1. George Unwin is credited with destroying at least 15 German aircraft.
32 Facts About George Unwin
1. 2.
From Yorkshire, Unwin joined the RAF in 1929 as an apprentice and served at Uxbridge as a clerk once he had completed his training.
3.
George Unwin was accepted for flying training, which commenced in 1935, and was posted to No 19 Squadron as a sergeant pilot.
4.
George Unwin conducted extensive testing of the Supermarine Spitfire fighter as it entered service with the RAF.
5.
George Unwin flew extensively during the Battle of France and the subsequent Battle of Britain, destroying a number of aircraft during this period.
6.
George Unwin remained in the RAF in the postwar period, mainly in staff and administrative roles but leading No 84 Squadron during the Malayan Emergency.
7.
George Unwin retired from the RAF in 1961 and settled in Dorset, where he died in 2006, aged 93.
8.
George Cecil Unwin was born in the town of Bolton upon Dearne, near Barnsley, Yorkshire, on 18 January 1913.
9.
George Unwin instead enlisted in the Royal Air Force in April 1929 as an apprentice clerk at the RAF's records facility at Ruislip.
10.
George Unwin then proceeded to No 11 Flying Training School at Wittering.
11.
George Unwin was heavily involved in the integration of the Spitfire into RAF service; he was one of five pilots that completed 500 hours of flying time between them during testing.
12.
On 9 March 1939 George Unwin was flying a Spitfire when its engine failed.
13.
George Unwin has displayed skill and courage of the highest order.
14.
George Unwin, who had been promoted to warrant officer, was duly awarded a Bar to his DFM.
15.
George Unwin is an outstanding fighter pilot and has destroyed a total of thirteen enemy aircraft and assisted in the destruction of others.
16.
George Unwin was rested at the end of the year and sent on an instructing course to No 2 Central Flying School at Cranwell.
17.
George Unwin then undertook a conversion course, training on De Havilland Mosquito fighter-bombers at Grantham with No 12 Advanced Flying Unit before commencing an assignment as an instructor at No 60 Operation Training Unit.
18.
George Unwin then served at the Central Gunnery School at Catfoss, remaining here for the rest of the war.
19.
George Unwin remained in the RAF after the war, with the substantive rank of flight lieutenant.
20.
George Unwin instructed at Leconfield until June 1946 at which time he was assigned to the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, serving with No 608 Squadron as an instructor.
21.
George Unwin was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his service in Singapore.
22.
On recovery from his injury in June 1952, George Unwin was posted to Kirkham where he was involved in administrative duties.
23.
George Unwin was promoted to wing commander at the start of 1954.
24.
George Unwin returned to Singapore in mid-1955, when he was assigned to Tengah.
25.
George Unwin's final posting in the RAF, back in the United Kingdom, commenced in May 1958; he was the service's Permanent President of Court Martial.
26.
George Unwin settled in Dorset and worked for the Spastic Society.
27.
George Unwin was an ardent golfer, playing several times a week well into his eighties.
28.
George Unwin died at Poole Hospital in Dorset on 28 June 2006 at the age of 93.
29.
George Unwin had no children and his wife Edna had predeceased him.
30.
George Unwin is credited with having shot down 15 German aircraft, two being shared with other pilots, in addition to two unconfirmed destroyed aircraft.
31.
George Unwin probably destroyed two aircraft and damaged a third.
32.
George Unwin was featured in an "exhibition about the men and women who lived, worked and fought for their country at RAF Duxford in Cambridgeshire from 1918 to 1961", which opened at Duxford on 28 March 2013.