W.22 First Officer 

Ursula Mary Preston

flag england

b. 23 Feb 1904, London 

23 Jun 1940 to 31 Oct 1943


 ursula preston 1939  RAeC 10 May 1939      

 

Father: James Rudge Preston ("a Surgeon Dentist, of Harley Street"), mother Elizabeth Mary [Munn]

One younger brother, Michael Rudge

Ed. Malvern College 

prev exp: 168 hrs on Tiger Moth, Hornet, Klemm, Swallow, Piper Cub

Address in 1939: 111 Queen's Court, Queensway, London W2


Postings: 15FPP, 6FPP, 7FPP

 1942 caricature by 'Sammy' Clayton

 

6 Accidents, 2 her fault:

- 18 Mar 1941, landed downwind in Master N7954, due to a signal error

- 25 Jan 1942, the tail of her Hampden AT175 was damaged when the tarmac collapsed under the port wheel while taxying

- 11 Apr 1942, forced landing following engine failure in Botha W5134; she crashed into trees and was seriously injured

- 30 Dec 1942, she failed to control the landing swing in Spitfire Vc EE740 and the undercarriage collapsed

- 1 Jun 1943, forced landing in Argus FK340 after engine failure

- 22 Jul 1943, she overshot the landing in Mosquito III HJ863

 

"A keen and steady pilot. Her cheeriness is a great asset and she is coping with Wellington and larger aircraft excellently"

 

m. 2 Jun 1943 in London, Captain William Graham 'Willie' Metcalfe, also of the ATA:

  Contract terminated by ATA the following October (her son, Graham, was b. Apr 1944)


 Ursula and Willie in 1954, with thanks to Chris Sturgess

  

d. 6 Feb 1975 - North Cotswold, Glos.


 Download ATA Pilot Personal Record (.zip file):download grey

 

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