Date of birth:

January 8th, 1905 (County Tyrone/Ulster, Great Britain)

Service number:

05149

Nationality:

British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Miles Delap was the pilot of the first aircraft to sink a u-boat in WWII. Whilst serving with 82 Squadron Blenheims of RAF 2 Group Bomber Command U31 was spotted and attacked with 4 bombs and 2 hits were observed. The submarine disappeared and 58 crew died. U31 was raised and recommissioned only to be sunk again in November 1940 (the only ever U-boat to be sunk twice).

Promotions:
11 oktober 1927: Pilot Officer (probation) in the Special Reserve
10 september 1928: Pilot Officer
? Flying Officer
? Flight Lieutenant
1 augustus 1938: Squadron Leader
1 december 1940: Temporary Wing Commander
1 juli 1943: Temporary: Temporary Group Captain
7 december 1943: Wing Commander (war sub)/Temporary Group Captain
30 mei 1946: reverted to Wing Commander (war sub)
1 oktober 1947: retirement

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Squadron Leader

Awarded on:

April 2nd, 1940

Citation:
"During March, 1940, this officer was the pilot of an aircraft engaged in a reconnaissance flight over the Heligoland Bight. Whilst penetrating into a strongly defended area and descending through cloud to about 1,000 feet a submarine was sighted moving slowly on the surface. Squadron Leader Delap immediately attacked from about 500 feet allowing the submarine no time in which to submerge. He released a salvo of four bombs and two direct hits were observed. Squadron Leader Delap then continued the reconnaissance which produced valuable results."

• - The London Gazette Issue 33319 published on the 11 October 1927
  - The London Gazette Issue 33422 published on the 18 September 1928
  - The London Gazette Issue 34537 published on the 2 August 1938
  - The London Gazette Issue 34822 published on the 2 April 1940
  - The London Gazette Issue 35010 published on the 10 December 1940
  - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36092 published on the 13 July 1943
  - Third Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36299 published on the 21 December 1943
  - Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 37619 published on the 18 June 1946
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 38090 published on the 3 October 1947
  - National Archives
  -The Sunbury Centre