Wales, Jack Bertram

Date of birth:: January 8th, 1917
Date of death:: December 7th, 1956
Service number:: 44516
Nationality:: British

Biography

Jack Wales joined the Armny in 1936 and was later commissioned in The Manchester Regimnent. In 1940 he was seconded to the Royal Air Force and served as a fighter pilot in India and the Far East.
He joined 613 (City of Manchester) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force in 1945 and was appointed commanding officer of the squadron in 1949. In the same year he was awarded the Territorial Decoration with Territorial top clasp and KGVI bar. Three years later he was appointed O.B.E.in the Queen's New Year Honours list. of 1952 for his services to the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. Before the war he had worked in the A. V. Roe company's experimental department and he rejoined the firm as a production pilot two years after the war. In the following years he had performed much of the highly arduous research flying necessary to the evolution of the company's delta winged aircraft - the Vulcan.
Sqn Ldr Wales was killed on the 7th December 1956 when the prototype Avro Shackleton Mk3(WR970) crashed whilst on a test flight from Woodford, near Foolow in Derbyshire killing all onboard. Witnesses stated he made an effort to steer the plane away from the village before it crashed.

In addition to the medals mentioned above he was also awarded the GSM S.E.Asia 1945-46 clasp and the 1953 Coronation Medal.

Promotions:
February 26th, 1936: 2e Luitenant
September 7th, 1940: Pilot Officer
September 7th, 1941: Flying Officer (war sub)
September 7th, 1942: Flight Lieutenant (war sub)
? Squadron Leader (war sub)

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Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Flight Lieutenant
Unit:: No. 28 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:: September 13th, 1944

Citation (general):
"In recognition of gallant and distinguished service with the Royal Air Force during the operations in Burma from 21st June, 1943 to 15th November 1943."

1939-1945 Star

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Burma Star

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

War Medal 1939-1945

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Sources

- The London Gazette Issue 34259 published on the 25 February 1936
- The London Gazette Issue 34960 published on the 4 October 1940
- The London Gazette Issue 35326 published on the 28 October 1941
- Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35819 published on the 8 December 1942
- Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36702 published on the 12 September 1944
- Warwick& Warwick
-The Tanterror Blogspot