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Tom Gleave
| Group Captain Tom Gleave (deceased) Gleave joined the RAF in 1930 after returning to Britain, qualifying as an exceptional pilot before serving with No. 1 Squadron and later as a flying instructor. At the outbreak of the Second World War he held staff appointments before taking command of No. 253 Squadron during the Battle of Britain. In August 1940 he was shot down and severely burned, undergoing extensive reconstructive surgery under Sir Archibald McIndoe at Queen Victoria Hospital, where he became a founding member and later Vice-President of the Guinea Pig Club. Returning to flying within a year, he commanded RAF Manston during the Channel Dash and the Dieppe operation, championing improvements that led to the construction of a long concrete runway to aid damaged returning aircraft. Promoted to Group Captain, Gleave played a pivotal role in Allied air planning, co-authoring the air strategy for Operation Overlord and later serving as Head of Air Plans at Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force. His wartime service earned him numerous British and international honours, including the CBE, the French Légion d'Honneur and the US Bronze Star. After retiring from the RAF in 1953, he became an official historian with the Cabinet Office and remained a leading figure in the Guinea Pig Club and the Battle of Britain Fighter Association until his death in 1993. |
Items Signed by Group Captain Tom Gleave (deceased) |
  | Moment of Time by Geoff Nutkins Price : £120.00 | Squadron Leader Tom Gleave of No.253 Squadron attacking a Junkers Ju88 high above Shoreham, Kent on 31st August 1940. Signed by Group Captain T P Gleave, CBE Wing Commander A G Page, DSO, DFC & Bar Air Vice-Marshal E D Crew, CB...... | |
 | Hurricanes from Kenley by Michael Turner SOLD OUT | A flight of 253 Squadron Hurricanes taking off from Kenley in August 1940, led by Sqn.Ldr. Tom Gleave....... | NOT AVAILABLE |
Packs with at least one item featuring the signature of Group Captain Tom Gleave (deceased) |
| Squadrons for : Group Captain Tom Gleave | ||
| A list of all squadrons known to have been served with by Group Captain Tom Gleave. A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name. | ||
| Squadron | Info | |
Country : UK Founded : 7th June 1918 Fate : Disbanded 1st September 1957 Hyderabad State Come one, come all | No.253 Sqn RAF 253 Squadron was formed at Bembridge, on the Isle of Wight, on 7 June 1918, During the squadrons stay at Bembridge it parented No. 412 (Seaplane) Flight RAF and No. 413 (Seaplane) Flight RAF, as well as No. 511 (Special Duty) Flight RAF, No. 512 (Special Duty) Flight RAF and No. 513 (Special Duty) Flight RAF for coastal reconnaissance and anti-submarine patrols, flying Short Type 184 and Airco DH.6 aircraft. DH.6s of 511 and 512 Flights flew their aircraft from the aerodrome at Foreland 253 sqd was disbanded on 31 May 1919. On 30 October 1939, No 253 Squadron reformed at Manston and was originally intended as a shipping protection unit with Blenheims. None were delivered, however, and the squadron began to receive Hurricanes in February 1940, becoming operational on 3 April. In May 1940 one flight was sent to France to reinforce the hard-pressed Hurricane squadrons while the second flight flew daily to French airfields from 17 to 23 May. After re-equipping in Lincolnshire, No 253 took part in the Battle of Britain from the end of August and remained in southern England until January 1941. In February the squadron moved to the Orkneys for air defence duties, returning to England in September for convoy patrols off the East Coast. After taking part in the Dieppe raid, No.253 became non-operational in preparation for the invasion of North Africa and arrived in Algeria a few days after the landings. It provided air cover for the Army and its supply lines during the Tunisian campaign and its aftermath, moving to Italy in October 1943. In February 1944, the squadron arrived in Corsica to undertake escort and anti-shipping missions, returning to Italy in April for similar duties over Yugoslvia. In April 1945 the squadron actually moved to a base at Zadar that had been captured by the Yugoslav partisans during the German retreat from the country. After the end of the war the squadron quickly returned to Italy, spending the next year at Treviso. the squadron acquired a flight of Spitfire XIs from No.225 Squadron and disbanded on 16 May 1947. It moved to Austria during the winter of 1946-47 before returning to Treviso, where it was disbanded on 16 May 1947. On 18 April 1955, No 253 reformed at Waterbeach as a night fighter squadron with Venoms which it flew until disbanded on 1 September 1957. The Squadron operated the following aircraft December 1939-May 1940: Fairey Battle I February 1940-August 1941: Hawker Hurricane I, July 1941-September 1942: Hawker Hurricane IIA and IIB ' January 1942-September 1943: Hawker Hurricane IIC, March 1943: Supermarine Spitfire VC , August 1943-November 1944: Supermarine Spitfire VC , September 1943-June 1944: Supermarine Spitfire IX , November 1944-May 1947: Supermarine Spitfire VIII and IX March-May 1947: Supermarine Spitfire XI April 1955 Venom Jet Fighters | |
| Aircraft for : Group Captain Tom Gleave | |||
| A list of all aircraft associated with Group Captain Tom Gleave. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name. | |||
| Squadron | Info | ||
Manufacturer : Hawker Production Began : 1936 Number Built : 14533 | Hurricane Royal Air Force Fighter, the Hawker Hurricane had a top speed of 320mph, at 18,200 feet and 340mph at 17,500, ceiling of 34,200 and a range of 935 miles. The Hurricane was armed with eight fixed wing mounted .303 browning machine guns in the Mark I and twelve .303 browning's in the MKIIB in the Hurricane MKIIC it had four 20mm cannon. All time classic fighter the Hurricane was designed in 1933-1934, the first prototype flew in June 1936 and a contract for 600 for the Royal Air Force was placed. The first production model flew ion the 12th October 1937 and 111 squadron of the Royal Air Force received the first Hurricanes in January 1938. By the outbreak of World war two the Royal Air Force had 18 operational squadrons of Hurricanes. During the Battle of Britain a total of 1715 Hurricanes took part, (which was more than the rest of the aircraft of the Royal air force put together) and almost 75% of the Victories during the Battle of Britain went to hurricane pilots. The Hawker Hurricane was used in all theatres during World war two, and in many roles. in total 14,533 Hurricanes were built. | ||
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