Eric William Wright
Encyclopedia
Air Commodore
Eric William "Ricky" Wright, CBE
DFC
DFM
AE
(21 September 1919- 5 November 2007) was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force
who flew Hurricanes with 605 Squadron
in the Battle of Britain
.
. In early September he shared in the destruction of a Messerschmitt Bf 110 and a Dornier 17 . On September 15 Wright shot down a Dornier 17 over Maidstone.
By the end of the year he had accounted for six enemy aircraft, probably destroyed three more and damaged six. At the end of November he was awarded a DFM. As a Sergeant pilot
he was granted a commission as a Pilot Officer
on probation on 18 December 1940.
Wright was posted to the Far East in 1941, as a flight commander in No 232 Squadron. After the Japanese attacks on Malaya the squadron reinforced the defences at Singapore at the end of January 1942. Within a week Wright's CO had been killed and Wright was promoted to Squadron Leader. He claimed a Japanese bomber damaged off the coast of Singapore. The Squadron soon evacuated to Sumatra and then to Java.
in March Wright was ordered to take his remaining pilots to Tjilatjap, ready to board a boat for Australia. On arrival however, the last boat had been sunk, and when the island fell to the Japanese a few days later Wright and his pilots were made POWs.
After a period at Batavia repariing the airfield, Wright and his fellow POWs were shipped to Japan and worked as farm labourers and in shipbuilding yards.
After the war, he was granted a permanent commission as a Flight Lieutenant
(but continued to be allowed to use his final wartime rank) on 19 December 1945. Wright was a member of the RAF's official aerobatic team, No 247 Squadron flying Vampires. In April 1948 he flew one of the six Vampire F.IIIs of No 54 Squadron making the first Atlantic crossing by jet aircraft.
Air Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Eric William "Ricky" Wright, CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
DFM
Distinguished Flying Medal
The Distinguished Flying Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force and the other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active...
AE
Air Efficiency Award
The Air Efficiency award, abbreviated to AE when placed after a holder's name, was a United Kingdom honour given for ten years' efficient service in the Reserve Air Forces of the United Kingdom, Commonwealth and Empire. Unlike other long service and meritorious conduct awards, both officers and...
(21 September 1919- 5 November 2007) was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
who flew Hurricanes with 605 Squadron
No. 605 Squadron RAF
No 605 Squadron was formed as an Auxiliary Air Force Squadron. Initially formed as a bomber unit, it was one of the most successful participants of the Battle of Britain. It also had the distinction of being active during World War II at two fronts at a time, when the squadron was split up between...
in the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
.
Early years
He was educated at Cambridge County School and the Technical College. In June 1939 he joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve. .He joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve in June 1939 and was called up when he had completed his training as a pilot.Once he had completed his training as a pilot he was called up into the regular air forceRoyal Air Force
Wright joined No 605 (County of Warwick) Squadron in July 1940, and saw action during the Battle of BritainBattle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
. In early September he shared in the destruction of a Messerschmitt Bf 110 and a Dornier 17 . On September 15 Wright shot down a Dornier 17 over Maidstone.
By the end of the year he had accounted for six enemy aircraft, probably destroyed three more and damaged six. At the end of November he was awarded a DFM. As a Sergeant pilot
Sergeant Pilot
A Sergeant Pilot was a non-commissioned officer who had undergone flight training and was a qualified pilot in the air forces of several Commonwealth countries and in the United States Army Air Force before, during and after World War II where they were called Flying Sergeants...
he was granted a commission as a Pilot Officer
Pilot Officer
Pilot officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below flying officer...
on probation on 18 December 1940.
Wright was posted to the Far East in 1941, as a flight commander in No 232 Squadron. After the Japanese attacks on Malaya the squadron reinforced the defences at Singapore at the end of January 1942. Within a week Wright's CO had been killed and Wright was promoted to Squadron Leader. He claimed a Japanese bomber damaged off the coast of Singapore. The Squadron soon evacuated to Sumatra and then to Java.
in March Wright was ordered to take his remaining pilots to Tjilatjap, ready to board a boat for Australia. On arrival however, the last boat had been sunk, and when the island fell to the Japanese a few days later Wright and his pilots were made POWs.
After a period at Batavia repariing the airfield, Wright and his fellow POWs were shipped to Japan and worked as farm labourers and in shipbuilding yards.
After the war, he was granted a permanent commission as a Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
(but continued to be allowed to use his final wartime rank) on 19 December 1945. Wright was a member of the RAF's official aerobatic team, No 247 Squadron flying Vampires. In April 1948 he flew one of the six Vampire F.IIIs of No 54 Squadron making the first Atlantic crossing by jet aircraft.
Honours and awards
- 26 November 1940 - 748522 Sergeant Eric William Wright, RAFVR of 605 SquadronNo. 605 Squadron RAFNo 605 Squadron was formed as an Auxiliary Air Force Squadron. Initially formed as a bomber unit, it was one of the most successful participants of the Battle of Britain. It also had the distinction of being active during World War II at two fronts at a time, when the squadron was split up between...
is awarded the Distinguished Flying MedalDistinguished Flying MedalThe Distinguished Flying Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force and the other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active...
:
- 1 October 1946 - Acting Squadron Leader Eric William Wright, DFM (64870) RAFVR is awarded a Distinguished Flying CrossDistinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
in recognition of gallant and distinguished services rendered during the period of operations against the Japanese in Malaya and the Netherlands East India terminating in March 1942.
- 1 January 1949 - Acting Squadron Leader E.W.Wright DFC DFM (64870) RAF is named as being commended with the King's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air.
- 1 January 1964 - Group Captain Eric William Wright DFC DFM is appointed a Commander of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
.