Tim Vigors facts for kids

Wing Commander Timothy Ashmead Vigors (March 22, 1921 – November 14, 2003) was a brave Royal Air Force fighter pilot. He was known as a flying ace during the Second World War. He fought in the famous Battle of Britain and later in the Far East. After the war, Vigors helped start the amazing Coolmore Stud. This place changed how thoroughbred racehorses were bred around the world.

Vigors wrote about his war experiences. His book, Life's Too Short to Cry: The Inspirational Memoir of an Ace Battle of Britain Fighter Pilot, was published after he passed away in 2006.

Early Life and School

Tim Vigors was born in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, on March 22, 1921. His family owned land and a horse farm in Ireland. This farm was called Tullamaine Castle stud.

He grew up near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, England. From a young age, he enjoyed hunting. He went to a famous school called Eton College.

Military Career

Tim Vigors joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in January 1939. He became a cadet at RAF Cranwell.

Fighting in the Battle of Britain

In February 1940, Vigors joined No. 222 Squadron RAF. He flew fast Spitfires from RAF Duxford. He first saw action over Dunkirk in May. On May 30, he shot down his first enemy plane, a Bf 109. He felt very proud of this achievement.

In the summer of 1940, his squadron flew from RAF Hornchurch in Essex. The fighting was very tough, and many pilots were lost. Vigors himself had to crash-land his plane twice. Once, he even flew into battle wearing his pyjamas under a dressing gown! He shot down another enemy plane that day. He also helped his fellow pilot, Douglas Bader, who had artificial legs. By the end of September, Vigors had destroyed at least six enemy aircraft. He likely shot down six more. In October 1940, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery.

During the Battle of Britain, Vigors showed his Irish pride. He had the Irish tricolour flag painted on the side of his Spitfire.

War in Singapore

In December 1940, Vigors was sent to Singapore. He joined No. 243 Squadron RAF as a flight commander. There, he flew Brewster F2A Buffalo fighter planes. In December 1941, he took temporary charge of No. 453 Squadron RAAF. This squadron also flew Buffalo planes.

No. 453 Squadron was meant to protect a group of Royal Navy ships called "Force Z." This group included two large warships, HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse. Vigors wanted to keep six planes flying over the ships all day to protect them. But his plan was not accepted. Also, the ships kept radio silence and did not tell the squadron where they were.

Japanese planes attacked Force Z. The ships did not ask for air help until an hour after the attack started. Pilots from 453 Squadron arrived too late. They saw the Prince of Wales sink. The Repulse had sunk 50 minutes earlier. Vigors later said that this was a costly lesson for the Navy, showing they needed the RAF's help.

In December 1941, 453 Squadron moved to northern Malaya. Vigors had just landed his plane when Japanese aircraft attacked his airfield. He quickly ordered his squadron to fight back. As they attacked the enemy bombers, Vigors was shot in the leg. His plane's fuel tank was hit. He got burned while bailing out of his plane. He landed in a mountainous area near Penang. Two local people found him injured and carried him to safety.

Return to England

Vigors was sent to India to recover. He then worked in training roles. He became the commander of RAF Yelahanka. There, he helped pilots learn to fly Thunderbolt planes. These planes were used for ground attacks.

In 1945, he returned to England. He left the RAF in November 1946 as a Wing Commander. During the war, he had shot down 12 enemy aircraft.

His War Story Book

Vigors's book about his war experiences was published in 2006. It was called Life's Too Short to Cry: The Inspirational Memoir of an Ace Battle of Britain Fighter Pilot. He had written it 56 years earlier.

Business Career

After leaving the RAF, Vigors started a photography business in Ireland. He then worked for a company that sold racehorses. In 1951, he started his own business selling racehorses. He was one of the first to make racehorse breeding a global business. In 1950, he helped an Irish horse named Nasrullah go to America for breeding.

In the 1950s, he also started his own aviation company. It was based near Oxford. His company sold private planes. Later, he returned to the horse business.

Horse Breeding Business

Tim Vigors Bloodstock was a very successful horse breeding business in the 1960s. In 1964, Vigors paid a record price for a horse named Chandelier. Two years later, he paid another record price for a young male horse. He also bought two fillies (young female horses), Glad Rags and Fleet. These horses won important races in 1966 and 1967. He was friends with other important people in the horse world.

When Vigors sold his business, it became The British Bloodstock Agency (Ireland).

Coolmore Stud

In 1945, Vigors's father bought a large farm in Ireland called Coolmore farm. He trained racehorses there. Tim Vigors inherited Coolmore in 1968. He started to turn the farm into one of the most important places for breeding thoroughbred horses. In 1973, Vigors sold half of Coolmore to a famous Irish horse trainer, Vincent O'Brien. A young man named John Magnier was brought in to manage the farm.

In 1973, Vigors paid a lot of money for a stallion (male horse) named Rheingold. Rheingold had won a very big race in France. Coolmore Stud also had other famous horses for breeding.

In 1975, the Coolmore Stud joined with other horse farms. This created a huge horse breeding operation. They aimed to get the best horse bloodlines, especially from a famous stallion named Northern Dancer. They bought horses at very expensive auctions in Kentucky, USA. At first, many of their best horses were sold to American groups. But Coolmore soon grew its own breeding program. In 1982, one of their horses, Be My Guest, was named champion sire (a top breeding male horse). Later, horses like Sadler's Wells and Danehill made Coolmore perhaps the most successful horse breeding business in the world.

After Coolmore

Vigors later sold his share in Coolmore and moved to Spain. He kept working as a horse agent. In 1983, he returned to England. He helped arrange deals for successful breeding horses. He also helped buy the mother of a famous horse named High Chaparral.

In 1990, Vigors became an adviser for Cartier, a luxury brand. He helped start the yearly Cartier Racing Awards, which honor top racehorses.