Flight Lieutenant Thomas 'Tommy' Rose DFC: WWI Fighter Ace, Record Breaker, Chief Test Pilot - His Remarkable Life in the Air

Tommy Rose was a pioneer of private flying and a First World War fighter ace. He installed and managed the UK's first fuel pump for private aviation, was the chief flying instructor at several early flying schools, and was the winner of air races and pageants. He was awarded the DFC in 1918 and credited with eleven kills. He continued to demonstrate his skills after the war, completing over 11,200 flying hours up to 1949. He also took the Imperial Airways route through East Africa to set up a new world record on the UK to Cape Town passage and won the King's Cup Air Race in 1935.

Format: Hardback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 02 February 2023
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

Flight Lieutenant Thomas "Tommy" Rose, a First World War fighter ace, was a trailblazer in private flying. Before becoming the Sales Manager for Phillips and Powis Aircraft Ltd, he installed and managed the UK's first fuel pump for private aviation at Brooklands. Tommy was the chief flying instructor at several early flying schools and later became the Chief Test Pilot for Miles Aircraft. He was a winner of air races and pageants, known for his fast, accurate stunts and low-level flying. He was Mentioned in Despatches in 1916 and awarded the DFC in 1918. Despite being attacked in his aircraft several times, his exceptional skill at the controls allowed him to land without serious injury. By the time of the Armistice, Tommy had been credited with eleven kills. He continued to demonstrate his aviation skills after the war, completing over 11,200 flying hours until 1949. In the 1930s, Tommy set a new world record on the UK to Cape Town passage, beating Amy Mollison (Johnson) on the shorter west coast route. He also won the King's Cup Air Race in 1935. Tommy flew many early RAF fighters, from Maurice Farman to the Spitfire Mk.IX, and was appointed Chief Test Pilot for Phillip & Powis Aircraft Ltd at Woodley in 1939. He test flew all Miles monoplane training and target towing aircraft, leaving in January 1946. His last position was as a test pilot for the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough. Tommy Rose's achievements in aviation were remarkable, and he was considered one of the finest pilots of his era. His contributions to the field of private flying and military aviation have left a lasting impact on the history of aviation.

Weight: 872g
Dimension: 240 x 166 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526783820