Harold Bird-Wilson
Encyclopedia
Air Vice Marshal Harold Arthur Cooper "Birdie" Bird-Wilson CBE
, DSO
, DFC
& Bar
, AFC
& Bar
(November 20, 1919 — December 27, 2000) was a British
Royal Air Force
ace
during World War II
.
, North Wales
, on November 20, 1919. His father was a tea-planter in Bengal, and his parents remained in India, sending Bird-Wilson to boarding school. He later went to Liverpool College.
In August 1938 he was assigned to 17 Squadron, learning the rudiments of being a fighter pilot in Gloster Gauntlet
s. The Squadron was re-equipped with Hawker Hurricane
s in June 1939.
Ten weeks later, he was flying a BA Swallow out of RAF Cranwell
when he crashed in bad weather. His passenger was killed, and Bird-Wilson was left without a nose. He was treated by pioneering plastic surgeon Archibald McIndoe
, who offered Bird-Wilson the nose of his choice, and went on to treat many disfigured RAF pilots during the war.
As an already accomplished pilot, he was one of the elite selected for one of Cuthbert Orde
's iconic charcoal portraits, which was drawn on 11 September 1940.
On the morning of 24 September, flying Hurricane P3878 near Chatham, he became the 40th kill of Luftwaffe
ace Adolf Galland
of JG 26. Baling out on fire, he landed in the Thames and was picked up by a navy boat.
Yet again he was hospitalised. In 1941 he went back into service as an instructor at No. 56 Operational Training Unit (OTU) before seeing action flying Spitfires with No. 254 Squadron RAF
, participating in raids over northern France
. He returned for a spell commanding a unit at No. 56 OTU later in the year.
In 1942 he commanded No. 152 Squadron RAF
and No. 66 Squadron RAF
as they led fighter escorts for bombing raids to the northern European coast, moving on to lead Wings in 1943.
In 1944 he attended command training in the USA at Fort Leavenworth
, before returning to action over the Normandy Invasion. He ended the war commanding No. 1335 Jet Conversion Unit, the first jet unit in the RAF.
In 1954, Bird-Wilson joined the British Joint Services Mission in Washington. He returned to be Station Commander at RAF Coltishall
from June 1959 to November 1961, then held a post at the Air Ministry
from 1961 to 1963, before two years commanding the Central Flying School
, followed by a post as air officer commanding Hong Kong in 1965.
After two years, Bird-Wilson took up a post at the Ministry of Technology in 1967. From 1970 — 1974, his final years of service were spent commanding a training group. He died in 2000.
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...
, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, 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...
& Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
, AFC
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
& Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
(November 20, 1919 — December 27, 2000) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
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...
ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Family Background
Bird-Wilson was born in PrestatynPrestatyn
Prestatyn is a seaside resort, town and community in Denbighshire, North Wales. It is located on the Irish Sea coast, to the east of Rhyl. At the 2001 Census, Prestatyn had a population of 18,496.-Prehistory:...
, North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
, on November 20, 1919. His father was a tea-planter in Bengal, and his parents remained in India, sending Bird-Wilson to boarding school. He later went to Liverpool College.
Military career
On November 30, 1937, having had a few weeks initial officer training, he was granted a short-service commission in the RAF.In August 1938 he was assigned to 17 Squadron, learning the rudiments of being a fighter pilot in Gloster Gauntlet
Gloster Gauntlet
-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Crawford, Alex. Bristol Bulldog, Gloster Gauntlet. Redbourn, UK: Mushroom Model Publications, 2005. ISBN 83-89450-04-6....
s. The Squadron was re-equipped with Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
s in June 1939.
Ten weeks later, he was flying a BA Swallow out of RAF Cranwell
RAF Cranwell
RAF Cranwell is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire close to the village of Cranwell, near Sleaford. It is currently commanded by Group Captain Dave Waddington...
when he crashed in bad weather. His passenger was killed, and Bird-Wilson was left without a nose. He was treated by pioneering plastic surgeon Archibald McIndoe
Archibald McIndoe
Sir Archibald McIndoe CBE FRCS was a pioneering New Zealand plastic surgeon who worked for the Royal Air Force during World War II. He greatly improved the treatment and rehabilitation of badly burned aircrew.-Background:...
, who offered Bird-Wilson the nose of his choice, and went on to treat many disfigured RAF pilots during the war.
Second World War
In April 1940 he was back on active service, in time to fly Hurricanes for the British retreat from France in the following weeks.As an already accomplished pilot, he was one of the elite selected for one of Cuthbert Orde
Cuthbert Orde
Captain Cuthbert Julian Orde was an artist and First World War pilot. He is best known for his war art, especially his portraits of Allied Battle of Britain pilots.-Family background:...
's iconic charcoal portraits, which was drawn on 11 September 1940.
On the morning of 24 September, flying Hurricane P3878 near Chatham, he became the 40th kill of Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
ace Adolf Galland
Adolf Galland
Adolf "Dolfo" Joseph Ferdinand Galland was a German Luftwaffe General and flying ace who served throughout World War II in Europe. He flew 705 combat missions, and fought on the Western and the Defence of the Reich fronts...
of JG 26. Baling out on fire, he landed in the Thames and was picked up by a navy boat.
Yet again he was hospitalised. In 1941 he went back into service as an instructor at No. 56 Operational Training Unit (OTU) before seeing action flying Spitfires with No. 254 Squadron RAF
No. 254 Squadron RAF
No. 254 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was reformed in 1959 as one of 20 Strategic Missile squadrons associated with Project Emily. The squadron was equipped with three Thor Intermediate range ballistic missiles...
, participating in raids over northern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He returned for a spell commanding a unit at No. 56 OTU later in the year.
In 1942 he commanded No. 152 Squadron RAF
No. 152 Squadron RAF
No. 152 Squadron of the Royal Air Force .-History:No 152 Squadron was formed on 1 October 1918 at Rochford as a Camel night fighter unit. 30 June 1919, the squadron disbanded....
and No. 66 Squadron RAF
No. 66 Squadron RAF
No. 66 Squadron was a Royal Flying Corps and eventually Royal Air Force aircraft squadron.-In World War I:It was first formed at Filton on 30 June 1916 as a Training Squadron equipped with BE2c,d & e, BE12 and Avroe 504A machines. The squadron received its first Sopwith Pup on 3 February 1917,...
as they led fighter escorts for bombing raids to the northern European coast, moving on to lead Wings in 1943.
In 1944 he attended command training in the USA at Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth is a United States Army facility located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, immediately north of the city of Leavenworth in the upper northeast portion of the state. It is the oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C. and has been in operation for over 180 years...
, before returning to action over the Normandy Invasion. He ended the war commanding No. 1335 Jet Conversion Unit, the first jet unit in the RAF.
After the war
For many years after the war Bird-Wilson held a variety of posts in the Central Flying Establishment. In 1946 he was given command of the air fighting development squadron. In 1948 he moved to Middle East operations, becoming personal staff officer to Air Chief Marshal Sir John Baker, Middle East Air Force Commander-in-Chief in 1949.In 1954, Bird-Wilson joined the British Joint Services Mission in Washington. He returned to be Station Commander at RAF Coltishall
RAF Coltishall
The former Royal Air Force Station Coltishall, more commonly known as RAF Coltishall , was a Royal Air Force station, a military airbase, North-North-East of Norwich, in the English county of Norfolk, East Anglia, from 1938 to 2006....
from June 1959 to November 1961, then held a post at the Air Ministry
Air Ministry
The Air Ministry was a department of the British Government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964...
from 1961 to 1963, before two years commanding the Central Flying School
Central Flying School
The Central Flying School is the Royal Air Force's primary institution for the training of military flying instructors. Established in 1912 it is the longest existing flying training school.-History:...
, followed by a post as air officer commanding Hong Kong in 1965.
After two years, Bird-Wilson took up a post at the Ministry of Technology in 1967. From 1970 — 1974, his final years of service were spent commanding a training group. He died in 2000.