Henry Neville Gynes Ramsbottom-isherwood
Group Captain · 
New Zealand
- Died
- 24 April 1950
- Fate
- Served and survived
- Born
- 13 July 1905
Biography
Group Captain Henry Neville Gynes Ramsbottom-Isherwood, DFC, AFC, Order of Lenin, was a New Zealand-born Royal Air Force officer and test pilot, born on 13 July 1905. In August 1941 he was chosen to command No. 151 Wing — the two-squadron Hurricane force (Nos. 81 and 134 Squadrons) despatched to northern Russia under Operation Benedict to defend the Murmansk region and to train Soviet pilots on the Hawker Hurricane. For commanding that expedition he became one of only four men ever awarded the Soviet Order of Lenin, together with the Distinguished Flying Cross. He came through the war but was killed on 24 April 1950 when the Gloster Meteor jet he was test-flying ran into a snowstorm and crashed near Tonbridge, Kent.
Awards
-
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Distinguished Flying Cross, for Operation Benedict.
-
Air Force Cross (AFC)
Air Force Cross.
-
Order of Lenin (Order of Lenin)
One of only four RAF airmen awarded the Soviet Order of Lenin, for No. 151 Wing's 1941 service in Russia (Operation Benedict).
Timeline
- 13 July 1905 Born
- 24 April 1950 Died