Father: Rev. Henry Twells Mogridge M.A. (d. 1922), Mother Frances Address in 1917: Scalford Vicarage, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire WWI; France from 11 Mar 1916; 2nd-Lieut. in 74th Co. MGC; Lieut. in 5th Irish Rifles, RFC. Here are his medals and RFC 'Wings':
Address in 1920: 21 Wear Bay Crescent, Folkestone Address in 1941: 58 Andover Rd, Newbury, Berks He wrote to the ATA in March 1941: "11 March 1941 The Ministry of AIRCRAFT PRODUCTION, Room 101, LONDON. Gentlemen, With reference to the Marquess of Londonderry's broadcast appeal for ferry pilots under 50, I should like to be considered if the response has not provided the number required. I shall be 48 in June, and had 300 hours solo in the last War, but have not flown since 1919, though I feel confident I should quickly respond to instruction. I am single and without any family responsibilities, and would be prepared to go anywhere after release from my present duty of Bank Manager. Air Commodore A. J. Capel (Holborn 3434 ext. 250) will remember me in the days of the old 94 Squadron." and presumably it was the Air Commodore who wrote back to him on the 9th May: "Headquarters, No 20(T) Group, Royal Air Force, Buntingdale Hall, Market Drayton, Shropshire. Dear Mogridge, Many thanks for your letter of the 4th May. I have already heard from Air Transport Auxiliary asking for your credentials, and I have given you a good recommendation, and I have heard this morning that they have received it. I was very glad to hear that you have already had your test, and have passed it. I think in the old days you used to be able to land most times without damage to the aircraft or yourself, and so I hope you will manage to keep that up now with modern aircraft. Don't forget that it is absolutely necessary now-a-days to know thoroughly what is known as 'cockpit drill'; that is to say, whereas in the old days there was practically nothing to learn about a new machine except the position of the petrol taps, now-a-days, with flaps, slots, retractable undercarriage, etc., it is necessary to know intimately all the gadgets in the cockpit before it is safe to take off..." Brief Glory says "Flt-Capt E C Mogridge, had an outstanding career in ATA, which he joined at the age of 48. He served overseas as a fighter pilot in the first war and then returned to his civil occupation with one of the big five banks. Twenty-three years later, while manager of a country branch in Berkshire, he heard Lord Londonderry's appeal for pilots, and although he had not been in the cockpit of an aircraft between the two world wars, promptly volunteered for service and was accepted." Postings: 1FPP, 5FPP "He brought to his career in the ATA all the meticulous efficiency which had made him the ideal bank manager and, working steadily through from light aircraft to four-engined bombers, became in turn almost the ideal ferry pilot." 7 accidents, 2 his fault : - 25 Jan 1942, he made a normal landing in his Hurricane but it blew over in a gusty wind whilst taxying; - 14 Jul 1942, when he failed to lock the tail wheel of a Mustang before landing and swung violently, damaging the undercarriage and wingtip; - 29 Nov 1942, the port wing of his Anson hit a telegraph pole 'six feet from the edge of the perimter track' - 24 Feb 1943, he made a normal landing in a Wellington, but the aircraft tipped over onto its nose due to the brakes binding; - 28 Mar 1943, he landed back at Hawarden after the undercarriage of his Wellington failed to retract, due a broken hydraulic pipe. - 17 May 1943, the port hatch and sliding canopy of his Brewster Bermuda were found to be damaged on delivery, due to insecure fastening - 3 Aug 1944, he damaged the propeller tips when they hit the ground during his take-off run on a very rough surface in a Spitfire IX By the end of 1945, he was "back in his office in Newbury and had already in exasperation told a temporary clerk that she was the 'sort of absent-minded person who would land with her undercarriage up.'" d. 23 Apr 1974 - Exeter, Devon With many thanks to Mark Mogridge for sending me some of his great-uncle's documents and the medals photo. |
MAMM
