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Pat Fillingham Died : 17 / 7 / 2003

Pat Fillingham FRAeS (deceased) A test pilot with de Havilland from the late 1930s, Pat Fillingham was the sole survivor of the elite group of wartime Mosquito test pilots that once included both John de Havilland and Geoffrey de Havilland, sons of the founder of de Havilland Aircraft. In a test career that took him through virtually every mark of Mosquito produced, Pat Fillingham flew over 2000 different aircraft and was involved in the development of manufacturing facilities in Canada and Australia. Candian Mosquitos presented a special delivery problem and one of Pat Fillingham's tasks was to investigate a spate of Mosquito losses on the Atlantic run. After one trip himself that nearly proved disastrous, and then one that was successful, he concluded that the major reason for the losses was a bravado amongst the crews, born of inexperience. For once, the Mosquito had inspired too much confidence. Pat Fillingham was born in Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire, and was eductaed at Worksop College in Nottingham. From school he decided to pursue a career in aviation, and entered the De Havilland Technical School as a student in 1936. He soon wished to fly and joined the RAFVR in 1937. His initial pilot training was on the Tigermoth at Perth. On the outbreak of war he was retained at Hatfield, and working alongside John and Geoffrey de Havilland, he spent that period of his life testing the Mosquito, Hurricane, Oxford and many other types of aircraft. He undertook a large test programme on the Mosquito from 1940, and was seconded firstly to D. H. Canada in 1943, and DH Australia in 1944, to initiate and develop production lines for the Mosquito. Pat returned to Canada in 1946 to fly the prototype Chipmunk. On his return to Hatfield he continued with the test programme for the Comet, Vampire, Dove and Heron aircraft under the C. T. P. John Cunningham. His love of 'fun flying' gave a relief to the more serious aspect of his career in aviation, and he became British Air Racing Champion in 1952, and had the honour of winning the King's Cup in 1953. In 1959, Pat Fillingham made the first flight in the Comet 4c, and then became Chief Production Test Pilot on the Trident programme. During a remarkable career in the pursuit of aircraft development, he flew 120 different types of aircraft, and retired from the company in 1975. Pat Fillingham died on 17th July 2003.

Items Signed by Pat Fillingham FRAeS (deceased)

	Clipped Signature - Pat Fillingham. Price : £60.00	A test pilot who worked for the de Havilland company, he flew more than 120 different types of aircraft, including wartime work on the Mosquito. He became Chief Production Test Pilot in 1959, retiring in 1975. He died in 2003. Please no......
	Mosquito by Frank Wootton. SOLD OUT	......	NOT AVAILABLE

Packs with at least one item featuring the signature of Pat Fillingham FRAeS (deceased)

Pat Fillingham FRAeS (deceased)

Aircraft for : Pat Fillingham FRAeS (deceased)
A list of all aircraft associated with Pat Fillingham FRAeS (deceased). A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name.
Squadron	Info
Mosquito Click the name above to see prints featuring Mosquito aircraft. Manufacturer : De Havilland Production Began : 1940 Retired : 1955 Number Built : 7781	Mosquito Used as a night fighter, fighter bomber, bomber and Photo-reconnaissance, with a crew of two, Maximum speed was 425 mph, at 30,300 feet, 380mph at 17,000ft. and a ceiling of 36,000feet, maximum range 3,500 miles. the Mosquito was armed with four 20mm Hospano cannon in belly and four .303 inch browning machine guns in nose. Coastal strike aircraft had eight 3-inch Rockets under the wings, and one 57mm shell gun in belly. The Mossie at it was known made its first flight on 25th November 1940, and the mosquito made its first operational flight for the Royal Air Force as a reconnaissance unit based at Benson. In early 1942, a modified version (mark II) operated as a night fighter with 157 and 23 squadron's. In April 1943 the first De Haviland Mosquito saw service in the Far east and in 1944 The Mosquito was used at Coastal Command in its strike wings. Bomber Commands offensive against Germany saw many Mosquitos, used as photo Reconnaissance aircraft, Fighter Escorts, and Path Finders. The Mosquito stayed in service with the Royal Air Force until 1955. and a total of 7781 mosquito's were built.