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Ralph Sorley

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Sir Ralph Squire Sorley
BornTemplate:Birth date
DiedNovember 17, 1974(1974-11-17) (aged 76)
Occupation(s)Royal Air Force air marshal, company director
Years active1914–1948 (RAF), post-1948 (De Havilland)
Known forDevelopment of Spitfire and Hurricane armament, founding Empire Test Pilots' School


Template:Infobox military person Air Marshal Sir Ralph Squire Sorley, Template:Postnominals (9 January 1898 – 17 November 1974), served as a high-ranking officer in the Royal Air Force. Beginning his career as a pilot with the Royal Naval Air Service during the First World War, he advanced to senior leadership roles throughout the Second World War. Following the conflict, he occupied several prominent posts until his retirement in 1948.[1] In 1947, he was honoured as a Commander of the United States' Legion of Merit.

Sorley played a crucial role in defining the armament specifications for both the Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane. He established the Empire Test Pilots' School, anticipated the future requirement for air-to-air missile systems after the Second World War, and upon leaving the RAF to join De Havilland, contributed to equipping the RAF with such missile technology.[2]

Military career

Sorley enlisted in the Royal Naval Air Service in 1914.[2] His distinguished service as a pilot during the First World War earned him the Distinguished Service Cross, awarded for "the determined and successful bombing attacks on the SMS Breslau and SMS Goeben on 20 January 1918, and subsequent days, both by day and by night."[3][nb 1] After the war, he served in both Iraq and Palestine before returning in 1924 to join the staff at the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment located in Felixstowe.[2]

In 1931, Sorley took command as Officer Commanding of No. 8 Squadron RAF. Two years later, in 1933, he became squadron leader overseeing Operational Requirements at the Air Ministry.[2] While leading this section, he recommended changes to Operational Requirement F.36/34 — which governed procurement for both the Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane. His input led to an amendment increasing wing armament from two .303 inch (7.7 mm) Vickers machine guns to four .303 inch (7.7 mm) M1919 Browning machine guns per wing.[5][6] This adjustment was supported by detailed analysis carried out by Air Ministry personnel, including mathematical calculations performed by Captain F. W. "Gunner" Hill demonstrating that eight machine guns were necessary.[7] In 1937, Sorley advanced to Officer Commanding at No. 4 Armament Training Station at RAF West Freugh.[2]

By 1939, Sorley had been appointed Station Commander at RAF Upwood. The following year saw him assume leadership as Commandant of the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE) based at MOD Boscombe Down. Subsequently, he was promoted to Assistant Chief of the Air Staff.[2] During his tenure as Controller of Research & Development for the Ministry of Aircraft Production in 1943, he founded the Test Pilots' Training Flight — recognised as the world's first dedicated training programme for test pilots. This initiative evolved into what became known as the Empire Test Pilots' School in 1944.[8][9] His services were recognised with a knighthood in June 1944 during the King's Birthday Honours.[10] After World War II concluded, Sorley was appointed Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at RAF Technical Training Command.[2]

Following his RAF retirement in 1948, Sorley joined De Havilland Propellers Ltd's Board as Managing Director—a position he maintained for twelve years. Anticipating industry shifts brought about by jet engine technology replacing propeller-driven aircraft, he championed diversification efforts and played a key role in developing the de Havilland Firestreak infrared-guided missile system that became a primary air defence asset for the RAF.[2]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ The raid on the Breslau was notably part of the first claim made by the newly-formed RAF in the Prize Court, seeking a share of prize money under the Naval Prize Act, 1918. An affidavit submitted included: "Alongside His Majesty's ships involved in destroying the Breslau were aircraft from H.M.S. Ark Royal, listing crews including Captain Ralph Squire Sorley among others." No opposition was recorded to this claim.[4]

Citations

  1. ↑ Template:London Gazette
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  3. ↑ Template:London Gazette
  4. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  5. ↑ Glancey 2006, pp. 37–38.
  6. ↑ Price 1977, p. 32.
  7. ↑ Keith C.H. I Hold My Aim. George Allen and Unwin, London, 1946
  8. ↑ Johnson, 1986, p.19.
  9. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  10. ↑ Template:London Gazette

Bibliography

  • Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  • Glancey, Jonathan. Spitfire: An Illustrated Biography. London: Atlantic Books, 2006. ISBN 978-1-84354-528-6.
  • Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  • Price, Alfred. Spitfire: A Documentary History. London: Macdonald and Jane's, 1977. ISBN 0-354-01077-8.

External links

Template:S-mil
Preceded by Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Technical Training Command
1945–1948 		Succeeded by
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