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m Changing short description from "British test pilot" to "British test pilot (1920–1996)"
 
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{{Short description|British test pilot (1920–1996)}}
{{for|the Australian footballer|Bill Bedford (footballer)}}
{{for|the Australian footballer|Bill Bedford (footballer)}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
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|laterwork=Chief [[Test pilot|Test Pilot]], [[Hawker Aircraft]]
|laterwork=Chief [[Test pilot|Test Pilot]], [[Hawker Aircraft]]
}}
}}
'''Alfred William "Bill" Bedford''' [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]] [[Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)|AFC]] [[FRAeS]] (18 November 1920 – 20 October 1996) was a British [[test pilot]] and pioneered the development of [[V/STOL]] aircraft.
'''Alfred William Bedford''' [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]] [[Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)|AFC]] [[FRAeS]] (18 November 1920 – 20 October 1996) was a British [[test pilot]] and pioneered the development of [[V/STOL]] aircraft.


Bedford was born on 18 November 1920 at [[Loughborough]] and was educated at [[Loughborough College]]. He was serving an electrical a mechanical apprenticeship and training to be a steeplejack when the [[Second World War|war]] started.
Bedford was born on 18 November 1920 at [[Loughborough]] and was educated at [[Loughborough College]]. He was serving an electrical and mechanical apprenticeship and training to be a steeplejack when the [[Second World War|war]] started.


Bedford joined the [[Royal Air Force]] as a [[fighter pilot]] in 1940. He flew the [[Hawker Hurricane]] and the [[P-47 Thunderbolt|Republic Thunderbolt]] with [[No. 605 Squadron RAF]] and [[No. 135 Squadron RAF]], and the [[P-51 Mustang|North American Mustang]] with [[No. 65 Squadron RAF]]. Bedford was awarded the [[Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)|Air Force Cross]] in 1945. After the war, he took a permanent commission with the [[Royal Air Force|RAF]] and became an all-weather flying instructor and tutor at the [[Empire Test Pilots' School]].
Bedford joined the [[Royal Air Force]] as a [[fighter pilot]] in 1940. He flew the [[Hawker Hurricane]] and the [[P-47 Thunderbolt|Republic Thunderbolt]] with [[No. 605 Squadron RAF]] and [[No. 135 Squadron RAF]], and the [[P-51 Mustang|North American Mustang]] with [[No. 65 Squadron RAF]]. Bedford was awarded the [[Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)|Air Force Cross]] in 1945. After the war, he took a permanent commission with the [[Royal Air Force|RAF]] and became an all-weather flying instructor and tutor at the [[Empire Test Pilots' School]].


On 24 August 1950 an [[Eon Olympia]] [[Glider (sailplane)|glider]] flown by '''Bill Bedford''' broke the British distance record by flying 310 km in 3:50 hr. On 2 May 1951 Bedford broke this record with a flight of 413 km from Farnborough to Newcastle.
On 24 August 1950, an [[Eon Olympia]] [[Glider (sailplane)|glider]] flown by Bill Bedford broke the British distance record by flying 310 km in 3:50 hr. On 2 May 1951 Bedford broke this record with a flight of 413 km from Farnborough to Newcastle.


On his retirement in 1951 he joined [[Hawker Siddeley]] and was chief [[test pilot]] from 1956 till 1967. Together with his colleague [[Hugh Merewether]] he pioneered Hawker's development of [[V/STOL]] aircraft. Bedford was the first pilot to fly the [[Hawker Siddeley Harrier#P.1127|Hawker P.1127]], [[Hawker Siddeley Harrier#Kestrel|Kestrel]], and [[Hawker Siddeley Harrier#Harrier GR.1|Harrier]]. In addition to his land-based [[test pilot]] duties, he also pioneered the operation of [[V/STOL]] aircraft from a ship - the P.1127 on [[HMS Ark Royal (R09)|HMS ''Ark Royal'']] in 1963.
On his retirement in 1951, he joined [[Hawker Siddeley]] and was chief [[test pilot]] from 1956 till 1967. Together with his colleague [[Hugh Merewether]] he pioneered Hawker's development of [[V/STOL]] aircraft. Bedford was the first pilot to fly the [[Hawker Siddeley Harrier#P.1127|Hawker P.1127]], [[Hawker Siddeley Harrier#Kestrel|Kestrel]], and [[Hawker Siddeley Harrier#Harrier GR.1|Harrier]]. In addition to his land-based [[test pilot]] duties, he also pioneered the operation of [[V/STOL]] aircraft from a ship - the P.1127 on [[HMS Ark Royal (R09)|HMS ''Ark Royal'']] in 1963.


From 1968 he became the Sales Manager for [[Hawker Siddeley]] Aviation and later marketing manager when it became [[British Aerospace]]. Bedford retired in 1986 and died on 20 October 1996 in [[Surrey]].
From 1968, he became the Sales Manager for [[Hawker Siddeley]] Aviation and later marketing manager when it became [[British Aerospace]]. Bedford retired in 1986 and died on 20 October 1996 in [[West End, Esher|West End Esher]], [[Surrey]].


⚫
Bedford's awards include the [[Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct|King's Commendation]], the [[Order of the British Empire]], and the [[Air Force Cross (UK)|Air Force Cross]]. In addition, he was awarded the [[Britannia Trophy|Britannia]], [[Segrave Trophy|Segrave]] and de Havilland trophies.<ref name=GOE>[https://goefoundation.org/eagles/bedford-a-w/ Gathering of Eagles 1995 Biography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140615000229/http://www.goefoundation.org/index.php/eagles/biographies/b/bedford-a.-w.-bill/ |date=15 June 2014 }} retrieved 8 June 2014.</ref> In 1994, he was awarded the Sir [[Peter Masefield]] Gold Medal.<ref name=BAAC>{{cite web|url=http://www.baac.org.uk/Profile_old.html |title=Sir Peter Masefield Gold Medal recipients |accessdate=2008-06-15 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213133803/http://www.baac.org.uk/Profile_old.html |archivedate=2012-02-13 }} retrieved 8 June 2014.</ref>
In 1995, Bill Bedford was honored at the Air Command and Staff College's [[Gathering_of_Eagles_Program|Gathering of Eagles]] at Maxwell Air Base, Montgomery, Alabama, USA. This program encourages the study of airpower history by emphasizing the contributions of air and space pioneers.<ref>www.goefoundation.org</ref>

⚫
Bedford's awards include the [[Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct|King's Commendation]], the [[Order of the British Empire]], and the [[Air Force Cross (UK)|Air Force Cross]]. In addition, he was awarded the [[Britannia Trophy|Britannia]], [[Segrave Trophy|Segrave]] and [[de Havilland Trophy|de Havilland]] trophies.<ref name=GOE>[http://goefoundation.org/index.php/eagles/biographies/b/bedford-a.-w.-bill/ Gathering of Eagles 1995 Biography] retrieved 8 June 2014.</ref> In 1994, he was awarded the Sir [[Peter Masefield]] Gold Medal.<ref name=BAAC>{{cite web|url=http://www.baac.org.uk/Profile_old.html |title=Sir Peter Masefield Gold Medal recipients |accessdate=2008-06-15 |deadurl=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213133803/http://www.baac.org.uk/Profile_old.html |archivedate=2012-02-13 |df= }} retrieved 8 June 2014.</ref>


==Notes==
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist|30em}}


== References ==
== References ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930204849/http://www.historynet.com/magazines/aviation_history/3026696.html?page=1&c=y British Aerospace Harrier] - ''Aviation History magazine''
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930204849/http://www.historynet.com/magazines/aviation_history/3026696.html?page=1&c=y British Aerospace Harrier] - ''Aviation History magazine''
*[https://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/bill-bedford-obituary-5594904.html Obituary]
* [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19961023/ai_n14083891 Obituary]
* [http://thetartanterror.blogspot.com/2006/03/alfred-william-bill-bedford-obe-afc.html Test & Research Pilots] retrieved 14 June 2008.
*[http://thetartanterror.blogspot.com/2006/03/alfred-william-bill-bedford-obe-afc.html Test & Research Pilots] retrieved 14 June 2008.


{{DEFAULTSORT:Bedford, Bill}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bedford, Bill}}
[[Category:1920 births]]
[[Category:1920 births]]
[[Category:1996 deaths]]
[[Category:1996 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Loughborough]]
[[Category:British World War II pilots]]
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[[Category:English glider pilots]]
[[Category:English test pilots]]
[[Category:English test pilots]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force officers]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force officers]]
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[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Aeronautical Society]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Aeronautical Society]]
[[Category:British World War II pilots]]
[[Category:Britannia Trophy winners]]
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[[Category:Segrave Trophy recipients]]
[[Category:Alumni of Loughborough University]]
[[Category:Alumni of Loughborough University]]
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[[Category:Britannia Trophy winners]]
[[Category:Alumni of Loughborough College]]
[[Category:Alumni of Loughborough College]]
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[[Category:Segrave Trophy recipients]]
[[Category:Harrier Jump Jet]]
[[Category:Harrier Jump Jet]]
[[Category:People from Loughborough]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Leicestershire]]

Latest revision as of 18:50, 14 August 2024

For the Australian footballer, see Bill Bedford (footballer).

Alfred William Bedford
Bill Bedford
Gathering of Eagles 1995 Lithograph
Nickname(s)Bill
Born(1920-11-18)18 November 1920
Loughborough, England
Died20 October 1996(1996-10-20) (aged 75)
Surrey, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Air Force
Years of service1940 - 1951
UnitNo. 605 Squadron RAF
No. 135 Squadron RAF
No. 65 Squadron RAF
Empire Test Pilots' School
Battles/warsSecond World War
AwardsKing's Commendation
Order of the British Empire
Air Force Cross
Britannia Trophy
Segrave Trophy
de Havilland Trophy
Other workChief Test Pilot, Hawker Aircraft

Alfred William Bedford OBE AFC FRAeS (18 November 1920 – 20 October 1996) was a British test pilot and pioneered the development of V/STOL aircraft.

Bedford was born on 18 November 1920 at Loughborough and was educated at Loughborough College. He was serving an electrical and mechanical apprenticeship and training to be a steeplejack when the war started.

Bedford joined the Royal Air Force as a fighter pilot in 1940. He flew the Hawker Hurricane and the Republic Thunderbolt with No. 605 Squadron RAF and No. 135 Squadron RAF, and the North American Mustang with No. 65 Squadron RAF. Bedford was awarded the Air Force Cross in 1945. After the war, he took a permanent commission with the RAF and became an all-weather flying instructor and tutor at the Empire Test Pilots' School.

On 24 August 1950, an Eon Olympia glider flown by Bill Bedford broke the British distance record by flying 310 km in 3:50 hr. On 2 May 1951 Bedford broke this record with a flight of 413 km from Farnborough to Newcastle.

On his retirement in 1951, he joined Hawker Siddeley and was chief test pilot from 1956 till 1967. Together with his colleague Hugh Merewether he pioneered Hawker's development of V/STOL aircraft. Bedford was the first pilot to fly the Hawker P.1127, Kestrel, and Harrier. In addition to his land-based test pilot duties, he also pioneered the operation of V/STOL aircraft from a ship - the P.1127 on HMS Ark Royal in 1963.

From 1968, he became the Sales Manager for Hawker Siddeley Aviation and later marketing manager when it became British Aerospace. Bedford retired in 1986 and died on 20 October 1996 in West End Esher, Surrey.

Bedford's awards include the King's Commendation, the Order of the British Empire, and the Air Force Cross. In addition, he was awarded the Britannia, Segrave and de Havilland trophies.[1] In 1994, he was awarded the Sir Peter Masefield Gold Medal.[2]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Gathering of Eagles 1995 Biography Archived 15 June 2014 at the Wayback Machine retrieved 8 June 2014.
  2. ^ "Sir Peter Masefield Gold Medal recipients". Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) retrieved 8 June 2014.

References

[edit]
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