Hello Members.
I am looking for some information relating to the family of the late Ulsterman, Eric (Ric) Esler RAF DFC, Deputy Chief Test Pilot Avro who was killed in 1947 testing the Avro 707 delta wing.
My father worked at RAF Aldergrove for some years before retiring in 2018. Whilst there, he saved some documents earmarked for destruction which he recently showed to me. Included were some original documents relating to Ulsterman, Samuel Eric (Ric) Esler DFC, who served in the RAF during WW2 and was later, in 1949, killed in a plane crash (Avro 707 delta wing) whilst Deputy Chief Test Pilot for Avro.
One of the documents is Ric's original call-up "Notice of Calling Out" Form 1445D dated 23rd August 1939, as he was at that time LAC in the RAF Reserve. Another is a small book entitled "Federation aeronautique Internationale, British Empire, Aviator's Certificate" which includes his photograph and wet signature (see attached photos).
My Dad would love to get these documents to Ric's family or to a museum, as Ric was an "Aviation Hero" as featured in "Ireland's Aviator Heroes of World War II" book by John C. Hewitt.
If anyone could point me in the right direction it would be very much appreciated.
Thank you, Phillip.
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