forced bail nose split open operations long august bomber support missions end war spent time flying europe meeting commanding officers units took advantage position fly types chance operate flew frequently trips soon took leave visit mother ireland staying sister mary niece lost husband killed action italy remained group capitulation germany july sent far_east group created collection raf forces recover singapore japanese flew malta cairo baghdad soon arrived learned atomic attacks japan september japan surrendered second world war offered permanent commission raf feared career stayed administration policy making staff courses committees mean flying secondary occupation decided return company asked raf release previous summer refused formally november joined december post war activities relinquished raf commission officially august retaining rank group captain remaining constituted permanent rank squadron leader reformed old auxiliary squadron request took active running serving reserve officer retirement reserve squadron leader august awarded salary company expanded enormously war number employees rose turnover company gone million war million supported factories took title chief test pilot supervision served pilot consultant series deals countries keen employ visited deliver advise british airborne radar design swiss presented grip control column mounted wooden stand withdrew vampires retired machine invited celebrate years swedish service september killed test flying thames estuary taken time deliver vampire switzerland learned morning swiss newspapers breakfast geneva missing knew family contacted father son john killed collision flying agreement senior took dead pilot post earned year march set world flight altitude record feet metres ghost powered vampire flight lasted minutes reaching feet minutes following year went test world jet flew flew highly successful export carrying recently widowed princess margaret hour tour alps point supervised queen mother took controls members squadron later night anxious piloted aircraft continued test fly prototypes built late 1950s october travelled united_states received president prestigious american trophy services civil aviation december appointed member board company sold merged company instrumental development worked managing director met iron gun sight later acted consultant advisor company sought increase revenue selling aircraft china insistence postponed retirement years complete series aircraft sales announced industry consumed nation manufacturers accident whilst flying november surrey flock snowy birds collided british aircraft takeoff engines forced emergency landing aircraft mph runway perimeter airfield public road collided car carrying passengers killed died board suffered crushed remained chief test pilot accident formed awarded trophy services recognition wartime exploits contribution civil aviation appointed commander order british empire retired british retirement devoted aviation affairs charitable nature building retirement fund appointed chairman sir charity devoted helping young people aspirations aviation number years senior raf officers attracted investing unfortunately commitment unlimited liability lloyd ran financial difficulty faced enormous debts forced live end life died days shy birthday july sale medals following death service medals flying memorabilia passed medals subsequently sold raise funds september
John Cunningham (RAF officer)