| Eric William Wright | |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Ricky Wright[1] |
| Born | 21 September 1919 Cherry Hinton, Cambridge |
| Died | 5 November 2007 (aged 88) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1939 - 1973 |
| Rank | Air Commodore |
| Unit | No 605 (County of Warwick) Squadron No 232 Squadron No 247 Squadron |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Britain World War II |
| Awards | Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Flying Cross Distinguished Flying Medal Air Efficiency Award |
Air Commodore Eric William "Ricky" Wright, CBE DFC DFM AE (21 September 1919- 5 November 2007) was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force[2] who flew Hurricanes with 605 Squadron in the Battle of Britain.
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He was educated at Cambridge County School and the Technical College. In June 1939 he joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve. .He joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve in June 1939 and was called up when he had completed his training as a pilot.Once he had completed his training as a pilot he was called up into the regular air force
Wright joined No 605 (County of Warwick) Squadron in July 1940, and saw action during the Battle of Britain. In early September he shared in the destruction of a Messerschmitt Bf 110 and a Dornier 17 . On September 15 Wright shot down a Dornier 17 over Maidstone. By the end of the year he had accounted for six enemy aircraft, probably destroyed three more and damaged six. At the end of November he was awarded a DFM. As a Sergeant pilot he was granted a commission as a Pilot Officer on probation on 18 December 1940.[3]
Wright was posted to the Far East in 1941, as a flight commander in No 232 Squadron. After the Japanese attacks on Malaya the squadron reinforced the defences at Singapore at the end of January 1942. Within a week Wright's CO had been killed and Wright was promoted to Squadron Leader. He claimed a Japanese bomber damaged off the coast of Singapore. The Squadron soon evacuated to Sumatra and then to Java.
in March Wright was ordered to take his remaining pilots to Tjilatjap, ready to board a boat for Australia. On arrival however, the last boat had been sunk, and when the island fell to the Japanese a few days later Wright and his pilots were made POWs.
After a period at Batavia repariing the airfield, Wright and his fellow POWs were shipped to Japan and worked as farm labourers and in shipbuilding yards.
After the war, he was granted a permanent commission as a Flight Lieutenant (but continued to be allowed to use his final wartime rank) on 19 December 1945.[4] Wright was a member of the RAF's official aerobatic team, No 247 Squadron flying Vampires. In April 1948 he flew one of the six Vampire F.IIIs of No 54 Squadron making the first Atlantic crossing by jet aircraft.
This airman has displayed fine qualities of leadership, skill and courage. His sound tactics and efficiency have enabled him to destroy at least six enemy aircraft.—London Gazette[5]