The Association has learned of the death of S/Lt Edward Brian Day RN in November 2014. He is survived by his widow, Joyce.
Robert Reed remembers;
Brian & I reported for National Service at RNAS Lee-on-Solent in April 1953. 3 weeks as Naval Airman 2nd Class, embarked on HMS Indefatigable as Upper Yardman (Air) for 3 months & passed out as Temporary Acting Midshipman (Air) RNVR. Brian then signed on for another 2 yrs & was off to the US as Midshipman RN for his pilot training.
From his funeral, the section of my speech below tells the story of his time in the US & briefly up to him leaving the RN & joining BOAC:
Brian in USA and RN
On leaving HMS Indefatigable Brian flew off to Pensacola, Florida in a Lockheed Constellation – his first flight ever.
In the US Navy basic training was on the Harvard, an aircraft that we in the UK considered an advanced trainer. Brian did his first ever dual control flight as a pilot on the Harvard, went solo, on to formation flying and then instrument flying – all under the hood for there were no real clouds in Florida and after 200hrs it was down to the Gulf of Mexico for deck landings on the USS Monterey.
Brian’s course then took him up to Texas to convert to the more powerful Trojan and then on to the iconic WW2 Naval Fighter, the ultimate naval propeller aircraft – the Hellcat – there were no 2-seater Hellcats so it was, “Off you go and try to get it down in one piece!” – Obviously Brian complied.
Next came Jet conversion on the 2-seater version of the Shooting Star- the aircraft featured in the classic Korean war film ‘The Bridges at Toko Ri’. Then on to the Panther – again as with the Hellcat, no trainer version – and finally after 350 hrs flying training Brian was awarded his US Navy Golden Wings and Royal Navy Wings.
Back in the UK with the RN Brian went on to Vampires and then Sea Hawks, embarking on the Aircraft Carriers HMS Ark Royal and then the Albion which of course took 800 Squadron and Brian into battle at Suez.
In 4 years Brian had gone from schoolboy in Manchester to Naval Airman 2nd class, to Upper Yardman (Air) to Midshipman RNVR and on to the US Navy , back to the UK and to Sub Lieutenant Royal Navy. In that time Brian flew 7 different war planes, served on 5 Naval Air Stations and on 4 Aircraft carriers – truly an amazing 4 years!
But then Brian Day was an amazing man.