| John Cunningham (royal Air Force) |
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Group Captain John "Cat's Eyes" Cunningham CBE , DSO and two Bars, DFC and Bar, (27 July 1917 - 21 July 2002 ), was an Officer in the Royal Air Force during World War II . Flying first Blenheims and then the powerful Bristol Beaufighter with No.604 Squadron, by the end of the Blitz in May 1941 he had become the most famous Night Fighter pilot, successfully claiming 14 night raiders using AI (Airborne Interception - the aircraft version of what became later know as Radar .) His nickname of '' Cat's Eyes '' came from British Propaganda explanations in order to cover up the use of AI. It was claimed a special group of British pilots ate Carrot s for many years to develop superior night vision. Cunningham himself, a self-effacing and modest individual, detested this nickname. Later serving as CO with 85 squadron in 1943-44 flying Mosquitoes, Cunningham survived the war as a Group Captain with 20 claims, later becoming a test pilot, making the maiden flight of the De Havilland Comet jet airliner. The autobiography of his most frequent AI operator C.F. (Jimmy) Rawnsley, ''Night Fighter'' (co-authored by Robert Wright, published by Ballantine Books in 1957), includes vivid descriptions of several of Cunningham's battles and incidental biographical information about him. |
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