Special Characteristics: 'blue scar on bridge of nose' Ed. Sherborne College m. 1930 Doreen Isabel [Nicholls], 1 child; 1940 Gladys M [Wilson] [RAeC 1931, 1935 - photos missing] prev. of 'Independent means'. He did have a rather chequered past, particularly when it came to driving, or flying, dangerously: - in 1924, he was fined 40/-, 50/- and 10/- for 3 separate motorcycling offences, then - in 1925 he was fined £4 5/-, 1/-, £1 (for having no light), £5 , 10/- and then £20, with £3 3s. costs and disqualified for riding for two years, when he "travelled on a motor cycle at 70 miles an hour in a manner dangerous to the public, an allegation which he did not deny". In the last case, "Defendant, who did not seem much perturbed by the decision, was granted time in which to pay the fine." - In 1930, he was fined £20 or two month's imprisonment for flying an aeroplane dangerously at Parson's Hill Field, near Downe golf course, and fined £20 for flying an aeroplane without a pilot's certificate. A Mr Lane stated: "It came straight for me, so I threw myself to the ground. It went on and turned and came back, swooping down again only four feet above my head." ; - In 1931, he was sentenced to three months' imprisonment "in the first division, for driving a motor car in a manner dangerous to the public"; - In 1938, he was sentenced to four months imprisonment for driving dangerously at Bray, Berks. His licence was suspended for three years. This accident led to the death of a Mr Bernard Sprackling, an insurance clerk; his widow sued Gerald and another driver and they ended up paying £3,750 to the widow and her son, born posthumously. "Mrs. Sprackling's jaw was broken and she lost three teeth, and two more teeth had still to come out. Although she had made a splendid recovery, she underwent considerable pain and suffering. Mr. Justice Hawke said: 'She has suffered, poor creature, in a way for which she cannot get any damages.'" He served this sentence in Oxford Prison. Address in 1940: The Studio, Shiplake, nr Henley Postings: 1FPP, 6FPP, 4FPP, 3FPP, 9FPP, 12FPP (as C.O. then later as 2nd in Command), 5FPP (as C.O.), 16FPP, Air Movements Flight Class 5 (4-engine) qualified pilot "A keen and very capable ferry pilot and a loyal and efficient deputy" (Thomas Gale, OC 1FPP, 1944) "He is a competent and hard-working pilot. His administrative ability is not of the highest order, and I do not consider that at the present time he would be capable of handling a larger unit" One 'pilot to blame' accident amongst his 4 incidents; in Feb 1942 his Hurricane II "collided with a hangar support cable whilst manoeuvring in a confined space with a defective tail castor." "All the Ferry Pools began as small informal communities, but none more so than No 12 at Cosford, for Jerry Stedall - the first C.O. - was soon joined by his wife in the ostensible role as caterer." Brief Glory
MBE, 1946 He married once more, in 1965, to Jennifer K [Young]. d. Jun 1972 - Surrey Download ATA Pilot Personal Record (.zip file): |
ATAM
