Collection SLADE - SLADE, Gp Capt Richard Gordon (1912-1981)

Born 1912; educated at Dulwich College; joined RAF, 1933; served with No 4 Flying Training School, Abu Suweir, Egypt, 1933-1934, and No 30 Bomber Sqn, Mosul and Habbaniyah, Iraq, 1934-1937; Pilot Officer, 1934; Test Pilot, Aeroplane and Armaments Experimental Establishment, No 24 (Training) Group, Martlesham Heath, Suffolk, 1937-1939; Flight Lt, 1938; served in World War Two, 1939-1945; Test Pilot, Aeroplane and Armaments Experimental Establishment, Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, 1939-1941; Wg Cdr, 1941; attached to No 604 Sqn, Middle Wallop, Hampshire, 1941-1942; formed first De Havilland Mosquito Night Fighter Sqn, Castle Camps, Cambridgeshire, 1942; Commanding Officer, No 157 Sqn, Fighter Command, 1942; Commanding Officer, Handling Sqn, Empire Central Flying School, Hullavington, Wiltshire, 1943; Gp Capt, commanding No 157 Sqn and No 85 Sqn, 1944; Commanding Officer, No 169 Sqn, 1944; Commanding Officer, RAF Station, Swannington, Norfolk, Bomber Command, 1944-1945; commanded 148 and 138 Wings, British Air Forces of Occupation, 1945-1946; Chief Test Pilot and Superintendent of Flying, Fairey Aviation Limited, 1946-1959; involved in the establishment of a new World Absolute Speed Record of 1132 miles per hour by a Fairey Delta II, piloted by (Lionel) Peter Twiss, 1956; awarded OBE, 1957; Director, Fairey Aviation Limited, 1959-1960; Director, Fairey Air Surveys Limited, 1959-1972; General Manager, Fairey Hydraulics Limited, 1961-1965; Managing Director, Fairey Hydraulics Limited, 1965-1975; Director, Fairey Filtration Limited, 1970-1972; Chairman, Fairey Hydraulics Limited, 1975-1981; Member, Council of Society of British Aerospace Companies, 1976-1978; Member of the Council of the Confederation of British Industry, 1976-1978; retired 1977; Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society; Liveryman, Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators; died 1981.