Group Captain John Cunningham - RIP
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Group Captain John Cunningham - RIP
I have just heard that the another superb BoB fighter pilot has left us. The great John Cunningham died yesterday.
I was in fact talking to the secretary of the BoB Fighter Association on Saturday, and he told me that the numbers were down to 269. Now they are 268. How sad that they have to go. But how very grateful we should be that we are here because they were there.
God bless.
I was in fact talking to the secretary of the BoB Fighter Association on Saturday, and he told me that the numbers were down to 269. Now they are 268. How sad that they have to go. But how very grateful we should be that we are here because they were there.
God bless.
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My Old Geography teacher ( can't remember his name, was it Lovecock? Loveridge ?) used to show slides of his adventures in his early days, flying I think it was Viscounts, among other things, in North Africa.
"Cats Eyes", he told us, he was honoured to have as his Co-Pilot on numerous occasions.
I remember now .... Mr Lovelock, another star who fuelled my enthusiasm for aviation.
May you both rest in peace. Thanks.
"Cats Eyes", he told us, he was honoured to have as his Co-Pilot on numerous occasions.
I remember now .... Mr Lovelock, another star who fuelled my enthusiasm for aviation.
May you both rest in peace. Thanks.
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I followed John's exploits from the time I could read, and mum told me all about the war heroes before that.. Many moons ago as a keen aircraft spotter I attended an airshow at Hatfield.. there were free visits round the tower so I duly joined the long queue... up the stairs and past an office with the sign John Cunningham, Chief test Pilot. I never met the man but just passing his office was a thrill enough.
God Bless you, Sir.
God Bless you, Sir.
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I was told a wonderful wartime story:
The pilots of a Beaufighter squadron were told to come outside by a very young Wing Commander. He then climbed into his machine and took off. Shortly after becoming airborne one of the
propellors feathered and they all leapt to their feet to get a good view of the crash.
He simply climbed ahead on the same heading, but then made the cardinal error of turning towards the DEAD ENGINE!. They all leapt to their feet again but he simply turned downwind.
Having flown a circuit he approached to land, but just above the ground applied full power to the remaining engine to do a go-around. Once again they all.....etc. etc.
He finally landed shut the aircraft down, organised a blackboard and a piece of chalk and in front of his incredulous audience, wrote two words across it.
"Safety Speed".
"What in the hell is that?" they all said... and Cunningham explained.
I envy the guy that got as close to him as walking past his office and can imagine how the name board made him feel!
The pilots of a Beaufighter squadron were told to come outside by a very young Wing Commander. He then climbed into his machine and took off. Shortly after becoming airborne one of the
propellors feathered and they all leapt to their feet to get a good view of the crash.
He simply climbed ahead on the same heading, but then made the cardinal error of turning towards the DEAD ENGINE!. They all leapt to their feet again but he simply turned downwind.
Having flown a circuit he approached to land, but just above the ground applied full power to the remaining engine to do a go-around. Once again they all.....etc. etc.
He finally landed shut the aircraft down, organised a blackboard and a piece of chalk and in front of his incredulous audience, wrote two words across it.
"Safety Speed".
"What in the hell is that?" they all said... and Cunningham explained.
I envy the guy that got as close to him as walking past his office and can imagine how the name board made him feel!
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I was lucky enough to meet him at Hatfield some years back. He kindly autographed a book about the Comet for me. A true gentleman.
There are few enough real heroes and now there is one less.
Graham
There are few enough real heroes and now there is one less.
Graham
Coppula eam se non posit acceptera jocularum
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BBC News report
BBC News (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2146171.stm) have a good and quite fitting obituary to this great man. However, they say that John Cunningham was the first man to shoot down an enemy plane using radar. C F Rawsley, John Cunningham’s radar operator, wrote in his book ‘Night Fighter’ that the first pilot to shoot down an enemy aircraft (a Dornier 17) after a radar-controlled interception was, on 22 July 1940, a Flying Officer G Ashfield while flying a Blenheim from the experimental Fighter Interception Unit at Ford in Sussex. John Cunningham shot down his first enemy aircraft (a Junkers 88) after a radar-controlled interception on 20 November 1940, becoming the first pilot on a normal operational squadron to use radar to shoot down an enemy aircraft. While not the first to successfully use radar, John Cunningham was certainly a pioneer, and C F Rawnsley tells of his inspired leadership in bringing radar to operational effectiveness.
I was fortunate enough to meet him late last year, a very pleasant if brief chat, he was also good enough to sign a picture of Canopus the RAE Comet for me, it had already been signed by the crew that took him on its last in service trip before retirement. If that crew read this (or anyone points them this way), he commented on how much he had enjoyed that last flight in a Comet. He was also one of those whose story got me interested in aviation, I've now done nearly 20 years in the industry. Thank you, and RIP Mr Cunningham.
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In 1973, when I joined Uncle Sid, as HSA was fondly called, I was posted to the Flight Shed for a period of training before starting my proper job. John Cuningham presided over that shed which, in the summer, included the Cirrus Moth and Mosquito.
I will not forget my one and only flight with him, a production test flight in a Chinese Trident 2, one afternoon over the North Sea when I was given a very very minor task in order to get on board.
He was a true gentle man and took time to talk to a new lad in the industry and to foster enthusiasm.
I was warned not to have a beer with lunch that day since he sniffed the breath of anyone he did not know and/or trust! I also remember something about old pilots and bold pilots and cannot help but make the link.
Good bye and thanks JC.
I will not forget my one and only flight with him, a production test flight in a Chinese Trident 2, one afternoon over the North Sea when I was given a very very minor task in order to get on board.
He was a true gentle man and took time to talk to a new lad in the industry and to foster enthusiasm.
I was warned not to have a beer with lunch that day since he sniffed the breath of anyone he did not know and/or trust! I also remember something about old pilots and bold pilots and cannot help but make the link.
Good bye and thanks JC.
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From Gulf Daily News Bahrain Friday 2nd August
Link
Hero dies forgotten by his own country
Sir, THE funeral was held in England this week of a very great aviation pioneer, Mr John Cunningham, who died at the tender age of 84.
He was surrounded by all his De Havilland friends at St' Nicholas Church, Harpenden, Herts.
I was privileged to have worked alongside him for a number of years, particularly during the Comet and Trident development test programmes.
Hatfield was the home of aviation. In those days aviation put Hatfield on the map.
Mr Cunningham, lovingly called Cat's Eyes for his perception of night flying vision during the war years, was the pioneer for today's radar. This facility helped win the Battle of Britain.
He was also ranked as group captain for his unstinting flying during the war when he received three DSOs, two DFCs and the Air Efficiency Award.
He was also Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Hertfordshire
Sadly his own country seemingly could not offer him the award which he truly deserved, an accolade in the form of a knighthood. Many of us tried over the years but it was not to be.
Today these awards are handed out to many lesser mortals, at the drop of a hat.
How ironic it is that the one country - America - who benefitted most from Britain's lead in aviation technology, awarded Mr Cunningham their country's highest award, The Harmon Trophy.
The Head Man, as he was known to his work colleagues, will be sorely missed. He seemed to be immortal to us all and a driving force not seen in today's world.
Yvonne Trueman
The Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators
London
Link
Hero dies forgotten by his own country
Sir, THE funeral was held in England this week of a very great aviation pioneer, Mr John Cunningham, who died at the tender age of 84.
He was surrounded by all his De Havilland friends at St' Nicholas Church, Harpenden, Herts.
I was privileged to have worked alongside him for a number of years, particularly during the Comet and Trident development test programmes.
Hatfield was the home of aviation. In those days aviation put Hatfield on the map.
Mr Cunningham, lovingly called Cat's Eyes for his perception of night flying vision during the war years, was the pioneer for today's radar. This facility helped win the Battle of Britain.
He was also ranked as group captain for his unstinting flying during the war when he received three DSOs, two DFCs and the Air Efficiency Award.
He was also Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Hertfordshire
Sadly his own country seemingly could not offer him the award which he truly deserved, an accolade in the form of a knighthood. Many of us tried over the years but it was not to be.
Today these awards are handed out to many lesser mortals, at the drop of a hat.
How ironic it is that the one country - America - who benefitted most from Britain's lead in aviation technology, awarded Mr Cunningham their country's highest award, The Harmon Trophy.
The Head Man, as he was known to his work colleagues, will be sorely missed. He seemed to be immortal to us all and a driving force not seen in today's world.
Yvonne Trueman
The Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators
London
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Frank Whittle, John Cunningham - how many more people worthy of note for their meritorious contribution to aviation generally and the United Kingdom are to be ignored in favour of drug swilling pop stars etc. etc.?
