Date of birth:

April 20th, 1921

Date of death:

November 2001

Service number:

748626/82178

Nationality:

British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Ernest Derek Glaser, born 20th April 1921, was accepted for flight training in April 1939, following in his fathers footsteps, who had been a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps during the first world war. During the Battle of Britain, active in No. 65 Squadron, he was mistakenly shot down by a Royal Navy destroyer over the English Channel near Plymouth. Later he was posted to Australia. After two years he returned home, was granted a permanent commission and posted to Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire.

In 1949 he was selected to qualify as a test pilot until 1953, when he joined Vickers Armstrong at Hurn, Bournemouth. Becoming chief production test pilot, Glaser was involved with the Varsity. But his chief contribution was his exhaustive production testing of the Valiant, the first of the RAF's four-jet bombers, which preceded the Vulcan and Victor in Britain's V-bomber nuclear force. Glaser was also involved with the BAC 1-11s, one of Britain's best selling airliners.
Glaser retired in 1983 and worked as an aviation consultant, while deriving much pleasure from sailing.
Ernest Glaser died aged 80 in November 2001.

Career:
July 13th, 1940: No. 65 Squadron, Hornchurch;
1941: Instructor, No. 53 Operational Training Unit;
augustus 1941: Flight Leader, No. 243 Squadron;
1943: Flight Leader B Flight, No. 549 Squadron, Australië;
1945: Commanding Officer No. 548 Squadron, Darwin, Australië;
?: Flight Commander, No. 64 Squadron;
1949: RAF experimental test pilot, Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough;
1953 - 1983: Chief production test pilot, Vickers Armstrong, Hurn, Bournemouth.

Promotions:
July 13th, 1940: Pilot Officer on probation (seniority July 11th, 1940);
July 13th, 1941: Pilot Officer (seniority July 11th, 1941);
July 13th, 1941: Flying Officer (war subs.);
?: Acting Flight Lieutenant;
?: Flying Officer;
July 13th, 1942: Flight Lieutenant (war subs. seniority July 11th, 1942);
June 4th, 1947: Flight lieutenant (seniority September 1st, 1945).

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Flight Lieutenant

Unit:

No. 234 (Madras Presidency) Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

August 25th, 1942

Citation:
"This officer has participated in 51 sorties. His excellent leadership, keenness and determination have set a worthy example."

LG 35678/3709.

Awarded on:

June 1st, 1953

• Photo 1: Wilco Vermeer collection
• - The London Gazette of 13th August 1940, Issue 34920
  - The London Gazette of 25th July 1941, Issue 35228
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 21st August 1942, Issue 35678 Dated 25th August 1942
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 15th September 1942, Issue 35709, dated 18th September 1942
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 4th July 1947, Issue 38009, dated 8th July 1947
  - Supplement to The London Gazette of 26th May 1953, Issue 39863, dated 1st June 1953
  - Spitfirespares.com
  - The Telegraph - Obituaries
  - The South East Echo
  - The Battle of Britain
  - Spitfire pilots and aircraft database - Squadron Leader Ernest D Glaser RAF