S/Ldr Jimmy O Mathews DSO DFC * 1921-19??

Jimmy Matthews joined the RAF in 1940 at 19 and served with 125 (Newfoundland) Sqn and later served
with 100 Group, 85 and 157 Squadrons as a Mosquito Nightfighter pilot.He was credited with 11 kills and he also destroyed 10 V-1 flying bombs. In 1944 he was awarded the DFC for his anti-flying bomb operations and in the same year a Bar to it for his night-fighter work over France. In 1945 he won the D.S.O and left the RAF in May 1946. He joined Fairey Aviation the same year as a test pilot and in 1950 was appointed to manage trials with air to air guided weapons, Firing 'Fireflash' missiles from converted Meteors and Hunter.He took over the later phase of testing in the Fairey Delta FD-2 and following the westland take-over converted to helicopters flying Scout and Wasp.He retired from test flying in 1963.He died in Australia.