Joseph Harold 'Jimmy' Orrell OBE 1903-1988

Jimmy Orrell (white overalls) with flight test crew after maiden flight of prototype Shackleton

"Jimmy" Orrell had over 30 years active flying, 14 of which have been with Avro. Prototypes he has flown in his career include the Lancastrian, Tudor 8, Athena Mks. 1 and 2, Ashton, the
Avro Canada Jetliner, and Shackleton Mks. 1 and 2. He was also concerned with the flight testing of the Vulcan. Born in Liverpool, Jimmy Orrell took a flying course and served with No. 25 (Fighter) Squadron as a flying instructor until 1931. He was then employed in charter flying from that time until 1933, when he started airline and air ambulance services to the Western Isles. He became a test pilot with Avro in 1942.