John Worrall (pilot)
Encyclopedia
Air Vice Marshal John "Barron" Worrall CB
, DFC (9 April 1911 –14 January 1988) was a Royal Air Force
pilot who, during the Second World War
, led No. 32 Squadron in the Battle of Britain
, flying the Hawker Hurricane
.
. He represented the RAF College at Hockey. Worrall initially joined No. 1 Squadron RAF
, and then transferred to No. 208 Squadron RAF
on 28 February 1933. In 1936, Worrall went to China
, where he attended the School of Oriental Studies at Peking University
.
and Hawkinge
Worrall participated in the Battle of Britain
, commanding No. 32 Squadron. Under his leadership, by the end of August 1940, 32 Squadron had claimed 71 enemy aircraft shot down for just 5 pilots killed. By the end of August No. 32 Squadron had destroyed 102 enemy aircraft. In early August 1940 Worrall was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
(DFC).
Soon afterwards Worrall became a Fighter Controller at Biggin Hill's control room.
Worrell's only personal score was a half share, made on 31 August 1940. Worrall was shot down only, once on 20 July 1940, forced landing near Hawkinge in Hurricane Mk. I, (N2532).
In March 1944 W/C Worrall was SASO/HQ, No 216 Group.
Worrall continued to serve in the RAF after the war, eventually rising to the rank of Air Vice-Marshal. Worrall retired on 1 January 1963.
Following retirement from the RAF, he became Managing Director of The Advertising Agency Poster Bureau Ltd from 1964-1965.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, DFC (9 April 1911 –14 January 1988) was a 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...
pilot who, during the Second World War
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...
, led No. 32 Squadron 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...
, flying the 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...
.
Early years
Worrall joined the RAF in 1930 and was granted permanent status on 19 December 1931, in the rank of pilot officerPilot 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...
. He represented the RAF College at Hockey. Worrall initially joined No. 1 Squadron RAF
No. 1 Squadron RAF
No. 1 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It operated the Harrier GR9 from RAF Cottesmore until 28 January 2011.The squadron motto is In omnibus princeps , appropriate for the RAF's oldest squadron and one that has been involved in almost every major British military operation since...
, and then transferred to No. 208 Squadron RAF
No. 208 Squadron RAF
No 208 Squadron is at present a reserve unit of the Royal Air Force based at RAF Valley, Anglesey, Wales. It operates the BAe Hawk aircraft.-World War I:...
on 28 February 1933. In 1936, Worrall went to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, where he attended the School of Oriental Studies at Peking University
Peking University
Peking University , colloquially known in Chinese as Beida , is a major research university located in Beijing, China, and a member of the C9 League. It is the first established modern national university of China. It was founded as Imperial University of Peking in 1898 as a replacement of the...
.
Second World War
Worrall was recalled and posted to No 32 Squadron in May 1940. While based at Biggin HillBiggin Hill
Biggin Hill is an area and electoral ward in the outskirts of the London Borough of Bromley in southeast London, United Kingdom.-History:Historically the settlement was known as Aperfield and formed part of the parish of Cudham...
and Hawkinge
Hawkinge
Hawkinge is a village and civil parish in the Shepway District of Kent, England. The original village of Hawkinge is actually just less than a mile due east of the present village centre ; the modern, much larger, village of Hawkinge was formed by the merging of Hawkinge and Uphill...
Worrall participated 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...
, commanding No. 32 Squadron. Under his leadership, by the end of August 1940, 32 Squadron had claimed 71 enemy aircraft shot down for just 5 pilots killed. By the end of August No. 32 Squadron had destroyed 102 enemy aircraft. In early August 1940 Worrall was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
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...
(DFC).
Soon afterwards Worrall became a Fighter Controller at Biggin Hill's control room.
Worrell's only personal score was a half share, made on 31 August 1940. Worrall was shot down only, once on 20 July 1940, forced landing near Hawkinge in Hurricane Mk. I, (N2532).
In March 1944 W/C Worrall was SASO/HQ, No 216 Group.
Post War
In July 1945 he became Senior Personnel Staff Officer at HQ, Transport Command.Worrall continued to serve in the RAF after the war, eventually rising to the rank of Air Vice-Marshal. Worrall retired on 1 January 1963.
Following retirement from the RAF, he became Managing Director of The Advertising Agency Poster Bureau Ltd from 1964-1965.