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H Bird-Wilson |
 H Bird-Wilson Name : H Bird-Wilson Died : 27th December 2000 |
Birdy-Wilson joined the R.A.F. in 1937 and fought with 17 squadron during the Battle of France. Active throughout the Battle of Britain, awarded the DFC in the September of 1940, the same date he was shot down by Major Adolph Galland of JG26, bailing out with severe burns. He took command of 152 squadron in April 1942 and promoted Wing Commander 1943 he led 121 wing then 122 wing. Rested in January 1944 he went to the US command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. Throughout the rest of 1944 he flew Mustangs, being awarded the D.S.O. in January 1945. He added the Czech Medal of Merit, 1st Class and the Dutch DFC. He stayed in the R.A.F. after the war until his retirement in 1974. By 1987 he had flown no less than 213 different types, including an Airship, the James Bond Autogiro and during 1978 the F-15 Eagle Fighter. He died on 27th December 2000. Citation for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross. Flying Officer Bird-Wilson has shot down six enemy aircraft and shared in the destruction of several others. He has shown fine fighting qualities and determination in his attacks.” (London Gazette – 24 September 1940) Citation for the award of the Distinguished Service Order Since being awarded a Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross, this officer has participated in a very large number of sorties. He has continued to display the highest qualities of leadership, skill and gallantry, qualities which have been well illustrated in the fine fighting spirit of the squadrons he commands. Within the past four months. Wing Commander Bird-Wilson has led large formations of aircraft on a variety of sorties during which much success has been obtained. Many enemy aircraft have been destroyed, whilst a good number of locomotives, wagons, mechanical transport and armoured fighting vehicles have been most effectively attacked. Throughout these operations. Wing Commander Bird-Wilson has set an example which has inspired all.” (London Gazette – 9 January 1945) |
COMBAT REPORTS |
17 Squadron Operational Record Book – 24 September 1940 The Squadron took off at 08:30 hours and joined 73 Squadron over base. 30 bombers were sighted over the Thames Estuary approaching London with masses of fighters above them. 17 Squadron acting as rear guard were attacked by the fighters and in the dog fight which followed FO Bird-Wilson was shot down and baled out. FO Czernin, PO Stevens and Sgt Griffiths circled over him until they saw him picked up safely by a boat off Chatham. Later it was reported that FO Bird-Wilson had been taken to the Royal Naval Hospital, Chatham, suffering from burns about the legs and face, but he is not on the danger list. PO Wissler’s a/c was hit by cannon shell and he was slightly wounded in the arm. His a/c crashed on landing at Debden. He is not seriously hurt. 10 aircraft landed safely at Debden at 09:30 hours, FO Czernin having probably destroyed 1 Me109 over the sea off Foreness and PO Pittman having damaged another. 17 Squadron Operational Record Book, 29 July 1940, Debden Convoy protection patrols were maintained throughout the day, and while on patrol at 15:10 hours Blue Section was ordered to intercept raid. A He111 was sighted at 14,000 feet below cloud and the Section gave chase in line a stern. Flt Lt Bayne, the Blue Leader, delivered a frontal attack out of the sun, followed by a no. 1 attack, firing all his ammunition. The enemy aircraft dropped its undercarriage and jettisoned its bombs, pieces being seen to fall away from it and smoke pouring from both engines. FO Bird-Wilson (Blue 2) and PO Wissler (Blue 3) followed the Blue Leader with frontal and no. 1 attacks, Blue 3 experiencing some fire from the rear gunner but sustaining no hits. After further attack the enemy aircraft crashed into the sea and 3 of the crew were seen to climb into a rubber boat. |
Known Service Details : | |||||||
Squadron | Rank | Start of Service | End of Service | Known Dates | Aircraft | Airframes | Notes |
Flight Officer | unknown | unknown | |||||
unknown | unknown | ||||||
Artwork signed by this Pilot or Aircrew |
  Fighting Lady by Graeme Lothian (B) |   Those Valiant Few by Robert Taylor. (B) |   Tangmere Hurricanes by Nicolas Trudgian. |
  Enemy Approaching by David Pentland. (P) |   A Call to Arms by David Pentland. (P) |
Artwork featuring the mounted signature of this Pilot or Aircrew |
  Height and Sun by Robert Taylor. (AP) |
Photos Submitted Through Our Directory |
 H Bird-Wilson Signing the art print Fighting Lady by Graeme Lothian. |
24-09-1940 - Hurricane flown by Pilot Officer H.Bird-Wilson was involed in combat with a Me109 and pilot Bird-Wilson baled out.
Known Individual Aircraft : | ||||||||
Type | Serial | Codes | First Flew | Squadron History | Aircrew History | History Notes | Engine | Factory |
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| Aircraft for : H Bird-Wilson | ||
| A list of all aircraft associated with H Bird-Wilson. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name. | ||
| Aircraft | Info | |
Hurricane 
Manufacturer : Hawker Production Began : 1936 Number Built : 14533 | Hurricane Royal Air Force Fighter, the Hawker Hurricane had a top speed of 320mph, at 18,200 feet and 340mph at 17,500, ceiling of 34,200 and a range of 935 miles. The Hurricane was armed with eight fixed wing mounted .303 browning machine guns in the Mark I and twelve .303 browning's in the MKIIB in the Hurricane MKIIC it had four 20mm cannon. All time classic fighter the Hurricane was designed in 1933-1934, the first prototype flew in June 1936 and a contract for 600 for the Royal Air Force was placed. The first production model flew ion the 12th October 1937 and 111 squadron of the Royal Air Force received the first Hurricanes in January 1938. By the outbreak of World war two the Royal Air Force had 18 operational squadrons of Hurricanes. During the Battle of Britain a total of 1715 Hurricanes took part, (which was more than the rest of the aircraft of the Royal air force put together) and almost 75% of the Victories during the Battle of Britain went to hurricane pilots. The Hawker Hurricane was used in all theatres during World war two, and in many roles. in total 14,533 Hurricanes were built. | |
Mustang 
Manufacturer : North American | Mustang The ubiquitous North American P-51 Mustang, which many consider to be the best all-around fighter of WW II, owes its origins to the British Air Ministry. Following Britains entry into WW II in 1939, the RAF was interested in purchasing additional fighter aircraft from American sources, particularly the Curtiss P-40. Curtiss, which was busy, was unable to guarantee timely delivery so the British approached North American Aviation as a possible second source for the P-40. North American chose to propose its own fighter design which would use the same Allison engine as the P-40. Utilizing new laminar flow wings, the North American fighter was expected to have performance better than the P-40. Developed in record time the new aircraft was designated as a Mustang I by the Brits, whereas the USAAF ordered two for evaluation which were designated XP-51 Apaches. Intrigued with the possibility of using this aircraft also as a dive bomber, North American proposed this to the USAAF which decided to order 500 of the P-51 aircraft to be modified for dive bombing use. Designated as the A-36 Invader, this version of the Mustang utilized dive flaps, and bomb racks under each wing. Some reinforcing of the structural members was also required because of the G-forces to be encountered in dive bombing. A-36s entered combat service with the USAAF prior to any P-51s. In early 1943 the 86th and 27th Fighter Bomber Groups of the 12th Air Force began flying A-36s out of Northern Africa. Despite some early problems with instability caused by the dive flaps, the A-36 was effective in light bombing and strafing roles. It was not, however, capable of dog fighting with German fighters, especially at higher altitudes. Despite these drawbacks one USAAF pilot, Captain Michael T. Russo, who served with the 16th Bomb Squadron of the 27th Fighter Bomber Group, was credited with five confirmed aerial victories in the A-36, thereby becoming the first mustang ace. | |
| Squadrons for : H Bird-Wilson | ||
| A list of all squadrons known to have been served with by H Bird-Wilson. A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name. | ||
| Squadron | Info | |
No.152 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 1st October 1918 Fate : Disbanded 15th November 1967 Hyderabad Faithful ally | No.152 Sqn RAF Operated from Warmwell during the Battle of Britain. | |
No.17 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 1st February 1915 Excellere contende - Strive to excel | No.17 Sqn RAF No 17 Squadron was formed at Gosport on 1 February 1915 and after a period of training embarked for Egypt in November. On 24 December, it began to make reconnaissance flights over the Turkish lines in Sinai, also flying in support of troops engaged with Turkish army units in the Western Desert. Detachments were also to be found in Arabia until July 1916, when the Squadron was sent to Salonika as a mixed unit of twelve BE2cs for reconnaissance and a scout component of two DH2s and three Bristol Scouts. At first it was the only RFC unit in Macedonia but was later joined by others in April 1918, handed over its fighters to a newly-formed No 150 Squadron. For the rest of the war, it was engaged in tactical reconnaissance and artillery spotting on the Bulgarian border. In December 1918, the squadron re-equipped with twelve DH9s and six Camels, sending A Flight to Batum to support the White Russian forces and B and C Flights to Constantinople in January 1919. On 14 November 1919, No 17 was disbanded. Reforming at Hawkinge on 1 April 1924, with Snipes No 17 formed part of the fighter defence of the UK until the outbreak of World War Two. Successively equipped Woodcocks, Siskins, Bulldogs and Gauntlets, the squadron remained in the UK during the Abyssinian crisis but lost most of its Bulldogs as reinforcements for squadrons moving to the Middle East and had to fly Harts for a period. In June 1939 Hurricanes were received and flew defensive patrols until the German attack on France in May 1940. Fighter sweeps were then flown over the Netherlands, Belgium and French airfields to cover the retreat of allied troops. In June the squadron moved to Brittany as the remnants of BEF and RAF units in France were evacuated, retiring to the Channel Islands two days before returning to the UK. No 17 flew over southern England throughout the Battle of Britain, being moved to northern Scotland in April 1941. In November 1941, the squadron sailed for the Far East where war broke out in December. Diverted to Burma, it arrived in January 1942, as Japanese troops neared Rangoon. Defensive patrols were flown until the Rangoon airfields were overrun and No 17 moved north, eventually being cut off from India while operating from Lashio. The surviving aircraft were flown out and the ground personnel made their way across Burma to the Indian border. By the end of May, the squadron had re-assembled at Calcutta and in June received aircraft again for the defence of the area. Ground attack missions began in February 1943 and continued until August, when the squadron moved to Ceylon. Spitfires began to arrive in March 1944 and were taken back to the Burma front in November to fly escort and ground attack missions. In June 1945, it was withdrawn to prepare for the invasion of Malaya and was taken by carrier to the landing beaches near Penang in early September soon after the Japanese capitulation. On 11 February 1949, No 691 Squadron based at Chivenor for anti-aircraft co-operation duties was renumbered No 17 Squadron, being officially disbanded on 13 March 1951, passing its tasks to No 3 CAACU which was formed five days later. No 17 reformed at Wahn on 1 June 1956 as a Canberra photographic reconnaissance squadron in Germany, disbanding on 31 December 1969. On 1 September 1970, No 17 reformed at Bruggen with Phantoms, which were flown until December 1975. Conversion to Jaguars began in September. In January 1985 the squadron began to convert to Tornado GR1s, the Jaguar element disbanding on 1 March 1985 when No 17 became fully equipped with Tornados. In 2003 No 17 became the first RAF squadron to receive the Eurofighter Typhoon. Based a Warton it's responsibilities include the evaluation of the new aircraft and its integration into full squadron service. On 19 May 2005, the Squadron officially reformed with the presentation of the Squadron Standard at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, to become No 17 (Reserve) Squadron, the Typhoon Operational Evaluation Unit. | |
Last edited : 21:30, April 14, 2013
Last editor : DataStream
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