Father: Dr. Edward St. J Seelly, a Surgeon; mother Vera Adelaide [Pye, who d. 24 March 1923, i.e. 4 days after Michael's birth] Edward then m. 1925 Gertrude [Downing] Ed. N.C. Pangbourne; Univ. of Cambridge (Part I of Engineering Tripos) prev. RNR 1937-1940; RAFVR 1941-44, Flying Officer from Sep 1942 prev. exp. 450 hrs on Stearman, Vultee, Harvard, Kingfisher, Catalina, Oxford, Blenheim, Bisley, Beaufighter in UK, USA and Canada Address in 1944: Frampton-on-Severn, then Cleveland, Seaview Rd., Herne Bay, Kent
The RAF Selection Board described him thus: "Has the impulsiveness and overconfidence of youth. He has intelligence and could do well if he could apply himself." He had suffered a fractured skull in an air accident in 1943, but made "a good recovery" Postings: 9FPP, 5TFPP, 2FPP, 4FPP
"We have all gained the impression that he suffers from a rather big dose of over-confidence"
"If he is going to be any use to ATA he will have to realise that his past experience is comparatively small, and that he still has a lot to learn... If he does not realise this, he will inevitably have accidents, in which case the organisation will be better off without him." d. 10 Feb 1945 in Miles Martinet RG883 which crashed into a slag heap at Thankerton Colliery, Holytown, 4 miles NNE of Motherwell, Lanarkshire, Scotland, in bad weather on a ferry flight from NAS Evanton to NAS St. Merry. He was deemed to be at fault for the accident, having persisted in conditions of "snow, low cloud and visiblity of less than 200 yards."
Cremated at Holmer Burial Grounds, Holmer, Herefordshire
"Dr. Edward St. John Seelly was, until a few days ago, in practice in Frampton-on-Severn, [Gloucestershire]" Download ATA Pilot Personal Record (.zip file): |
ATA
Michael's Flight Authorization Card, 24 Aug 1944
