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NORTH
1. Name
2. Date Commissioned
3. Date Retired
4. Rank
5. Awarded Wings
6. Flying Schools
7. Aircraft Types Flown
8. Squadrons
9. Aircraft Carriers
10. Senior Appointments
11. Decorations
Walter Sowden NORTH
1 September 1921
2 December 1954
Colonel
July 1930
R.A.F Leuchars 12 January 1930
R.A.F Calshot
F.S.R. Avro 504N, Fairey IIIF, Fairey IIID (Floatplane)
441 FSR Flight. 7 February 1931 to 2 June 1932
449 FSR Flight. 18 July 1932 to 24 October 1933
Courageous 1931 for Deck Landing Training
Glorious 7 February 1931
Furious 18 July 1932
None in F.A.A
All for R.M. Service:
C.B.E.
1939/45 War medals
Atlantic Star and clasp
Defence
E.R II Coronation
12. General
13. RAF Rank
Lieutenant North already had over eight years service and two ships behind him before he took up aviation. He served in two first line Flights in Glorious and Furious. He was in Glorious when, on 1st April 1931 she rammed S.S. Florida at fairly high speed when trying to steam out of a fog bank to land on her aircraft which either landed at Malaga or came down in the sea. A photograph of the damage is in the Archives. There is also a photograph of an "RM. Formation" over Malta - a IIIF flown by North and two Ripons flown by J.L. Moulton and N.R.M. Skene.
Colonel North subsequently held several senior appointments and was DOPAR and also ADC to H.M. The Queen when he retired on 2 December 1954.
Flying Officer 12 January 1930
Flying Marines
A History of Royal Marines Aviation
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