Purvis, Harry Alexander

Date of birth:: October 21st, 1905
Date of death:: December 23rd, 1966
Service number:: 16228
Nationality:: British

Biography

1924: RAF Cranwell
July 1926: Commissioned
1 juni 1940: Temporary Squadron Leader
1 september 1942: Temporary Group Captain
On retiring from the Royal Air Force, he became Chief Civil Test Pilot for the Ministry of Aviation (1946-63)

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Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Squadron Leader
Awarded on:: February 20th, 1940

For magnetic mine destruction.
Vickers Wellington (P2518) was fitted with a huge balsa wood hoop that housed a powerful electromagnetic coil. The intention was to fly low over the sea, so that the downward pointing magnetic field would detonate the mines lurking beneath the waves. 'Bruin' Purvis, having tested the functional capabilities of this unconventional aircraft, then took the further - and extremely hazardous - step of trialling its mine destroying ability in January 1940. The Operations Record Book for No.1 G.R. Unit, R.A.F. Manston, records that a mine was successfully destroyed on the 8th or 9th of that month and notes that 'Aircraft's Height was 25-30 feet'.