Thomas Kerr (engineer)
{{Short description|British aerospace engineer}}
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{{Use British English|date=September 2017}}
Thomas Henry Kerr {{post-nominals|CB}} (18 June 1924 – 9 September 2004) was a British aerospace engineer. He served as a Royal Air Force pilot during World War II. He later served as the director of the Royal Aircraft Establishment and director of research and development at Royal Ordnance. He was president of the Royal Aeronautical Society from 1985 to 1986.{{cn|date=December 2024}}
Early life
Kerr was born on 18 June 1924 in Nottingham, England,{{cite news|title=Thomas Kerr|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/obituaries/article2081476.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150603115228/http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/obituaries/article2081476.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 June 2015|access-date=12 August 2013|newspaper=The Times|date=18 November 2004}} to Albert Edward Kerr and his wife Francis Jane Kerr (née Simpson).{{cite web|title=KERR, Thomas Henry|url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whowaswho/U22962|work=Who Was Who|publisher=A & C Black|accessdate=12 August 2013|date=November 2012}} His father had served in World War I as an air observer. He was educated at Magnus Grammar School, Newark-on-Trent. In 1941, the school formed an Air Training Corps squadron which he immediately joined.
Having served as a pilot during World War II, he was demobilised in 1946. He then joined Durham University, where he studied physics. He graduated in 1949 with a first class Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree.
=Military service=
Having attended the Durham University short course, Kerr joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1942. He trained as a pilot and later served as a flying instructor. Having held the rank of aircraftman 2nd class, he was commissioned as a pilot officer on probation on 27 May 1944.{{London Gazette |issue=36844 |date=15 December 1944 |pages=5796–5799 |supp=y }} On 27 November 1944, his commission was confirmed and he was promoted to war substantive flying officer.{{London Gazette |issue=37007 |date=27 March 1945 |page=1724 |supp=y }} He was promoted to war substantive flight lieutenant on 27 May 1946.{{London Gazette |issue=37619 |date=18 June 1946 |page=3158 |supp=y }} With the end of World War II, the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve was reconstituted and he retained his commission with the rank of flight lieutenant dated to 1 January 1948.{{London Gazette |issue=38218 |date=20 February 1948 |page=1430 |supp=y }} He relinquished his commission on 1 January 1953.{{London Gazette |issue=39745 |date=2 January 1953 |page=165 |supp=y }}
Career
In September 1949, Kerr joined the Royal Aircraft Establishment. As part of its Aero Flight, he researched into factors affecting the spinning of aircraft.
References
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External links
- [https://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/thomas-kerr-s3tdtd5dwlv Obituary - The Times]
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{{s-ttl|title=President of the Royal Aeronautical Society|years=1985–1986}}
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Category:Companions of the Order of the Bath
Category:British aerospace engineers
Category:Royal Air Force pilots of World War II
Category:Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve personnel of World War II
Category:Alumni of University College, Durham