Royal Navy from 1914 to 1919 (Sub Lieut.) Victory Medal RAF 1919 to 1932 (Flight Lieut.) m. (One child before 1941) a Civil Pilot prev. exp. approx 3,000hrs "Lost right foot and ankle - artificial foot" [Possibly in the accident to Avro 504K J732, of 39 Sqn, Spittlegate which spun in during aerobatics on 2 Feb 1923; F/O Cyril Chambers (24) killed, F/O John Edmund Layard Drabble injured. The inquiry found that the accident was due to an error of judgement on the part of Flying Officer Drabble.] June 1932: "FLIGHT LIEUTENANT FINED. John Edmund Layard Drabble, Flight Lieutenant. 49 Squadron, Upper Heyford, Bicester, did not appear to answer a charge of using a motor car with no Road Fund licence at Waddesdon on Tuesday, April 26th. but sent a telephone message explaining that was on duty until noon. P.S. Snelling deposed that in High Street, Waddesdon, he noticed that defendant’s Road Fund licence expired on March 24th. Defendant said, " I forgot all about it." Director of Aircraft Equipment Ltd from Jan 1936, presumably based on his patent for 'increasing the field of vision in aircraft", filed the same year. Address in 1941: 1 Lanark Rd, Maida Vale, London Postings: 3FPP, 6FPP "A pilot of considerable experience ... a capable pilot who is working hard and well." but ... [Contract Terminated 10 Apr 1942 by ATA - Disciplinary Reasons] |