Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry 48
A fine ‘1939’ Test Pilot’s A.F.C. and posthumous Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air group of three awarded to Group Captain J. F. X. ‘Sam’ McKenna, Royal Air Force, who was recognised as a one of the pre-eminent test pilots in the world prior to and during the Second World War. Awarded the A.F.C. for his work in flying the K5054 Spitfire prototype, McKenna went on to serve as the Chief Test Pilot for the British Air Commission in Washington, and as the second Commandant of the Empire Test Pilots’ School at Boscombe Down, 1944-45. He was killed whilst testing a Mustang, when a gun panel flew off during a high speed dive and the aircraft went straight into the ground, 19 January 1945
Air Force Cross,
G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1939’, in Royal Mint case of issue; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, M.I.D. Oak Leaf, with named condolence slip, good very fine (3)
£1,200-£1,600
A.F.C. London Gazette 2 January 1939, the recommendation states:
‘This officer has proved exceptionally valuable as a Test Pilot, by his enthusiastic skill and brilliant technical knowledge, showing outstanding aptitude in spinning trials on all new types of fighter aircraft, including all spinning tests on Spitfire and Hurricane types in their performance stages.’
Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air London Gazette 14 June 1945, the recommendation states:
‘This officer was the commandant of the Empire Test Pilot’s School and during the ten months he held that post he proved of inestimable value in imparting his great knowledge to others. His ready acceptance of the risks attendant on experimental flying and his attention to all details no matter how trivial all helped to make him an exceptional officer. He had been engaged on performance testing, for many many years and was recognised as an authority whose opinion was accepted by all both in this country and in the United States.’
John Francis Xavier ‘Sam’ McKenna was born in Putney, London, in December 1906. He was educated at Berkhampstead School, and studied Engineering at the City and Guilds. McKenna was commissioned Pilot Officer on probation in the Royal Air Force in July 1926. He advanced to Flying Officer in March 1929, and to Flight Lieutenant in April 1933. An accomplished pilot, McKenna took part in the King’s Cup race in 1930 and 1931 and served as a pilot in the Aerodynamic Test Flight of the Royal Aircraft Establishment, 1932-34.
McKenna served in Aden, 1934-36, before advancing to Squadron Leader in October 1937. He joined the Aircraft and Armament Experimental Establishment at Martlesham Heath in 1937, and took over the test flying for the K5054 Spitfire prototype:
‘On 22 March 1937, with Flight Lieutenant J. F. McKenna at the controls, K5054 was making a flight to test the effectiveness of modified aileron controls when the oil pressure dropped sharply and the engine began to run rough. McKenna switched everything off and made a belly landing on a heath beside the Woodbridge Bawdsey road. The aircraft sustained only minor damage, and was soon flying again.’
McKenna soon became Chief Test Pilot, and during this period he assumed a pre-eminent position in flight and the testing of new types of civil and service aircraft. McKenna did much of the official flight testing of the prototype Spitfire and was the first pilot forced to make a landing on a modern high speed aircraft with the undercarriage retracted - a forerunner of the ‘belly’ landing now used on modern aircraft in case of emergency. He advanced to Temporary Wing Commander June 1940, and was posted to the Flight Test Branch of the British Air Commission in Washington in May 1941. McKenna was appointed Chief of the branch, and tested many American prototype aircraft. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society in 1944, and in March of that year was appointed as the second Commandant of the Empire Test Pilots’ School at Boscombe Down:
‘So, by the confidence gained from the first course, the Training Flight became the Empire Test Pilots’ School and a modest expansion took place to cater for an enlarged second course. In any case, changes had to be made for Sammy Wroath had been posted to America to join the British Joint Services Mission there. The post of Commandant was upgraded to a Group Captain post and was filled on his return from the USA by Group Captain J. F. X. McKenna, A.F.C., who had been test flying since before World War 2 started. It was said of him by ‘Sandy’ Powell: ‘He was quite a wonderful person. I think technically he knew more about it than practically any test pilot in the world. He was a brilliant pilot and quite the most charming person you could wish to meet.’
To assist him came Wing Commander H. P. ‘Sandy’ Powell, A.F.C., who was commanding ‘C; Flight of the A&AEE, to act as Assistant Commandant. The course was to be expanded to about thirty students and the fleet to a similar number of aircraft. The title ‘Empire’ opened the School up to other Allied nations and when No. 2 Course arrived there were eight nationalities other than British represented.’ (The History of the Empire Test Pilots’ School, by J. Rawlings and H. Sedgwick refers)
McKenna was killed, 19 January 1945, ‘testing a Mustang when a gun panel flew off during a high speed dive and the aircraft went straight into the ground.’ The aircraft suffered major structural failure, also losing a wing as it crashed on the perimeter of Old Sarum airfield. McKenna ‘although he had only served for part of the course, such was his test flying skill and his towering personality that he impressed his mark indelibly on the School in the time he was its Commandant. His memory is perpetuated by the McKenna Trophy which is awarded annually to the most outstanding student on the course.’ (Ibid)
Group Captain McKenna is buried in the Durrington Cemetery, Wiltshire. Sold with a photographic image of recipient, and copied research.
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