F/O Sidney Albert 'Bill' Thorn | ||
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Joined the RAF in 1925 (RAE Farnborough from 1927) after a stint in the Coldstream Guards followed by poultry farming in Surrey, then took over from Neville Stack (him, again) as chief test pilot for the Aircraft Disposals Company. Charter pilot at Brooklands; sometime middleweight and light-heavyweight boxing champion, and a major in the Home Guard. Avro's test pilot from 1934. Killed in the prototype Avro Tudor, (together with chief designer Roy Chadwick), on 23rd August 1947. [With thanks to John Falk, who is Roly's (q.v.) son, and Bill Thorn's grandson] |