Trevor Sidney Wade facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Trevor Sidney Wade
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(Right to left) Pilot Officer Trevor Wade, Flight Lieutenant Robert Holland, Mrs Josephine Wade. September 1941 Biggin Hill
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| Nickname(s) | Wimpy |
| Born | 27 January 1920 Wandsworth, London |
| Died | 3 April 1951 (aged 31) Ringmer, Sussex |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
Royal Air Force |
| Rank | Squadron Leader |
| Service number | 78984 |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross Air Force Cross |
| Other work | Test pilot |
Trevor Sidney "Wimpy" Wade (born January 27, 1920 – died April 3, 1951) was a brave pilot in the Royal Air Force (RAF). He was known as a "fighter ace" because he shot down many enemy planes during World War II. He was also one of "The Few", a special group of pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain. After the war, he became a test pilot, flying new and experimental aircraft. Sadly, he died while testing a new plane called the Hawker P.1081.
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Early Life and Training
Trevor Wade was born in Wandsworth, London, on January 27, 1920. He went to school at Yardley Court and Tonbridge School. When he was 18, in April 1938, he joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. This is where he learned to fly planes at Gatwick Airport. When World War II began, he joined the RAF full-time in April 1940.
Becoming a Fighter Pilot
Just one month later, Trevor Wade joined No. 92 Squadron. They were based at Croydon Airport. On his very first day, he borrowed a Spitfire plane to get more flying practice. He was given the nickname "Wimpy" after a cartoon character.
In July, while flying a night patrol, his plane ran low on fuel. His radio also stopped working. He had to bail out of his plane over Exeter. On August 19, he had his first combat. He helped shoot down a German Ju 88 plane. But his plane was hit, and he had to land it quickly before it caught fire.
Battle of Britain Hero
Trevor Wade fought in many battles in September. He helped destroy a Do 17 plane on September 10. He also shot down a He 111 on September 11. On September 15, known as Battle of Britain Day, he probably shot down a Bf 109E. He also damaged other enemy planes. On September 22, he destroyed another Do 17. On September 27, his plane was hit again, and he had to land it quickly. His plane flipped over, but he was safe.
Wade continued to fight bravely in October. He destroyed one Bf 109E on October 12. He also probably shot down another Bf 109 and a Bf 110. On December 2, he fought a Bf 109E and shot it down. But once more, his plane was hit, and he had to land it at Gravesend.
Awards and Later Service
In June 1941, Trevor Wade's time as a combat pilot ended. He was sent to No. 123 Squadron for training duties. While there, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). This award was for his bravery and for shooting down seven enemy planes. The award said he showed "great skill and determination."
In September 1941, he became a flight commander for No. 602 Squadron. But his time there was short. On September 17, he was wounded during a raid. This injury meant he could no longer be a combat pilot.
After he recovered, he became a pilot-gunnery instructor. He taught other pilots how to use their plane's guns. In October 1942, he was promoted to Squadron Leader. In 1943, he became the Officer Commanding at the Air Fighting Development Unit. For his work there, he received the Air Force Cross (AFC) in September 1944. In 1945, he went to the USA to test captured Japanese planes and learn about early jet aircraft.
Life as a Test Pilot
After the war, in 1946, Trevor Wade left the RAF. He started working for The Aeroplane magazine, testing new civilian planes. In October 1947, he joined Hawker Aircraft, a famous plane company. He helped test new planes like the Hawker Sea Fury. In June 1948, he became Hawker's Chief Test Pilot. He then focused on testing their newest jet planes.
In August 1948, Wade showed off the P.1040 jet plane to the public for the first time. He also competed in an air race, flying a Hawker Fury.
Record-Breaking Flights
Hawker's first jet plane with swept-back wings was the P.1052. Wade flew its first flight on November 19, 1948. On May 13, 1949, he set a new record for flying from London to Paris. He flew 221 miles in just 21 minutes and 28 seconds! This was an average speed of 618 miles per hour.
In August 1949, he won a big air race, flying the P.1040. He flew at an average speed of 510 miles per hour. He even had one lap at 584 miles per hour! This earned him the Geoffrey de Havilland Trophy for the fastest race time of the year.
Testing the P.1081
The P.1081 was a modified version of the P.1052. Trevor Wade flew its first flight on June 19, 1950. He was happy with how it flew. He even demonstrated it at an air show in Belgium. During one test flight, a wheel on the plane didn't come down. But Wade managed to land the plane safely. He showed off the P.1081's amazing speed and ability to roll quickly at another air show in September 1950.
In January 1951, Wade was one of the first British test pilots to go to the United States. There, he learned about flying faster than the speed of sound in the F86 Sabre jet.
Final Flight
On April 3, 1951, Trevor Wade was testing the Hawker P.1081. The plane had a problem and entered a flight situation it couldn't recover from. It is thought he might have been trying to fly very fast, possibly even faster than sound. Wade tried to escape the plane by ejecting. He got out of the plane, but he couldn't get free from his seat. Sadly, he died when he hit the ground.
Personal Life
Trevor Wade married Josephine Clow Gibbins on August 2, 1940. Many of his friends from 92 Squadron attended their wedding. Trevor and Josephine had three children: two sons and a daughter.
See also
