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John Cunningham (RAF officer)
Encyclopedia
Group Captain
John "Cat's Eyes" Cunningham CBE
, DSO
& Two Bars
, DFC
& Bar
, (27 July 1917 – 21 July 2002), was a British
Royal Air Force
night fighter ace
during World War II
and a test pilot, both before and after the war. He was credited with 20 kills, of which 19 were claimed at night.
in 1938 and lived in one of the four blocks of flats across the road from the headquarters building. He came through the de Havilland Aeronautical Technical School and worked for the company as a test pilot until the outbreak of World War II
when he joined the Royal Air Force. Flying first Blenheims
and then the powerful Bristol Beaufighter
with No. 604 Squadron RAF
, by the end of the Blitz in May 1941 he had become the most famous night fighter
pilot, successfully claiming 14 night raiders using AI (Airborne Interception - the aircraft version of what later became known as radar
.)
His nickname of Cat's Eyes came from British propaganda
explanations in order to cover up the use of AI. It was claimed a special group of British pilots ate carrot
s for many years to develop superior night vision. Cunningham himself, a self-effacing and modest individual, detested this nickname.
As one of the best Allied fighter pilots, he was chosen to sit for one of Cuthbert Orde
's iconic charcoal portraits.
Later serving as Commanding Officer of No. 85 Squadron RAF
in 1943-44 flying Mosquitoes
, Cunningham survived the war as a Group Captain with 20 claims.
Cunningham returned to de Havilland as a test pilot after the war. In 1946, he succeeded Geoffrey de Havilland Jr
as chief test pilot following the latter's death whilst test-flying the DH.108 Swallow
over the Thames estuary
. He went on to test the de Havilland Comet
, the world's first jet airliner
which first flew in 1949. He also test flew the re-built Comet 3 and 4 in the late 1950s and the de Havilland (later Hawker Siddeley) Trident
in 1962. He continued test flying Tridents, with another milestone being the first flight of the Trident 3 in 1969.
Cunningham had one serious accident whilst flying. On 20 November 1975 at Dunsfold, Surrey a flock of birds was ingested by the engines on his HS-125
aircraft just after takeoff. The aircraft crashed and left the perimeter of the airfield where it collided with a car carrying 6 passengers who were killed. No-one died onboard the HS-125. He remained chief test pilot at Hawker Siddeley (Hatfield) until 1978 when British Aerospace
was formed. He was awarded the Segrave Trophy
in 1978.
The autobiography of his most frequent AI operator C.F. (Jimmy) Rawnsley, Night Fighter (co-authored by Robert Wright, published by Ballantine Books in 1957), includes vivid descriptions of several of Cunningham's battles and incidental biographical information about him.
.
Since 2004 the Air Squadron, a UK flying club, has administered the John Cunningham Flying Scholarships, funded in part by his estate.
Group Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
John "Cat's Eyes" Cunningham 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...
, 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...
& Two Bars
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...
, 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...
, (27 July 1917 – 21 July 2002), 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...
night fighter 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...
and a test pilot, both before and after the war. He was credited with 20 kills, of which 19 were claimed at night.
Military career
Cunningham joined de Havilland AircraftDe Havilland
The de Havilland Aircraft Company was a British aviation manufacturer founded in 1920 when Airco, of which Geoffrey de Havilland had been chief designer, was sold to BSA by the owner George Holt Thomas. De Havilland then set up a company under his name in September of that year at Stag Lane...
in 1938 and lived in one of the four blocks of flats across the road from the headquarters building. He came through the de Havilland Aeronautical Technical School and worked for the company as a test pilot until the outbreak of 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...
when he joined the Royal Air Force. Flying first Blenheims
Bristol Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...
and then the powerful Bristol Beaufighter
Bristol Beaufighter
The Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter, often referred to as simply the Beau, was a British long-range heavy fighter modification of the Bristol Aeroplane Company's earlier Beaufort torpedo bomber design...
with No. 604 Squadron RAF
No. 604 Squadron RAF
No. 604 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Air Force notable for its pioneering role the development of radar-controlled night-fighter operations. The squadron was established in March 1930 at RAF Hendon as a day-bombing squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. In July 1934, the squadron...
, by the end of the Blitz in May 1941 he had become the most famous night fighter
Night fighter
A night fighter is a fighter aircraft adapted for use at night or in other times of bad visibility...
pilot, successfully claiming 14 night raiders using AI (Airborne Interception - the aircraft version of what later became known as radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
.)
His nickname of Cat's Eyes came from British propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
explanations in order to cover up the use of AI. It was claimed a special group of British pilots ate carrot
Carrot
The carrot is a root vegetable, usually orange in colour, though purple, red, white, and yellow varieties exist. It has a crisp texture when fresh...
s for many years to develop superior night vision. Cunningham himself, a self-effacing and modest individual, detested this nickname.
As one of the best Allied fighter pilots, he was chosen to sit 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.
Later serving as Commanding Officer of No. 85 Squadron RAF
No. 85 Squadron RAF
No. 85 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It most recently served as No. 85 Squadron based at RAF Church Fenton.-In World War I:...
in 1943-44 flying Mosquitoes
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
, Cunningham survived the war as a Group Captain with 20 claims.
Cunningham returned to de Havilland as a test pilot after the war. In 1946, he succeeded Geoffrey de Havilland Jr
Geoffrey de Havilland Jr
* For the father of the same name see: Geoffrey de HavillandGeoffrey Roal de Havilland Jr., OBE was a British test pilot and the son of the English aviation pioneer and aircraft designer of the same name, Geoffrey de Havilland....
as chief test pilot following the latter's death whilst test-flying the DH.108 Swallow
De Havilland Swallow
The de Havilland DH 108 "Swallow" was a British experimental aircraft designed by John Carver Meadows Frost in October 1945. The DH 108 featured a tailless, swept wing with a single vertical stabilizer, similar to the layout of the wartime German Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet rocket-powered...
over the Thames estuary
Thames Estuary
The Thames Mouth is the estuary in which the River Thames meets the waters of the North Sea.It is not easy to define the limits of the estuary, although physically the head of Sea Reach, near Canvey Island on the Essex shore is probably the western boundary...
. He went on to test the de Havilland Comet
De Havilland Comet
The de Havilland DH 106 Comet was the world's first commercial jet airliner to reach production. Developed and manufactured by de Havilland at the Hatfield, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom headquarters, it first flew in 1949 and was a landmark in aeronautical design...
, the world's first jet airliner
Jet airliner
A jet airliner is an airliner that is powered by jet engines. This term is sometimes contracted to jetliner or jet.In contrast to today's relatively fuel-efficient, turbofan-powered air travel, first generation jet airliner travel was noisy and fuel inefficient...
which first flew in 1949. He also test flew the re-built Comet 3 and 4 in the late 1950s and the de Havilland (later Hawker Siddeley) Trident
Hawker Siddeley Trident
The Hawker Siddeley HS 121 Trident was a British short/medium-range three-engined jet airliner designed by de Havilland and built by Hawker Siddeley in the 1960s and 1970s...
in 1962. He continued test flying Tridents, with another milestone being the first flight of the Trident 3 in 1969.
Cunningham had one serious accident whilst flying. On 20 November 1975 at Dunsfold, Surrey a flock of birds was ingested by the engines on his HS-125
British Aerospace BAe 125
The British Aerospace 125 is a twin-engined mid-size corporate jet, with newer variants now marketed as the Hawker 800. It was known as the Hawker Siddeley HS.125 until 1977...
aircraft just after takeoff. The aircraft crashed and left the perimeter of the airfield where it collided with a car carrying 6 passengers who were killed. No-one died onboard the HS-125. He remained chief test pilot at Hawker Siddeley (Hatfield) until 1978 when British Aerospace
British Aerospace
British Aerospace plc was a UK aircraft, munitions and defence-systems manufacturer. Its head office was in the Warwick House in the Farnborough Aerospace Centre in Farnborough, Hampshire...
was formed. He was awarded the Segrave Trophy
Segrave Trophy
The Segrave Trophy is awarded to the British national who accomplishes the most outstanding demonstration of the possibilities of transport by land, sea, air, or water. The trophy is named in honour of Sir Henry Segrave, and has been awarded in most years since 1930.A subsidiary award, the Segrave...
in 1978.
The autobiography of his most frequent AI operator C.F. (Jimmy) Rawnsley, Night Fighter (co-authored by Robert Wright, published by Ballantine Books in 1957), includes vivid descriptions of several of Cunningham's battles and incidental biographical information about him.
Later life
In 2003 Cunningham was honoured with having a street named after him, Cunningham Avenue is one of the main residential streets which make up Salisbury Village, a new development currently being built on the former de Havilland site in HatfieldHatfield, Hertfordshire
Hatfield is a town and civil parish in Hertfordshire, England in the borough of Welwyn Hatfield. It has a population of 29,616, and is of Saxon origin. Hatfield House, the home of the Marquess of Salisbury, is the nucleus of the old town...
.
Since 2004 the Air Squadron, a UK flying club, has administered the John Cunningham Flying Scholarships, funded in part by his estate.