Ray Creasey
Ray Creasey | |
|---|---|
| Born | Raymond Frederick Ray Creasey 18 December 1921 Barnes, London, England |
| Died | 16 July 1976 (aged 54) |
| Occupation(s) | Aerodynamicist, aerospace engineer |
| Years active | 1948–1976 |
| Known for | Aerodynamics of the Lightning interceptor aircraft; work on TSR2, Tornado, Typhoon projects |
Raymond Frederick Ray Creasey OBE (18 December 1921 – 16 July 1976) was a distinguished British aerodynamicist who worked with the British Aircraft Corporation (formerly English Electric) from 1948 until his passing in 1976. He played a pivotal role in developing the aerodynamics of the Lightning interceptor aircraft.
Early life and education
Born in Barnes, London on 18 December 1921, Ray Creasey earned a scholarship to Hampton Grammar School. Having contracted polio during childhood, he was deemed unfit for military service at the start of World War II. Determined to support the war effort, he opted to join a special projects team at Vickers-Armstrongs instead of pursuing university studies immediately. While employed full-time at Vickers, he prepared for the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Associate Fellowship Examinations, achieving top marks in Aerodynamics, Applied Mathematics, and Aircraft Design in 1942 at just 20 years old. Additionally, he received the Baden Powell Memorial Prize. Subsequently, he attended night school and graduated with first-class honours in Science (Engineering) from the University of London in 1944.
Vickers-Armstrongs
Creasey began his professional career at Vickers-Armstrongs, where he was part of Barnes Wallis’s special projects unit. His work included involvement with the development of the bouncing bomb used during Operation Chastise by the Dam Busters.
English Electric
In 1946, he relocated to Preston to join English Electric’s aeronautical design division, established between 1944 and 1945 as the company expanded from manufacturing into aircraft design. In 1960, English Electric merged with Vickers-Armstrongs and the Bristol Aeroplane Company, forming BAC (British Aerospace Company). Subsequent mergers led to the creation of British Aerospace and eventually today's BAE Systems.
Starting as an aerodynamicist at English Electric, Creasey advanced to become Chief Aerodynamicist for the P1 project in 1950 following Teddy Petter’s departure. He made significant contributions to the aerodynamic design of both the A1 bomber (Canberra) and especially the P1 (Lightning). By 1959, he had risen to Director of Engineering.
In a retrospective by Ron Dickson and Frank Roe—also recognized as foundational figures within BAE—Creasey's impact on wing design and supersonic fighter aircraft is highlighted:
Prior to Canberra’s maiden flight, Ray was already exploring supersonic aircraft design. His expertise on compressibility effects arising from shock waves demonstrated that supersonic flight posed no insurmountable challenges if careful attention was paid near transonic speeds. He recognized that slender wing profiles would produce only mild shock waves, preventing rapid boundary layer deceleration and avoiding "shock stall".
These insights were instrumental in conceptualizing the Lightning as a supersonic fighter:
It is believed that Ray Creasey's initiative underpinned the feasibility of supersonic flight (...) His personal contributions to the Lightning's concept and their significance for establishing Warton as a premier design centre cannot be overstated.
Ollie Heath, part of the Lightning design team who later became Director of Advanced Engineering, also credited Creasey with being the primary force behind the Lightning’s design:
Who was behind the Lightning? Many key concepts originated from the late Ray Creasey, an exceptional aerodynamicist.
A publication from BAE's Heritage Department provides an in-depth account of Creasey's role in shaping the Lightning's aerodynamic features.
BAC
During his tenure as Director of Engineering at BAC and subsequently as Director of Advanced Systems and Technology, Ray Creasey spearheaded numerous initiatives and developed preliminary designs for various aircraft and systems. From mid-1945 onward, throughout the second phase of English Electric's development, the majority of project responsibilities were overseen by R.F. Creasey, who also frequently managed several other departments simultaneously.
Among the projects he influenced were the TSR2—which became well-known due to its cancellation—the Tornado, and the Typhoon.
The TSR2 originated from Creasey’s concepts, featuring a short-span wing with high wing loading optimized for low-level ground attack missions, complemented by a blown flap system designed to achieve an acceptable landing distance. The patent covering the initial design work on the TSR2, patent number 873,679, remained unpublished until July 1961 because of security constraints. This patent was filed on behalf of the earliest inventors of the configuration: R.F. Creasey, B.O. Heath, and G.F. Sharples. A detailed narrative by A.T.F. Simmons regarding the early design phases and Creasey’s role is documented in the proceedings of a seminar held in Filton in April 1997, which explored the history and lessons learned from the TSR2 project, as published by the Royal Air Force Historical Society.
Frank Dickson, who later rose to Managing Director of BAE Military Aircraft Division, referred to Ray Creasey as "an aerodynamic genius."
Prior to his untimely passing in 1976, Creasey had been honored with numerous awards (detailed below) and had multiple patents issued under his name as inventor (also listed below). His expertise in design and aerodynamics was acknowledged both within the United Kingdom and internationally. He was frequently consulted for input on various projects in the United States and other countries, including participation in NASA’s Space Shuttle Program.
Personal life
Married in 1946, Creasey was father to one daughter born in 1948. He passed away before witnessing the arrival of his grandchildren—a granddaughter who pursued a career as a psychiatrist within the NHS and a grandson who became a barrister. Among his relatives was his uncle, the prolific crime novelist John Creasey.
Awards
- In 1968, he was honored with the OBETemplate:Fix/category[citation needed][1]
- He was recognized as a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1970, acknowledging his "extensive and distinguished contributions as a leading aeronautical engineer and his advancements in variable geometry."
- The Royal Aeronautical Society awarded him their Silver Medal in 1974 for his "contributions to future military aircraft evaluation and comprehensive operational analysis."
- In 1976, he received an accolade from NATO for "services rendered."
Patents published in the UK
Numerous patents listed above were also filed and issued internationally, particularly in the United States, Canada, and Germany. A significant portion of these patents bearing his name were subject to classification due to national security concerns. Consequently, it remains uncertain whether all were eventually declassified or made publicly accessible, leaving the above compilation potentially incomplete. For further context on UK patents under secrecy orders, refer to an article published by New Scientist.[2] Additionally, most of his technical papers were classified for reasons pertaining to national security.
See also
References
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- 1921 births
- 1976 deaths
- Aerodynamicists
- British Aircraft Corporation
- English aerospace engineers
- Fellows of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
- Officers of the Order of the British Empire
- People from Lytham St Annes
- Vickers people