VINCENT – Claude M.

8164 – Group Captain – Pilot

Commissioned 2nd Lt RFC, AVM 1949.

[Source: CMHA]

4 additions to “VINCENT – Claude M.”

  1. Duncan Richardson adds:

    F/O Claude McClean Vincent DFC promoted from Flying Officer to Flight Lieutenant in the RAF New Years Honours list of 1928

    http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1928/1928%20-%200013.html

    I am told that he retired from the RAF with the rank of Air Vice Marshall

  2. Jerome Lee adds:

    Found this WW1 entry in Franklins Yearbook 1919:- FIRST MERCHANTS’ CONTINGENT. 113 Men – Sailed from Trinidad 18th October, 1915. Ex. R.M.S. “Danube.” Arrived at Tilbury, England, 9th November, 1915.VINCENT, CLAUDE McCLEAN — Sergt. Army Service Corps., Arm. Car Section. Attached Royal Serbian Army, Awarded Siver Cross of Serbia for services rendered. Flight Inspector Lieut.and Instructor.Now Aviation Corps. Egypt.

  3. Duncan Richardson adds:

    Claude McClean Vincent, the son of Harry Vincent and Clarissa McClean was born at Princes Town, Trinidad. Following is his obituary which best describes his career. Today when “Drones” are a new form of warfare it is interesting to note the part he played in the development of early Drones. According to a published letter from a friend, “he played a leading part in the development and flight testing of the first operational pilotless aircraft known as the “Fairy Queen” This aircraft was developed on high priority as a gunnery target”. While working at the R.A.E he crashed and suffered a complicated leg fracture that prevented him from flying for some years. After his retirement he was involved in the RAF Association and Red Cross in Trinidad.

    From The Times Friday Aug 11, 1967

    Air Vice-Marshall Claude McClean Vincent, CB, CBE, DFC, AFC, who died on Tuesday, August 8, at Farnham, Surrey at the age of 71, was Air Officer in charge of Administration, Fighter Command, from 1949 to 1952. Earlier he had been Director of Flying Training, Air Ministry, and Commandant of the Empire Central Flying School.

    Born in Trinidad, British West Indies, in January, 1896, and educated at Queens Royal College, Trinidad, he served in the Army and the R.F.C. in the First World War and was commissioned in the R.A.F. in 1918. From 1924 to 1936 he was engaged on experimental flying and research at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, where he became one of the R.A.F.’s best-known experimental pilots. He was a pioneer of wireless-controlled aircraft about 1930, and after leaving Farnborough he commanded the Pilotless Aircraft Development Unit from 1936 to 1939.

    During the Second World War he was in the Middle East; at one period he commanded a unit at Aden, which fulfilled various functions, attacking the Italians in East Africa and protecting convoys in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. When Japan entered the war his unit played an important part in organizing air ferry services on the East Africa/India route.

    In 1942 he was mentioned in dispatches by his C-in-C, Middle East.

    He married in 1922 Louise Anita Evelyn, daughter of Colonel E. F. L’Estrange. They had one son.

  4. Kathy Ann Waterman adds:

    Hi,
    seeking any details about Henry Wesley Moulton Collymore who was a navigator in WWII. attested December 1, 1943. This is the man who was the revered orthopaedic surgeon, died about 2001.

Leave a Reply