Nickname(s) Wimpy Name Trevor Wade Allegiance United Kingdom Education Tonbridge School | Service number 78984 Service/branch Royal Air Force Other work Test pilot Rank Squadron leader | |
Born 27 January 1920
Wandsworth, London ( 1920-01-27 ) Battles/wars Second World War
Battle of Britain Died April 3, 1951, Ringmer, United Kingdom Awards Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Force Cross Battles and wars Battle of Britain, World War II | ||
Trevor Sidney "Wimpy" Wade, (27 January 1920 – 3 April 1951) was a Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter ace, one of The Few and later a test pilot. He was killed test flying the Hawker P.1081 prototype fighter.
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Early life
Wade was born on 27 January 1920 and was educated at Tonbridge School. He left school at 18, learned to fly at Gatwick and joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
His nickname "Wimpy" was borrowed from the American cartoon character of Popeye fame.
Fighter pilot
By the time the Battle of Britain had started Wade was with 92 Squadron flying the Supermarine Spitfire. In the Battle of Britain and subsequent operations he destroyed seven enemy aircraft.
In 1941 he was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for his efforts during the first part of the war and achieving seven confirmed victories. The citation, published in the London Gazette on 15 July 1941, read:
This officer has displayed great skill and determination in his numerous engagements against the enemy and has destroyed at least six of their aircraft. His efforts have contributed materially to the success achieved by the squadron.
After a course at the Central Flying School in October 1941 he became a pilot-gunnery instructor at the Central School of Gunnery. He was then appointed as OC Flying at the Air Fighting Development Unit (AFDU) at Duxford. For his work at the AFDU he was awarded the Air Force Cross.
Test pilot
At the end of the war Wade joined the staff of The Aeroplane magazine but within a year he had joined Hawker Aircraft as an assistant to the Chief Test Pilot Bill Humble. When Humble became a sales manager, Wade became Chief Test Pilot.
In May 1949 he set a speed record between London and Paris in the Hawker P.1052 jet. but on 3 April 1951 he was killed while test flying the Hawker P.1081, an experimental swept-wing fighter, when it crashed near Lewes in Sussex.
Wade was married with three children.