Blue Plaque unveiled for local Aviation Pioneer – J D North

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On the 25th July 2015, Staffordshire University Lecturer, Debi Roberts, was one of the specially invited guests alongside members of the Boulton Paul Association, the Bridgnorth Civic Society and the Bridgnorth Mayor and Mayoress to attend the unveiling of a Blue Plaque on the former Bridgnorth home of aviation pioneer John Dudley North CBE, former Managing Director and Chief Engineer of Boulton Paul Aircraft Ltd. She was invited as part of her work to promote the local history of aviation in Staffordshire and the Midlands, as well as her links to the Boulton Paul company through two generations of her family.

The plaque installed at Eversley House

The plaque installed at Eversley House

John Dudley North was born in January 1893 and educated at Bedford School, following the death of his father, he was unable to attend University and instead took up an apprenticeship within marine engineering. His obvious interest in aeronautics and man’s desire to fly led to him transferring to an aeronautical apprenticeship at Hendon under Horatio Barber, he then headed to the factory of Claude Graham White. He rose rapidly to become Chief Designer and Chief Engineer. Following time at Austin, he moved to Boulton & Paul at Norwich to set up the Aeronautical Department. He then formed a consortium to buy the division when it was sold in 1934.

In 1936 the renamed Boulton Paul Aircraft Ltd moved to Pendeford, Wolverhampton and North took up residence at Eversley House, Bridgnorth. He lived there until his death in January 1968, remaining a crucial and integral part of BPA and the aviation industry thoughout this time.

Boulton Paul Association members with the Mayor at the unveiling.

Boulton Paul Association members with the Mayor at the unveiling.

The Mayor spoke of North’s work as a lifetime advocate of improved air safety and his dedication to improvements in aircraft design before unveiling the plaque and then posed for photographs with the Boulton Paul Association members (Left to Right in the image above), Jack Holmes (Chief Engineer), Les Whitehouse (Archivist), Joyce Dunworth (widow of former BPA test pilot, Geoff Dunworth) and Cyril Plimmer (Chairman). An archive display of North’s life (collated by Association Archivist Les Whitehouse) was presented alongside light refreshments from the current owners of Eversley, Mr and Mrs John Murphy.

The Dambusters – Squadron Leader Les Munro – Obituary

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On the 4th August 2015, news came through of the death of Squadron Leader Les Munro, the last surviving Dambusters pilot, he was 96. Only two of the crew members from the raid now survive.

The last Dambuster pilot Les Munro. Photo NZME.

The last Dambuster pilot Les Munro. Photo NZME.

Out of the 133 crew who took part in the raids, only 77 returned from the legendary World War Two operation to attack the Ruhr dams. The operation was later made famous in the movie ‘The Dambusters’. The Lancaster bombers used in the operation flew from RAF Scampton, near Lincoln in 1943 and it was their successful use of the “bouncing bombs” designed by Barnes Wallis to damage one dam, and destroy two others that made their mission so well known.

19 bombers left the base on the night of the 16th May, in three waves, setting out towards the Mohne, Eder and Sorpe dams, only 8 aircraft returned. However, the mission was a success and the leader, Wing Commander Guy Gibson, was awarded the Victoria Cross.

Squadron Leader Munro was born on April 5, 1919 in New Zealand, his Scottish father having emigrated in 1903. Following his role in the Dambusters raid, he played a continuing role in the RAF and RNZAF, following his retirement from the forces, he was a pillar of the local community, including a role as Mayor of Tekuiti from 1978 to 1995. He was still flying at the age of 95 and co-piloted an Avro Anson plane in January this year. He was predeceased by his wife Betty, and is survived by 4 of their 5 children.