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A. E. Clouston

May 06, 2023

Air Commodore Arthur Edmond Clouston, CB, DSO & Bar, DFC, AFC & Two Bars (7 April 1908 – 1 January 1984) was a New Zealand-born British test pilot and senior officer in the Royal Air Force. He took part in several air races and record-breaking flights in the 1930s.

A.E. Clouston
A.E. Clouston, September 1936
Born(1908-04-07)7 April 1908
Motueka, New Zealand
Died1 January 1984(1984-01-01) (aged 75)
St Merryn, Padstow, Cornwall
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Air Force
Years of service1930–1935
1939–1960
RankAir Commodore
Commands heldAeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (1957–60)
Empire Test Pilots' School (1950–54)
RAF Leeming (1950)
RNZAF Base Ohakea (1947–49)
RAF Bückeburg (1945–47)
RAF Langham (1944–45)
No. 224 Squadron (1943–44)
Battles/warsSecond World War
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Order & Bar
Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Force Cross & Two Bar

Early life

Arthur Edmond Clouston was born on 7 April 1908 at Motueka in New Zealand, the son of Robert Edmond Clouston, a mining engineer, and his wife Ruby.[1][2] Educated at a school in Collingwood, Clouston sought to have an career as a mariner but this was prevented by illness. He instead established a automotive workshop in Westport. The exploits of the Australian aviator Charles Kingsford Smith inspired Clouston to learn to fly at the Marlborough Aero Club at Omaka Aerodrome, near Blenheim. Soon a proficient pilot, in October 1929 he established an altitude record of 16,000 feet (4,900 m) for the de Havilland Moth.[3][4][5]

Early the following year Clouston was reprimanded by his instructor for stunting his aircraft without approval during an air pageant at Blenheim.[3] Soon, having qualified as a pilot, he decided to pursue a career with the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom. He sold his business and departed the country later in the year.[3][6][7]

RAF career, 1930–1935

In 1930, after arriving in England, Clouston found that there was a waiting list to join the RAF, so he then joined Fairey Aviation Company as a working student. Applications to the RAF were repeatedly halted, until it was found that his blood pressure was lower during flying than while awaiting medical examinations on the ground.

In October 1930, Clouston was granted a short service commission in the RAF as a pilot officer.[8] He joined No. 3 FTS at RAF Spitalgate, where he went solo after about two hours flying. In April 1931, he was posted to No. 25 Squadron at RAF Hawkinge, flying Hawker Fury I fighter biplanes.

In April 1932, he was promoted to flying officer.[9] He was one of the team that performed formation aerobatics, including loops, with nine Furies at the April 1934 RAF display at RAF Hendon. In August 1934, he was posted to No. 24 Squadron at Hendon. In October 1935, he declined to renew his short service commission, and left the RAF, although remaining as a Reserve Air Force Officer (RAFO) pilot with the RAFVR.[7][10]

 
Hafner AR.III (G-ADMV) at Heston, 1935

Civilian flight testing, 1935–1939

In October 1935, Clouston accepted the offered post of civilian test pilot at RAE Farnborough. Soon after he had started flying a Cierva C.30 autogiro at Farnborough, he was invited by Raoul Hafner to carry out test flying of the Hafner AR.III in his off-duty time, and Clouston later flew demonstrations of that gyroplane at many aviation events. He conducted official flight test aerodynamics work on aircraft including Parnall Parasol and Miles Falcon; ice formation research on Airspeed Courier, Handley Page Heyford and Northrop Gamma; and anti-intruder wire strike tests with Miles Hawk and Fairey P.4/34. In January 1938, he was awarded the Air Force Cross.[11]

In October 1938, Air Vice Marshal Arthur Tedder asked Clouston to conduct test flying of the prototype of the Westland Whirlwind, in place of Westland test pilots. Clouston piloted its first flight from Yeovil Aerodrome to Boscombe Down.[12][13]

Races and record-breaking flights, 1935–1939

 
Miles Hawk Speed Six (G-ADOD), September 1936

While employed at RAE, Clouston developed a spare time interest in civil aviation, air racing and record-breaking. On 13 April 1936, he displayed his Aeronca C-3 (G-ADYP) at the Pou-du-Ciel (Flying Flea) rally at Ashingdon. He test flew several Flying Fleas from Heston Aerodrome and from Gravesend Aerodrome. On 30 May 1936, he flew his Aeronca C-3 from Hanworth Aerodrome in the London to Isle of Man Race, but missed the final turning point in fog. On 14 June 1936, he flew the Aeronca in the South Coast Race at Shoreham, and came first, but was then disqualified on a technicality. On 11 July 1936, he flew a Miles Falcon (G-AEFB) in the King's Cup Race at Hatfield. On 3 August 1936, he borrowed a Flying Flea (G-ADPY), and raced it in the First International Flying Flea Challenge Trophy Race at Ramsgate Airport, but retired when an oil pipe fractured.[14]

On 29 September 1936, he took off from Portsmouth Airport in his Miles Hawk Speed Six (G-ADOD), at the start of the Schlesinger Race to Johannesburg. He was one of nine starters, but force landed 200 miles short of the race destination, and was the last of eight entries that failed to reach Johannesburg. On 29 May 1937, he flew a Miles Hawk Major (G-ADGE) from Hanworth in the London to Isle of Man Race.[14]

 
DH.88 Comet (G-ACSS), Gravesend, August 1937

In June 1937, he learned that the DH.88 Comet (G-ACSS), that won the 1934 MacRobertson Race, was for sale by a scrap dealer, after it had been damaged in Air Ministry testing. He persuaded architect Fred Tasker to purchase the Comet, and then arranged for it to be repaired with upgraded engines and propellers, by Jack Cross of Essex Aero at Gravesend Aerodrome. He entered the Comet for the planned 1937 New York to Paris air race, but the US Department of Commerce refused all necessary permissions for the race.

The French government reorganised the race to run from Istres Airfield near Marseille, via Damascus, to Paris. The only inscriptions on the Comet were the registration and race number "G-16", but it was also nicknamed "The Orphan" to reflect the lack of sponsors. On 20 August 1937, accompanied by Flt Lt George Nelson as co-pilot of the Comet, Clouston took off from Istres as one of 13 entrants, of which all the others were more powerful, and all heavily sponsored by European governments. He arrived at Le Bourget in fourth position, a few minutes behind the Savoia-Marchetti S.73 of Bruno Mussolini.[14]

In 1937, Clouston broke the record for a return flight from England to Cape Town. Betty Kirby-Green was relatively new to flying, with an appetite for adventure, and agreed to help raise money for an attempt on the Cape record set by Amy Johnson in 1936. Burberry sponsored the flight and provided Burberry flying clothing, and their DH.88 Comet, G-ACSS was consequently named renamed "The Burberry". On 14 November 1937, Clouston and Kirby-Green took off from Croydon Aerodrome, and reached Cape Town[15] on 16 November in a record 45 hours and two minutes. Their return journey of 57 hours and 23 minutes was also record-breaking. The DH.88 Comet has since been restored, and is now held at the Shuttleworth Collection.

On 20 November, they arrived back at Croydon in dense fog, having broken several records and covered about 14,690 miles in less than six days. As a result, Clouston was awarded the Britannia Trophy and the Segrave Trophy, and Betty was awarded the Segrave Medal.[7][14]

On 4 December 1937, Clouston married Elsie Turner, the daughter of engineer Samuel Turner of Farnborough; they subsequently had two daughters.[7]

In December 1937, Daily Express air correspondent Victor Ricketts proposed to Clouston that they should attempt to break the England to Australia flight record. Ricketts arranged for sponsorship from the Australian Consolidated Press, and once again the DH.88 Comet G-ACSS was hired. It was overhauled and equipped with a small typewriter to compile press reports in flight for dispatch at refuelling stops. It was named "Australian Anniversary", representing the 150th anniversary of Australia.

On 6 February 1938, Clouston and Ricketts took off from Gravesend Aerodrome. The first scheduled stop was to be Aleppo in Syria, but bad storms forced Clouston to land at a flooded airfield at Adana in Turkey. His permits were dismissed by Turkish officials, but next day he refuelled with unofficial help, and took off from a roadway, although damaging the undercarriage. He flew to an unmarked airfield on Cyprus, having abandoned the record attempt. Engineer Jack Cross, plus the financier and some equipment, was flown to Cyprus by Alex Henshaw in a Vega Gull borrowed from Charles Gardner. After repairs to the Comet, Clouston flew it back to Gravesend, accompanied by Jack Cross.[14][16]

On 15 March 1938, Clouston once again departed from Gravesend with Victor Ricketts in DH.88 Comet G-ACSS. He flew via Cairo, Basra, Allahabad, Penang and Singapore to Darwin, but without beating the 1934 record set by C. W. A. Scott and Tom Campbell Black in the same aircraft. He flew on to Sydney via Charleville, without being aware of the London to Sydney record, until massive crowds welcomed him there as a record-breaker. The next day, 20 March 1938, he flew across the Tasman Sea to Blenheim Municipal Aerodrome (Omaka) in New Zealand, setting more records. He then flew back to Australia, and continued on a return flight to Croydon, arriving in fog on 26 March 1938. He had established eleven records at the end of a round-trip of about 26,000 miles.[14]

On 2 July 1938, he flew BA Eagle 2 (G-AFIC) in the King's Cup Race at Hatfield Aerodrome, but was placed outside the top three.[14]

Second World War

On the outbreak of the Second World War, Clouston was recalled to the RAF in the rank of flight lieutenant and was posted back to Farnborough to serve in the Experimental Section of the RAE as a test pilot with the rank of flight lieutenant. Although the unit operated some high speed fighters, it was forbidden to arm them, but Clouston reportedly on one occasion, shortly after the death of his brother, also a pilot in the RAF, over Dunkirk, chased an intruding German aircraft with the intention of ramming it. Unsuccessful, Clouston was grounded on his return by the commanding officer. Increasing Luftwaffe incursions led to orders to arm the fighters, and their pilots were authorised to fly patrols over the airfield in the event of detection of approaching German aircraft. Clouston, having resumed flying duties, was on a such a patrol in a Supermarine Spitfire fighter when on his own initiative, he pursued some German aircraft. He subsequently claimed to have destroyed a Heinkel 111 medium bomber and a Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighter. He was again grounded when he returned.[17][5]

He carried out many flight tests using both tethered and untethered flares launched from a Handley Page Hampden flying behind a Whitley bomber, in experiments to illuminate target aircraft at night. He also flew tests with a Douglas Havoc, dispensing flash flares. In April 1941, he was attached to No. 219 Squadron, operating Beaufighters from RAF Redhill, to experience night fighter tactics. His reports to the Air Ministry led to improvements to cannons on Beaufighters, and better training for radar operators.

On 12 May 1941, he was posted as CO of No. 1422 Flight RAF of the RAE based at RAF Heston. There he carried out testing of the Turbinlite concept of an aerial searchlight mounted on a Havoc night fighter, in collaboration with Group Captain William Helmore and with aeronautical engineer L.E. Baynes, nicknamed "The Baron", for whom he had great admiration. The next experiments involved dropping coils of wire suspended from parachutes, intended to interfere with the operation of intruding aircraft. Clouston conducted another trial instigated by Helmore, involving radio control of a full-size motor launch boat from a high-flying aircraft, using a Douglas DB-7 Havoc. He was also involved in testing the Leigh Light, an aerial searchlight designed to illuminate submarines and surface vessels, and trialled on a Vickers Wellington.[12][13] He was awarded a Bar to his AFC in January 1942.[18]

In March 1943, Clouston was promoted to wing commander, and posted to command No. 224 Squadron firstly at RAF Beaulieu, then in April 1943 at RAF St Eval. The squadron was mainly involved in anti-submarine operations in the Bay of Biscay, operating B-24 Liberators with airborne radar and depth charges, later supplemented with Leigh lights. The Liberators were often attacked by formations of Bf 110s and Junkers Ju 88s. In October 1943 Clouston was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross,[19] followed in April 1944 by the Distinguished Service Order.[12][20]

In February 1944, he was promoted to group captain, and posted as commanding officer of RAF Langham, that was still under construction. Operations there started with No. 455 Squadron and No. 489 Squadron, both flying Beaufighters on anti-shipping missions in the North Sea area. In October 1944, the Beaufighter squadrons were replaced by No. 521 Squadron with Lockheed Hudsons and No. 524 Squadron with Wellingtons.[12]

Postwar

In May 1945, Clouston was posted as CO of German airstrip B151 that was being developed into the headquarters of BAFO (British Air Forces of Occupation), and named RAF Bückeburg. In April 1946, he was appointed to a permanent commission with his existing rank of squadron leader.[21] However, he was then offered the job of Director General of Civil Aviation of New Zealand. Instead of being released by the RAF, he was promoted to group captain, and given a two-year posting on exchange to the Royal New Zealand Air Force as commanding officer of RNZAF Base Ohakea.[22][23]

Returning to service with the RAF after concluding his appointment at Ohakea, he was commandant of the Empire Test Pilot School at Farnborough in 1949.[23] In October 1953, he was posted as SASO (Senior Air Staff Officer) at No. 19 Group, RAF Coastal Command. In July 1954, he was promoted to acting air commodore, then posted as Air Officer Commanding Singapore. In 1957, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath, and was given his final posting as commandant of Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment at Boscombe Down.[7][12][24]

In April 1960, Clouston retired from the RAF. He settled in Cornwall, where he died at St Merryn on 1 January 1984. His autobiography, The Dangerous Skies, had been published several years previously.[2][23]

Notes

  1. ^ Thompson 1953, pp. 16–17.
  2. ^ a b "Arthur Edmund Clouston: Centotaph record". Auckland Museum. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Grayland 1972, pp. 123–124.
  4. ^ Mitchell 1945, p. 121.
  5. ^ a b Wynn 1989, pp. 78–79.
  6. ^ Mitchell 1945, p. 122.
  7. ^ a b c d e Orange 2004
  8. ^ "No. 33655". The London Gazette. 24 October 1930. p. 6479.
  9. ^ "No. 33822". The London Gazette. 3 May 1932. p. 2891.
  10. ^ Oliver 1994
  11. ^ "No. 34469". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1938. p. 19.
  12. ^ a b c d e Barrass, M. Air of Authority
  13. ^ a b Middleton 1982
  14. ^ a b c d e f g Lewis 1970
  15. ^ De Vries, G. Wingfield. A Pictorial History 1991 pp. 107–8 with photos ISBN 0620159391
  16. ^ Henshaw November 1984
  17. ^ Grayland 1972, p. 128.
  18. ^ "No. 35399". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1942. p. 41.
  19. ^ "No. 36192". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 October 1943. p. 4357.
  20. ^ "No. 36468". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 April 1944. p. 1712.
  21. ^ "No. 37534". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 April 1946. p. 1904.
  22. ^ "No. 38020". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 July 1947. p. 3417.
  23. ^ a b c Grayland 1972, pp. 129–130.
  24. ^ "No. 40960". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1957. p. 3.

Bibliography

  • Grayland, Eugene (1972). More Famous New Zealanders. Christchurch, New Zealand: Whitcombe & Tombs. ISBN 0-7233-0335-5.
  • Henshaw, Alex. "Obituary – Arthur Edmond Clouston", Aeroplane Monthly, February 1984
  • Henshaw, Alex. "Personal Album", Aeroplane Monthly, November 1984
  • Lewis,Peter. 1970. British Racing and Record-Breaking Aircraft. Putnam. ISBN 0370000676
  • Middleton, Don. "Test Pilot Profile No.4 – A.E.Clouston", Aeroplane Monthly, October 1982
  • Mitchell, Alan W. (1945). New Zealanders in the Air War. London, United Kingdom: George G. Harrap & Co. OCLC 1079233416.
  • Oliver, David. 1994. Hendon Aerodrome – A History. Airlife ISBN 1853102164
  • Orange, Vincent. 2004. Clouston, Arthur Edmond (1908–1984). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
  • Thompson, H. L. (1953). New Zealanders with the Royal Air Force. Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–45. Vol. I. Wellington, New Zealand: War History Branch. OCLC 270919916.
  • Wynn, Kenneth G. (1989). Men of the Battle of Britain. Norwich: Gliddon Books. ISBN 0-947893-15-6.

Further reading

  • Clouston, A.E. 1954. The Dangerous Skies. Cassell ASIN B0000CIX25

May 06, 2023
clouston, commodore, arthur, edmond, clouston, bars, april, 1908, january, 1984, zealand, born, british, test, pilot, senior, officer, royal, force, took, part, several, races, record, breaking, flights, 1930s, cloustona, clouston, september, 1936born, 1908, a. Air Commodore Arthur Edmond Clouston CB DSO amp Bar DFC AFC amp Two Bars 7 April 1908 1 January 1984 was a New Zealand born British test pilot and senior officer in the Royal Air Force He took part in several air races and record breaking flights in the 1930s A E CloustonA E Clouston September 1936Born 1908 04 07 7 April 1908Motueka New ZealandDied1 January 1984 1984 01 01 aged 75 St Merryn Padstow CornwallAllegianceUnited KingdomService wbr branchRoyal Air ForceYears of service1930 19351939 1960RankAir CommodoreCommands heldAeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment 1957 60 Empire Test Pilots School 1950 54 RAF Leeming 1950 RNZAF Base Ohakea 1947 49 RAF Buckeburg 1945 47 RAF Langham 1944 45 No 224 Squadron 1943 44 Battles warsSecond World WarAwardsCompanion of the Order of the BathDistinguished Service Order amp BarDistinguished Flying CrossAir Force Cross amp Two Bar Contents 1 Early life 2 RAF career 1930 1935 3 Civilian flight testing 1935 1939 4 Races and record breaking flights 1935 1939 5 Second World War 6 Postwar 7 Notes 8 Bibliography 9 Further readingEarly life EditArthur Edmond Clouston was born on 7 April 1908 at Motueka in New Zealand the son of Robert Edmond Clouston a mining engineer and his wife Ruby 1 2 Educated at a school in Collingwood Clouston sought to have an career as a mariner but this was prevented by illness He instead established a automotive workshop in Westport The exploits of the Australian aviator Charles Kingsford Smith inspired Clouston to learn to fly at the Marlborough Aero Club at Omaka Aerodrome near Blenheim Soon a proficient pilot in October 1929 he established an altitude record of 16 000 feet 4 900 m for the de Havilland Moth 3 4 5 Early the following year Clouston was reprimanded by his instructor for stunting his aircraft without approval during an air pageant at Blenheim 3 Soon having qualified as a pilot he decided to pursue a career with the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom He sold his business and departed the country later in the year 3 6 7 RAF career 1930 1935 EditIn 1930 after arriving in England Clouston found that there was a waiting list to join the RAF so he then joined Fairey Aviation Company as a working student Applications to the RAF were repeatedly halted until it was found that his blood pressure was lower during flying than while awaiting medical examinations on the ground In October 1930 Clouston was granted a short service commission in the RAF as a pilot officer 8 He joined No 3 FTS at RAF Spitalgate where he went solo after about two hours flying In April 1931 he was posted to No 25 Squadron at RAF Hawkinge flying Hawker Fury I fighter biplanes In April 1932 he was promoted to flying officer 9 He was one of the team that performed formation aerobatics including loops with nine Furies at the April 1934 RAF display at RAF Hendon In August 1934 he was posted to No 24 Squadron at Hendon In October 1935 he declined to renew his short service commission and left the RAF although remaining as a Reserve Air Force Officer RAFO pilot with the RAFVR 7 10 Hafner AR III G ADMV at Heston 1935Civilian flight testing 1935 1939 EditIn October 1935 Clouston accepted the offered post of civilian test pilot at RAE Farnborough Soon after he had started flying a Cierva C 30 autogiro at Farnborough he was invited by Raoul Hafner to carry out test flying of the Hafner AR III in his off duty time and Clouston later flew demonstrations of that gyroplane at many aviation events He conducted official flight test aerodynamics work on aircraft including Parnall Parasol and Miles Falcon ice formation research on Airspeed Courier Handley Page Heyford and Northrop Gamma and anti intruder wire strike tests with Miles Hawk and Fairey P 4 34 In January 1938 he was awarded the Air Force Cross 11 In October 1938 Air Vice Marshal Arthur Tedder asked Clouston to conduct test flying of the prototype of the Westland Whirlwind in place of Westland test pilots Clouston piloted its first flight from Yeovil Aerodrome to Boscombe Down 12 13 Races and record breaking flights 1935 1939 Edit Miles Hawk Speed Six G ADOD September 1936 While employed at RAE Clouston developed a spare time interest in civil aviation air racing and record breaking On 13 April 1936 he displayed his Aeronca C 3 G ADYP at the Pou du Ciel Flying Flea rally at Ashingdon He test flew several Flying Fleas from Heston Aerodrome and from Gravesend Aerodrome On 30 May 1936 he flew his Aeronca C 3 from Hanworth Aerodrome in the London to Isle of Man Race but missed the final turning point in fog On 14 June 1936 he flew the Aeronca in the South Coast Race at Shoreham and came first but was then disqualified on a technicality On 11 July 1936 he flew a Miles Falcon G AEFB in the King s Cup Race at Hatfield On 3 August 1936 he borrowed a Flying Flea G ADPY and raced it in the First International Flying Flea Challenge Trophy Race at Ramsgate Airport but retired when an oil pipe fractured 14 On 29 September 1936 he took off from Portsmouth Airport in his Miles Hawk Speed Six G ADOD at the start of the Schlesinger Race to Johannesburg He was one of nine starters but force landed 200 miles short of the race destination and was the last of eight entries that failed to reach Johannesburg On 29 May 1937 he flew a Miles Hawk Major G ADGE from Hanworth in the London to Isle of Man Race 14 DH 88 Comet G ACSS Gravesend August 1937 In June 1937 he learned that the DH 88 Comet G ACSS that won the 1934 MacRobertson Race was for sale by a scrap dealer after it had been damaged in Air Ministry testing He persuaded architect Fred Tasker to purchase the Comet and then arranged for it to be repaired with upgraded engines and propellers by Jack Cross of Essex Aero at Gravesend Aerodrome He entered the Comet for the planned 1937 New York to Paris air race but the US Department of Commerce refused all necessary permissions for the race The French government reorganised the race to run from Istres Airfield near Marseille via Damascus to Paris The only inscriptions on the Comet were the registration and race number G 16 but it was also nicknamed The Orphan to reflect the lack of sponsors On 20 August 1937 accompanied by Flt Lt George Nelson as co pilot of the Comet Clouston took off from Istres as one of 13 entrants of which all the others were more powerful and all heavily sponsored by European governments He arrived at Le Bourget in fourth position a few minutes behind the Savoia Marchetti S 73 of Bruno Mussolini 14 In 1937 Clouston broke the record for a return flight from England to Cape Town Betty Kirby Green was relatively new to flying with an appetite for adventure and agreed to help raise money for an attempt on the Cape record set by Amy Johnson in 1936 Burberry sponsored the flight and provided Burberry flying clothing and their DH 88 Comet G ACSS was consequently named renamed The Burberry On 14 November 1937 Clouston and Kirby Green took off from Croydon Aerodrome and reached Cape Town 15 on 16 November in a record 45 hours and two minutes Their return journey of 57 hours and 23 minutes was also record breaking The DH 88 Comet has since been restored and is now held at the Shuttleworth Collection On 20 November they arrived back at Croydon in dense fog having broken several records and covered about 14 690 miles in less than six days As a result Clouston was awarded the Britannia Trophy and the Segrave Trophy and Betty was awarded the Segrave Medal 7 14 On 4 December 1937 Clouston married Elsie Turner the daughter of engineer Samuel Turner of Farnborough they subsequently had two daughters 7 In December 1937 Daily Express air correspondent Victor Ricketts proposed to Clouston that they should attempt to break the England to Australia flight record Ricketts arranged for sponsorship from the Australian Consolidated Press and once again the DH 88 Comet G ACSS was hired It was overhauled and equipped with a small typewriter to compile press reports in flight for dispatch at refuelling stops It was named Australian Anniversary representing the 150th anniversary of Australia On 6 February 1938 Clouston and Ricketts took off from Gravesend Aerodrome The first scheduled stop was to be Aleppo in Syria but bad storms forced Clouston to land at a flooded airfield at Adana in Turkey His permits were dismissed by Turkish officials but next day he refuelled with unofficial help and took off from a roadway although damaging the undercarriage He flew to an unmarked airfield on Cyprus having abandoned the record attempt Engineer Jack Cross plus the financier and some equipment was flown to Cyprus by Alex Henshaw in a Vega Gull borrowed from Charles Gardner After repairs to the Comet Clouston flew it back to Gravesend accompanied by Jack Cross 14 16 On 15 March 1938 Clouston once again departed from Gravesend with Victor Ricketts in DH 88 Comet G ACSS He flew via Cairo Basra Allahabad Penang and Singapore to Darwin but without beating the 1934 record set by C W A Scott and Tom Campbell Black in the same aircraft He flew on to Sydney via Charleville without being aware of the London to Sydney record until massive crowds welcomed him there as a record breaker The next day 20 March 1938 he flew across the Tasman Sea to Blenheim Municipal Aerodrome Omaka in New Zealand setting more records He then flew back to Australia and continued on a return flight to Croydon arriving in fog on 26 March 1938 He had established eleven records at the end of a round trip of about 26 000 miles 14 On 2 July 1938 he flew BA Eagle 2 G AFIC in the King s Cup Race at Hatfield Aerodrome but was placed outside the top three 14 Second World War EditOn the outbreak of the Second World War Clouston was recalled to the RAF in the rank of flight lieutenant and was posted back to Farnborough to serve in the Experimental Section of the RAE as a test pilot with the rank of flight lieutenant Although the unit operated some high speed fighters it was forbidden to arm them but Clouston reportedly on one occasion shortly after the death of his brother also a pilot in the RAF over Dunkirk chased an intruding German aircraft with the intention of ramming it Unsuccessful Clouston was grounded on his return by the commanding officer Increasing Luftwaffe incursions led to orders to arm the fighters and their pilots were authorised to fly patrols over the airfield in the event of detection of approaching German aircraft Clouston having resumed flying duties was on a such a patrol in a Supermarine Spitfire fighter when on his own initiative he pursued some German aircraft He subsequently claimed to have destroyed a Heinkel 111 medium bomber and a Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighter He was again grounded when he returned 17 5 He carried out many flight tests using both tethered and untethered flares launched from a Handley Page Hampden flying behind a Whitley bomber in experiments to illuminate target aircraft at night He also flew tests with a Douglas Havoc dispensing flash flares In April 1941 he was attached to No 219 Squadron operating Beaufighters from RAF Redhill to experience night fighter tactics His reports to the Air Ministry led to improvements to cannons on Beaufighters and better training for radar operators On 12 May 1941 he was posted as CO of No 1422 Flight RAF of the RAE based at RAF Heston There he carried out testing of the Turbinlite concept of an aerial searchlight mounted on a Havoc night fighter in collaboration with Group Captain William Helmore and with aeronautical engineer L E Baynes nicknamed The Baron for whom he had great admiration The next experiments involved dropping coils of wire suspended from parachutes intended to interfere with the operation of intruding aircraft Clouston conducted another trial instigated by Helmore involving radio control of a full size motor launch boat from a high flying aircraft using a Douglas DB 7 Havoc He was also involved in testing the Leigh Light an aerial searchlight designed to illuminate submarines and surface vessels and trialled on a Vickers Wellington 12 13 He was awarded a Bar to his AFC in January 1942 18 In March 1943 Clouston was promoted to wing commander and posted to command No 224 Squadron firstly at RAF Beaulieu then in April 1943 at RAF St Eval The squadron was mainly involved in anti submarine operations in the Bay of Biscay operating B 24 Liberators with airborne radar and depth charges later supplemented with Leigh lights The Liberators were often attacked by formations of Bf 110s and Junkers Ju 88s In October 1943 Clouston was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross 19 followed in April 1944 by the Distinguished Service Order 12 20 In February 1944 he was promoted to group captain and posted as commanding officer of RAF Langham that was still under construction Operations there started with No 455 Squadron and No 489 Squadron both flying Beaufighters on anti shipping missions in the North Sea area In October 1944 the Beaufighter squadrons were replaced by No 521 Squadron with Lockheed Hudsons and No 524 Squadron with Wellingtons 12 Postwar EditIn May 1945 Clouston was posted as CO of German airstrip B151 that was being developed into the headquarters of BAFO British Air Forces of Occupation and named RAF Buckeburg In April 1946 he was appointed to a permanent commission with his existing rank of squadron leader 21 However he was then offered the job of Director General of Civil Aviation of New Zealand Instead of being released by the RAF he was promoted to group captain and given a two year posting on exchange to the Royal New Zealand Air Force as commanding officer of RNZAF Base Ohakea 22 23 Returning to service with the RAF after concluding his appointment at Ohakea he was commandant of the Empire Test Pilot School at Farnborough in 1949 23 In October 1953 he was posted as SASO Senior Air Staff Officer at No 19 Group RAF Coastal Command In July 1954 he was promoted to acting air commodore then posted as Air Officer Commanding Singapore In 1957 he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath and was given his final posting as commandant of Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment at Boscombe Down 7 12 24 In April 1960 Clouston retired from the RAF He settled in Cornwall where he died at St Merryn on 1 January 1984 His autobiography The Dangerous Skies had been published several years previously 2 23 Notes Edit Thompson 1953 pp 16 17 a b Arthur Edmund Clouston Centotaph record Auckland Museum Retrieved 6 May 2023 a b c Grayland 1972 pp 123 124 Mitchell 1945 p 121 a b Wynn 1989 pp 78 79 Mitchell 1945 p 122 a b c d e Orange 2004 No 33655 The London Gazette 24 October 1930 p 6479 No 33822 The London Gazette 3 May 1932 p 2891 Oliver 1994 No 34469 The London Gazette Supplement 1 January 1938 p 19 a b c d e Barrass M Air of Authority a b Middleton 1982 a b c d e f g Lewis 1970 De Vries G Wingfield A Pictorial History 1991 pp 107 8 with photos ISBN 0620159391 Henshaw November 1984 Grayland 1972 p 128 No 35399 The London Gazette Supplement 1 January 1942 p 41 No 36192 The London Gazette Supplement 1 October 1943 p 4357 No 36468 The London Gazette Supplement 14 April 1944 p 1712 No 37534 The London Gazette Supplement 16 April 1946 p 1904 No 38020 The London Gazette Supplement 22 July 1947 p 3417 a b c Grayland 1972 pp 129 130 No 40960 The London Gazette Supplement 1 January 1957 p 3 Bibliography EditGrayland Eugene 1972 More Famous New Zealanders Christchurch New Zealand Whitcombe amp Tombs ISBN 0 7233 0335 5 Henshaw Alex Obituary Arthur Edmond Clouston Aeroplane Monthly February 1984 Henshaw Alex Personal Album Aeroplane Monthly November 1984 Lewis Peter 1970 British Racing and Record Breaking Aircraft Putnam ISBN 0370000676 Middleton Don Test Pilot Profile No 4 A E Clouston Aeroplane Monthly October 1982 Mitchell Alan W 1945 New Zealanders in the Air War London United Kingdom George G Harrap amp Co OCLC 1079233416 Oliver David 1994 Hendon Aerodrome A History Airlife ISBN 1853102164 Orange Vincent 2004 Clouston Arthur Edmond 1908 1984 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Thompson H L 1953 New Zealanders with the Royal Air Force Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939 45 Vol I Wellington New Zealand War History Branch OCLC 270919916 Wynn Kenneth G 1989 Men of the Battle of Britain Norwich Gliddon Books ISBN 0 947893 15 6 Further reading EditClouston A E 1954 The Dangerous Skies Cassell ASIN B0000CIX25 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title A E Clouston amp oldid 1153432348, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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