Wing Commander Adrian "Warby" Warburton (10 March 1918 in Middlesborough - approximately 12 April 1944 over Germany) was an RAF pilot during the Second World War. He became legendary in the RAF for his role in the defence of Malta. Wing Commander (rank) is a rank in the Royal Air Force, equivalent to a Lieutenant Colonel in most Armies, the Royal Marines and the United States Marine Corps. ... March 10 is the 69th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (70th in leap years). ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... Middlesbrough is a town in North-East England, with a resident population in 2001 of 134,855. ... April 12 is the 102nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (103rd in leap years). ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... It has been suggested that Pilot (spaceflight) be merged into this article or section. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ...

The son of a naval officer, Warburton was christened on board a submarine in Grand Harbour, Valetta, Malta. He attended St Edward's School in Oxford, where two other famous airmen, Guy Gibson and Douglas Bader, were also educated. St Johns Co-Cathedral Valletta, population 7048 (official estimate for 2000), is the capital of Malta. ... Photo from 617 Squadron The dambusters Photo submitted by Roger Shenton - (taken by John Kramer) Photo of the Dambusters Memorial at Woodhall Spa. ... Bader redirects here. ...

World War 2

Warburton was commissioned in the Royal Air Force in 1939. On completing flying training he was posted to 608 squadron, flying Blackburn Botha s on North sea patrols. Warburton's criticism of the obsolete Botha led to his CO having him transferred to Malta but as an Observer, not a pilot. He joined 431 Flight a RAF detachment flying reconnaissance sorties over the Mediterranean, in twin-engined Martin Maryland recon/light bombers. Within 4 days of arrival, he had his pilot status reinstated. The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ...

Fearless and unorthodox, "Warby" participated in an increasing number of daring sorties. On 30 October 1940, Warburton and his two crew shot down an Italian Z.506B seaplane. Three days later, they nearly fell victim to an attack by four Italian aircraft. Warburton was hit by a spent bullet which caused no serious injury but did render him unconscious. Sergeant Bastard took control and managed to keep the aircraft flying until Warburton had recovered sufficiently. Warburton was soon back in the air, and on 10 November, 431 Flight spotted a major concentration of Italian battleships and cruisers in Taranto, Admiral Cunningham then deciding on an audacious night attack by Fleet Air Arm Swordfish. Warburton flew a reconnaissance mission on 11 November prior to the attack. Circling the harbour several times, Warburton flew so low his observer read off the names of the battleships as they flew past. Guided by this intelligence, the Fleet Air Arm launched its devastating attack that night. Sortie is a term for deployment of one military aircraft or a ship for the purposes of a specific mission, whether alone, or with other aircraft or vessels. ... Bronze bust of Lord Cunningham, looking at Nelsons column and Whitehall Andrew Browne Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope (7 January 1883 - 12 June 1963), familiarly known as ABC, was the most famous British admiral of World War II, winning distinction in Mediterranean battles in 1940 and 1941, then...

In April 1941, he crash-landed in Malta after being mistakenly shot up by an RAF Hurricane. Warburton was rested later that year but returned to operational flying in 1942, with further missions over Italy and North Africa.

With 431 Flight now expanded into No. 69 Squadron, Warburton steadily developed a reputation within the RAF as their leading recce pilot, locating numerous enemy convoys supplying the Axis forces in North Africa providing vital information to the Allied anti-shipping forces stationed in the Mediterranean charged with cutting Rommel's supplies. His RAF superiors therefore turned a blind eye to many of "Warby"s eccentricities.

Although the Maryland's guns were for defence, he and his crew were frequently involved in air combats, claiming five air victories and three enemy aircraft destroyed on the ground or afloat on the water. He crashed twice, but each time walked away.

In December 1941 Warburton was on detachment in Egypt, where he managed to 'acquire' a Bristol Beaufighter. Stripping the aircraft of all guns and armour he equipped it with cameras and took the airplane back to Malta. He flew the plane for about a year until it was destroyed in a raid. A Hercules-powered Bristol Beaufighter Mk. ...

Given command of 683 squadron in 1943 and flying the Spitfire PR IV, Warburton was shot down over Bone in Tunisia, being imprisioned by the French on suspicion of being a spy. The local french Admiral had him flown to Gibraltar where "Warby" 'borrowed' a Spitfire and returned to Malta, shooting down a Ju-88 en route. Grays illustration of a human femur, a typically recognized bone. ...

He was then involved in the vital pre-invasion reconnaissance of the landing beaches in Sicily in 1943. He co-ordinated the photographic work with the local American forces, who were amazed at the much-decorated officer attired in dirty grey flannels, an oil-stained tunic and topped by a mop of long unkept blond hair.

By the beginning of 1944 he had been promoted to the rank of Wing Commander and his gallantry had been recognised by the award of the Distinguished Service Order and Bar, the Distinguished Flying Cross and two Bars and an American Distinguished Flying Cross. Wing Commander (rank) is a rank in the Royal Air Force, equivalent to a Lieutenant Colonel in most Armies, the Royal Marines and the United States Marine Corps. ... Source: Veterans Affairs Canada The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and other formerly Commonwealth countries, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat. ... UK DFC medal The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdoms Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations... The Distinguished Flying Cross. ...

In october 1943, Warburton was given command of a new PR Wing of four squadrons. However, following a car accident in late 1943, Warburton was hospitalised for several weeks and subsequently returned to the UK.

On 1st April 1944 he was posted as the RAF Liaison Officer to the 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, US 8th Army Air Force, then based at RAF Mount Farm in Oxfordshire.

Warburton was the pilot of one of two Lockheed F-5B photographic reconnaissance aircraft (a version of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter) that took off together from Mount Farm on the morning of 12th April 1944 to photograph targets in Germany. The aircraft flew together to a point approximately 100 miles north of Munich, where they separated to carry out their respective tasks; it was planned that they would meet and fly on to a USAAF airfield in Sardinia. Wg Cdr Warburton failed to arrive at the rendezvous point and was not seen again. P-38 may also refer to the P-38, an army-issue can opener, or to the Walther P38 handgun The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was one of the most important American fighters of the Second World War. ... Munich (German: München, (pronounced listen) is the capital of the German Federal State of Bavaria (German: Freistaat Bayern). ...

Years of speculation about his fate came to an end recently when Warburton’s remains were found in the cockpit, buried about two metres deep in a field near the Bavarian village of Egling an der Paar, 34 miles west of Munich.

Parts of the wreck can be seen in the Malta Aviation Museum.

A memorial was held on 14th May 2003 in the Pfarrkirche St Agidius, Gmund followed by burial at the Durnbach Commonwealth War Cemetery. The ceremony was attended by his widow, Eileen (known as Betty) and Jack Vowles, a former colleague who served with "Warby" in Malta in the early 1940s.

http://www.raf.mod.uk/ptc/warburton.html