F/L Rodney Dryland DFC 1922-1949

Rodney Dryland attended Bablake School between 1933-1938. He did his flying training in Rhodesia in 1941. He did a year's ferrying aircraft in the Middle East before going to No3 Sqn in 1943. While with the Squadron Dryland shot down four aircraft and 21 flying bombs. He was the first pilot to destroy 5 flying bombs in one patrol. He was shot down in December 1944.

He joined the Gloster Aircraft Company in 1946,and was acting Chief Test Pilot at the time of his death as the result of a flying accident while testing a Meteor 4 at Moreton Valence on July 13th 1949.