John Aldridge (RAF officer) explained

John Arthur Aldridge
Birth Date:9 February 1899
Birth Place:Graveley, Hertfordshire
Death Place:North East Hampshire, Hampshire
Allegiance:United Kingdom
Branch:Royal Flying Corps
Serviceyears:1917–1919
Rank:Lieutenant
Unit:No. 19 Squadron RAF
Battles:
Awards:Order of the British Empire
Belgian Croix de Guerre
Laterwork:Served in Air Training Corps during the Second World War
Secretary at the Veterinary Laboratory near Woking

Lieutenant John Arthur Aldridge (9 February 1899 – November 1988) was a First World War flying ace credited with five aerial victories. He returned to the colours during the Second World War, joining the Air Training Corps.[1]

Aldridge joined the Royal Flying Corps as an officer cadet, and was made a temporary second lieutenant on 24 May 1917. He received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate 4846 on a Maurice Farman biplane at Ruislip on 16 June 1917. He was posted to No. 19 Squadron in early 1918, where he scored five victories flying the Sopwith Dolphin between April and September.[2] He officially left the RAF on 12 January 1919.

On 18 June 1919, Alridge joined the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries as an Assistant Clerk (Abstractor).

During Second World War, he served in the Training Branch of the RAF, with the rank of pilot officer, until 31 March 1945.

He became Secretary at the Veterinary Laboratory near Woking, and in December 1948 was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his work in the Civil Service.

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: John Aldridge . The Aerodrome . 4 January 2011 .
  2. Shores et.al. (1990), p. 49.