This is a man with extraordinary talents that gave him a unique role during the War and afterwards. His skill as a fighter pilot helped prove the concept of the escort carrier, a key innovation during the struggle in the Atlantic (and he describes one convoy battle in some detail), then his aptitude in landing on a carrier resulted in him instructing other naval pilots who were needed to fight the war, from which he started test flying.
He played a role in solving the problems encountered by wartime aircraft. Following Germany's surrender, his talent for languages (which had earned him a University scholarship before the war) led to him being involved in exploring German technologies, and interviewing captured Nazis such as the commandant of Belsen.
Post war he was involved with test flying, squadron flying as a naval pilot, and development work for Fleet Air Arm aircraft and British carrier innovations. He was involved with Cold War work at the MOD, naval attaché to West Germany and finally Command Officer of RNAS Lossiemouth.
He holds the word record for the greatest number of aircraft types flown by a single person.