Hugh Riddle
Encyclopedia
Squadron Leader
Hugh Joseph "Huseph" Riddle RAF (1912–2009) was a World War II Royal Air Force
fighter pilot during the Battle of Britain
.
on 24 May 1912 and was educated at Harrow School
.
, part of the Auxiliary Air Force in early 1938 and was called to full-time service in October 1939.
Riddle flew with 601 Sqn throughout the Battle of Britain
, along with his younger brother "Jack"
.The squadron returned to Tangmere on 2 September and then moved to Exeter in 10 Group on 7 September 1940.
F/O Jack Riddle scored one kill before and one kill after joining No 601 Squadron during the Battle of Britain, while Hugh Riddle scored a single kill on 11 July 1940 flying with No 601 Squadron.
Both Hugh and Jack Riddle were promoted to Squadron Leader on the same date: 1 December 1941.
, first Managing Director of Rolls-Royce Ltd and first Secretary of the RAC
. Riddle and Tinker had three children, all born after the war, Hugh ("Ras"), Victoria ("Wicky") and Arabel. When Riddle retired in 1974, the couple moved to France. Tinker died suddenly in 1994.
and exhibited at the Society's Summer Exhibitions and at some Royal Academy exhibitions. Riddle painted the Queen in 1965 for the RAF Regiment
. In 1977 he was commissioned by the Royal Household
to paint Prince Edward
as a Silver Wedding present for the Queen and Prince Philip
.
Huseph Riddle passed away on 16 April 2009, aged 97 in Pierrevert
, France
.
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
Hugh Joseph "Huseph" Riddle RAF (1912–2009) was a World War II Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
fighter pilot during the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
.
Early life
Hugh Joseph Riddle, known as "Huseph", was born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on 24 May 1912 and was educated at Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
.
Air Force Career
Riddle joined No. 601 Squadron RAFNo. 601 Squadron RAF
No. 601 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, based in London. The squadron battle honours most notably include the Battle of Britain and the first Americans to fly in World War II were members of this squadron.-History:...
, part of the Auxiliary Air Force in early 1938 and was called to full-time service in October 1939.
Riddle flew with 601 Sqn throughout the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
, along with his younger brother "Jack"
Christopher Riddle
Squadron Leader Christopher John Henry "Jack" Riddle RAF was a World War II Royal Air Force fighter pilot during the Battle of Britain.- Early life :...
.The squadron returned to Tangmere on 2 September and then moved to Exeter in 10 Group on 7 September 1940.
F/O Jack Riddle scored one kill before and one kill after joining No 601 Squadron during the Battle of Britain, while Hugh Riddle scored a single kill on 11 July 1940 flying with No 601 Squadron.
Both Hugh and Jack Riddle were promoted to Squadron Leader on the same date: 1 December 1941.
Family
In 1937 Riddle married Joan, known as "Tinker". Tinker was the daughter of Claude JohnsonRolls-Royce Limited
Rolls-Royce Limited was a renowned British car and, from 1914 on, aero-engine manufacturing company founded by Charles Stewart Rolls and Henry Royce on 15 March 1906 as the result of a partnership formed in 1904....
, first Managing Director of Rolls-Royce Ltd and first Secretary of the RAC
Royal Automobile Club
The Royal Automobile Club is a private club and is not to be confused with RAC plc, a motorists' organisation, which it formerly owned.It has two club houses, one in London at 89-91 Pall Mall, and the other in the countryside at Woodcote Park, Surrey, next to the City of London Freemen's School...
. Riddle and Tinker had three children, all born after the war, Hugh ("Ras"), Victoria ("Wicky") and Arabel. When Riddle retired in 1974, the couple moved to France. Tinker died suddenly in 1994.
Later life
After the war, Riddle returned to portrait painting. He became a member of the Royal Society of Portrait PaintersRoyal Society of Portrait Painters
The Royal Society of Portrait Painters is a British association of portrait painters which holds an annual exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London...
and exhibited at the Society's Summer Exhibitions and at some Royal Academy exhibitions. Riddle painted the Queen in 1965 for the RAF Regiment
RAF Regiment
The Royal Air Force Regiment is a specialist airfield defence corps founded by Royal Warrant in 1942. After a 32 week trainee gunner course, its members are trained and equipped to prevent a successful enemy attack in the first instance; minimise the damage caused by a successful attack; and...
. In 1977 he was commissioned by the Royal Household
Royal Household
A Royal Household in ancient and medieval monarchies formed the basis for the general government of the country as well as providing for the needs of the sovereign and his relations....
to paint Prince Edward
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex KG GCVO is the third son and fourth child of Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh...
as a Silver Wedding present for the Queen and Prince Philip
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is the husband of Elizabeth II. He is the United Kingdom's longest-serving consort and the oldest serving spouse of a reigning British monarch....
.
Huseph Riddle passed away on 16 April 2009, aged 97 in Pierrevert
Pierrevert
Pierrevert is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France.-Population:-See also:* Luberon*Communes of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department*Coteaux de Pierrevert AOC-References:*...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.