Tony Iveson
Encyclopedia
Thomas Clifford "Tony" Iveson DFC
AE
is a Royal Air Force
pilot and veteran of World War II
, and one of The Few
.
Iveson was born and raised in Yorkshire
.
in September 1938 as an Airman u/t pilotand learned to fly prior to the outbreak of war. Iveson was trained at No. 5 Flying Training School, Sealand and then converted to Spitfires at No. 7 Operational Training Unit, Hawarden before serving as a Sergeant Pilot on Spitfire
fighters with No. 616 Squadron RAF
during the Battle of Britain
joining the Squadron at Kenley on 2 September 1940. He survived ditching his Spitfire I (L1036) into the sea on 16 September 1940 after he ran out of fuel chasing a Junkers Ju 88
off Cromer
. He was picked up by an Motor Boat and landed at Great Yarmouth
. He was posted to No. 92 Squadron RAF
on 11 October 1940.
After a spell on training duties in Rhodesia
he was commissioned in May 1942.
After a course at No. 5 Lancaster Finishing School, Syerston
he went to join No. 617 Squadron RAF
the Dam Busters in July 1944 as a Flight Lieutenant
. Promoted to Squadron Leader in October 1944, he took part in some 27 operations, including the sinking of the German battleship Tirpitz
and was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross
in March 1945 for keeping his bomber airborne in January 1945 and landing it in Shetland after half the crew had bailed out over Bergen.
Iveson was posted 'tour-expired' from 617 Squadron on 16 February 1945.
, and worked in corporate and public relations. He was involved in a number of privatizations and the launch of EuroDisney.
Iveston is co-author of a book about the Lancaster
bomber. At the age of 89, he became the oldest man to fly one of the historic planes.
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's 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 against...
AE
Air Efficiency Award
The Air Efficiency award, abbreviated to AE when placed after a holder's name, was a United Kingdom honour given for ten years' efficient service in the Reserve Air Forces of the United Kingdom, Commonwealth and Empire. Unlike other long service and meritorious conduct awards, both officers and...
is a 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...
pilot and veteran of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and one of The Few
The Few
The Few is a term used to describe the Allied airmen of the Royal Air Force who fought the Battle of Britain in the Second World War. It comes from Winston Churchill's phrase "Never, in the field of human conflict, was so much owed by so many to so few"....
.
Iveson was born and raised in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
.
RAF Career
Iveson joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer ReserveRoyal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
The Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve consists of a number of groupings of individual military reservists for the management and operation of the Royal Air Force's Air Training Corps and CCF Air Cadet formations, Volunteer Gliding Squadrons , Air Experience Flights, and also to form the...
in September 1938 as an Airman u/t pilotand learned to fly prior to the outbreak of war. Iveson was trained at No. 5 Flying Training School, Sealand and then converted to Spitfires at No. 7 Operational Training Unit, Hawarden before serving as a Sergeant Pilot on Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
fighters with No. 616 Squadron RAF
No. 616 Squadron RAF
No. 616 Squadron was a unit of the British Auxiliary Air Force and later the Royal Auxiliary Air Force between 1938 and 1957.-Formation:...
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...
joining the Squadron at Kenley on 2 September 1940. He survived ditching his Spitfire I (L1036) into the sea on 16 September 1940 after he ran out of fuel chasing a Junkers Ju 88
Junkers Ju 88
The Junkers Ju 88 was a World War II German Luftwaffe twin-engine, multi-role aircraft. Designed by Hugo Junkers' company through the services of two American aviation engineers in the mid-1930s, it suffered from a number of technical problems during the later stages of its development and early...
off Cromer
Cromer
Cromer is a coastal town and civil parish in north Norfolk, England. The local government authority is North Norfolk District Council, whose headquarters is in Holt Road in the town. The town is situated 23 miles north of the county town, Norwich, and is 4 miles east of Sheringham...
. He was picked up by an Motor Boat and landed at Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth, often known to locals as Yarmouth, is a coastal town in Norfolk, England. It is at the mouth of the River Yare, east of Norwich.It has been a seaside resort since 1760, and is the gateway from the Norfolk Broads to the sea...
. He was posted to No. 92 Squadron RAF
No. 92 Squadron RAF
No. 92 Squadron, also known as No 92 Squadron, of the Royal Air Force was formed as part of the Royal Flying Corps at London Colney as a fighter squadron on 1 September 1917. It deployed to France in July 1918 and saw action for just four months, until the end of the war. During the conflict it...
on 11 October 1940.
After a spell on training duties in Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
he was commissioned in May 1942.
After a course at No. 5 Lancaster Finishing School, Syerston
Syerston
Syerston is a small Nottinghamshire parish about six miles south-west of Newark-on-Trent, which is bisected by the A46 trunk road. It contains 181 inhabitants in seventy-five dwellings which are almost all in a settlement to the east of the road....
he went to join No. 617 Squadron RAF
No. 617 Squadron RAF
No. 617 Squadron is a Royal Air Force aircraft squadron based at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland. It currently operates the Tornado GR4 in the ground attack and reconnaissance role...
the Dam Busters in July 1944 as a Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
. Promoted to Squadron Leader in October 1944, he took part in some 27 operations, including the sinking of the German battleship Tirpitz
German battleship Tirpitz
Tirpitz was the second of two s built for the German Kriegsmarine during World War II. Named after Grand Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz, the architect of the Imperial Navy, the ship was laid down at the Kriegsmarinewerft in Wilhelmshaven in November 1936 and launched two and a half years later in April...
and was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's 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 against...
in March 1945 for keeping his bomber airborne in January 1945 and landing it in Shetland after half the crew had bailed out over Bergen.
Iveson was posted 'tour-expired' from 617 Squadron on 16 February 1945.
Post RAF Career
He retired from the RAF on 12 July 1949, and became the Chairman of the Bomber Command Association. He was employed with Granada TelevisionGranada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
, and worked in corporate and public relations. He was involved in a number of privatizations and the launch of EuroDisney.
Iveston is co-author of a book about the Lancaster
Avro Lancaster
The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force . It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other...
bomber. At the age of 89, he became the oldest man to fly one of the historic planes.
See also
- List of RAF aircrew in the Battle of Britain
- Photograph of Tony Iverson