View source for A. E. Clouston

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox military person
|name= A.E. Clouston
|image= Clouston-2706x.jpg
|image_size= 
|alt= 
|caption= A.E. Clouston, September 1936
|nickname= 
|birth_date= {{birth date|1908|04|07|df=yes}}
|birth_place= [[Motueka]], New Zealand
|death_date= {{death date and age|1984|01|01|1908|04|07|df=yes}}
|death_place= [[St Merryn]], United Kingdom
|placeofburial= 
|allegiance= United Kingdom
|branch= [[Royal Air Force]]
|serviceyears= 1930–1935<br/>1939–1960
|rank= [[Air Commodore]]
|unit= 
|commands= [[Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment]] (1957–60)<br/>[[Empire Test Pilots' School]] (1950–54)<br/>[[RAF Leeming]] (1950)<br/>[[RNZAF Base Ohakea]] (1947–49)<br/>[[RAF Bückeburg]] (1945–47)<br/>[[RAF Langham]] (1944–45)<br/>[[No. 224 Squadron RAF|No. 224 Squadron]] (1943–44)
|battles= [[Second World War]]
|awards= [[Companion of the Order of the Bath]]<br/>[[Distinguished Service Order]] & [[Medal bar|Bar]]<br/>[[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)|Distinguished Flying Cross]]<br/>[[Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)|Air Force Cross]] & [[Medal bar|Two Bar]]
|relations= 
|laterwork= 
}}
[[Air Commodore]] '''Arthur Edmond Clouston''', {{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|CB|DSO1|DFC|AFC2}} (7 April 1908 – 1 January 1984) was a New Zealand-born British test pilot and senior officer in the [[Royal Air Force]]. He took part in several air races and record-breaking flights in the 1930s.

==Early life==
Arthur Edmond Clouston was born on 7 April 1908 at [[Motueka]] in New Zealand, the son of Robert Edmond Clouston, a mining engineer, and his wife Ruby.{{sfn|Thompson|1953|pp=16–17}}<ref name=AM>{{cite web |title=Arthur Edmund Clouston: Centotaph record |url=https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C121068 |publisher=Auckland Museum |access-date=6 May 2023}}</ref> Educated at a school in [[Collingwood, New Zealand|Collingwood]], Clouston sought to have a career as a mariner but this was prevented by illness. He instead established an automotive workshop in Westport. The exploits of the Australian aviator [[Charles Kingsford Smith]] inspired Clouston to learn to fly at the Marlborough Aero Club at Omaka Aerodrome, near [[Blenheim, New Zealand|Blenheim]]. Soon a proficient pilot, in October 1929 he established an altitude record of {{convert|16,000|ft|m}} for the de Havilland Moth.{{sfn|Grayland|1972|pp=123–124}}{{sfn|Mitchell|1945|p=121}}{{sfn|Wynn|1989|pp=78–79}}

Early in 1930 Clouston was reprimanded by his instructor for stunting his aircraft without approval during an air pageant at Blenheim.{{sfn|Grayland|1972|pp=123–124}} Soon, having qualified as a pilot, he decided to pursue a career with the [[Royal Air Force]] in the United Kingdom. He sold his business and departed the country later in the year.{{sfn|Grayland|1972|pp=123–124}}{{sfn|Mitchell|1945|p=122}}<ref name=odnb>Orange 2004</ref>

==Military career==
When he arrived in the United Kingdom, Clouston found work at the [[Fairey Aviation Company]] while awaiting the processing of his application to the RAF. In October 1930, once some initial concerns over his blood pressure were resolved, Clouston was granted a short service commission in the RAF as a [[pilot officer]].{{sfn|Wynn|1989|pp=78–79}}<ref>{{London Gazette| issue = 33655| date = 24 October 1930 | page = 6479 }}</ref> He commenced flying training at No. 3 Flying Training School at [[RAF Spitalgate]]. Rated as an exceptional pilot, in April 1931 he was posted to [[No. 25 Squadron RAF|No. 25 Squadron]].{{sfn|Wynn|1989|pp=78–79}}{{sfn|Mitchell|1945|p=122}}

Clouston's new unit was based at [[RAF Hawkinge|Hawkinge]] and operated the [[Hawker Fury I]] fighter biplane, which was particularly aerobatic. The squadron regularly performed in air pageants at [[RAF Hendon|Hendon]] and Clouston was soon one of the pilots selected for these displays.{{sfn|Rawlings|1976|pp=66–67}}{{sfn|Mitchell|1945|p=122}} In August 1934, having been promoted to [[flying officer]], he was posted to [[No. 24 Squadron RAF|No. 24 Squadron]] at Northolt.{{sfn|Wynn|1989|pp=78–79}}<ref>{{London Gazette| issue = 33822| date = 3 May 1932 | page = 2891 }}</ref>

As his period of service with the RAF drew to a close, Clouston applied for a permanent commission. This was declined and, dissatisfied with the compromise offer of an extension of his short service commission, in October 1935 he ended his commitment to the RAF and transferred to the [[Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve]].{{sfn|Mitchell|1945|p=122}}
[[File:Hafner1935.jpg|thumb|Hafner AR.III (G-ADMV) at Heston, 1935]]

==Test pilot==
On returning to life as a civilian, Clouston applied to the Air Ministry for a job as a [[test pilot]] at the [[Royal Aircraft Establishment]], based at [[RAE Farnborough|Farnborough]]. He was successful, and became one of two civilian pilots testing aircraft.{{sfn|Thompson|1953|pp=16–17}}{{sfn|Mitchell|1945|p=122}}

Soon after he had started flying a [[Cierva C.30]] autogiro at Farnborough, he was invited by [[Raoul Hafner]] to carry out test flying of the [[Hafner AR.III]] in his off-duty time, and Clouston later flew demonstrations of that gyroplane at many aviation events. He conducted official flight test aerodynamics work on aircraft including [[Parnall Parasol]] and [[Miles Falcon]]; ice formation research on [[Airspeed Courier]], [[Handley Page Heyford]] and [[Northrop Gamma]]; and anti-intruder wire strike tests with [[Miles Hawk]] and [[Fairey P.4/34]]. In January 1938, he was awarded the [[Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)|Air Force Cross]].<ref>{{London Gazette| issue = 34469| date = 1 January 1938| page = 19 | supp=y}}</ref>

In October 1938, Air Vice Marshal [[Arthur Tedder, 1st Baron Tedder|Arthur Tedder]] asked Clouston to conduct test flying of the prototype of the [[Westland Whirlwind (fighter)|Westland Whirlwind]], in place of Westland test pilots. Clouston piloted its first flight from [[Yeovil Aerodrome]] to [[Boscombe Down]].<ref name=rafweb>[http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Clouston.htm Barrass, M. ''Air of Authority'']</ref>{{sfn|Middleton|1982|p=552}}

==Races and record-breaking flights, 1935–1939==
[[File:HawkSpeedSix-2583.jpg|thumb|Miles Hawk Speed Six (G-ADOD), September 1936]]
While employed at RAE, Clouston developed a spare time interest in civil aviation, air racing and record-breaking. On 13 April 1936, he displayed his [[Aeronca C-3]] (G-ADYP) at the [[Mignet HM.14|Pou-du-Ciel]] (Flying Flea) rally at [[Ashingdon]]. He test flew several Flying Fleas from [[Heston Aerodrome]] and from [[Gravesend Aerodrome]]. On 30 May 1936, he flew his Aeronca C-3 from [[Hanworth Aerodrome]] in the London to Isle of Man Race, but missed the final turning point in fog. On 14 June 1936, he flew the Aeronca in the South Coast Race at Shoreham, and came first, but was then disqualified on a technicality. On 11 July 1936, he flew a Miles Falcon (G-AEFB) in the [[King's Cup Race]] at Hatfield. On 3 August 1936, he borrowed a Flying Flea (G-ADPY), and raced it in the First International Flying Flea Challenge Trophy Race at [[Ramsgate Airport]], but retired when an oil pipe fractured.<ref name=lewis>Lewis 1970</ref>

On 29 September 1936, he took off from [[Portsmouth Airport, Hampshire|Portsmouth Airport]] in his [[Miles Hawk Major|Miles Hawk Speed Six]] (G-ADOD), at the start of the [[Schlesinger Race]] to [[Johannesburg]]. He was one of nine starters, but force landed 200 miles short of the race destination, and was the last of eight entries that failed to reach Johannesburg. On 29 May 1937, he flew a Miles Hawk Major (G-ADGE) from Hanworth in the London to Isle of Man Race.<ref name=lewis/>

[[File:DH88-2290.jpg|thumb|DH.88 Comet (G-ACSS), Gravesend, August 1937]]
In June 1937, he learned that the [[DH.88 Comet]] (G-ACSS), that won the 1934 [[MacRobertson Race]], was for sale by a scrap dealer, after it had been damaged in Air Ministry testing. He persuaded architect [[Leslie Kemp and Tasker|Fred Tasker]] to purchase the Comet, and then arranged for it to be repaired with upgraded engines and propellers, by Jack Cross of Essex Aero at Gravesend Aerodrome. He entered the Comet for the planned 1937 New York to Paris air race, but the US Department of Commerce refused all necessary permissions for the race.

The French government reorganised the race to run from [[Istres Airfield]] near [[Marseille]], via [[Damascus]], to Paris. The only inscriptions on the Comet were the registration and race number "G-16", but it was also nicknamed "The Orphan" to reflect the lack of sponsors. On 20 August 1937, accompanied by Flt Lt George Nelson as co-pilot of the Comet, Clouston took off from Istres as one of 13 entrants, of which all the others were more powerful, and all heavily sponsored by European governments. He arrived at [[Paris - Le Bourget Airport|Le Bourget]] in fourth position, a few minutes behind the [[Savoia-Marchetti S.73]] of [[Bruno Mussolini]].<ref name=lewis/>

In 1937, Clouston broke the record for a return flight from England to [[Cape Town]]. [[Betty Kirby-Green]] was relatively new to flying, with an appetite for adventure, and agreed to help raise money for an attempt on the Cape record set by Amy Johnson in 1936. [[Burberry]] sponsored the flight and provided Burberry flying clothing, and their DH.88 Comet, G-ACSS was consequently named renamed "The Burberry". On 14 November 1937, Clouston and Kirby-Green took off from [[Croydon Aerodrome]], and reached Cape Town<ref>De Vries, G.  ''Wingfield. A Pictorial History'' 1991 pp. 107–8 with photos  {{ISBN|0620159391}}</ref> on 16 November in a record 45 hours and two minutes. Their return journey of 57 hours and 23 minutes was also record-breaking. The DH.88 Comet has since been restored, and is now held at the Shuttleworth Collection.

On 20 November, they arrived back at Croydon in dense fog, having broken several records and covered about 14,690 miles in less than six days. As a result, Clouston was awarded the [[Britannia Trophy]] and the [[Segrave Trophy]], and Betty was awarded the Segrave Medal.<ref name=odnb/><ref name=lewis/>

On 4 December 1937, Clouston married Elsie Turner, the daughter of engineer Samuel Turner of Farnborough; they subsequently had two daughters.<ref name=odnb/>

In December 1937, Daily Express air correspondent Victor Ricketts proposed to Clouston that they should attempt to break the England to Australia flight record. Ricketts arranged for sponsorship from the [[Australian Consolidated Press]], and once again the DH.88 Comet G-ACSS was hired. It was overhauled and equipped with a small typewriter to compile press reports in flight for dispatch at refuelling stops. It was named "Australian Anniversary", representing the 150th anniversary of Australia.

On 6 February 1938, Clouston and Ricketts took off from Gravesend Aerodrome. The first scheduled stop was to be [[Aleppo]] in [[Syria]], but bad storms forced Clouston to land at a flooded airfield at [[Adana]] in Turkey. His permits were dismissed by Turkish officials, but next day he refuelled with unofficial help, and took off from a roadway, although damaging the undercarriage. He flew to an unmarked airfield on [[Cyprus]], having abandoned the record attempt. Engineer Jack Cross, plus the financier and some equipment, was flown to Cyprus by [[Alex Henshaw]] in a [[Percival Vega Gull|Vega Gull]] borrowed from Charles Gardner. After repairs to the Comet, Clouston flew it back to Gravesend, accompanied by Jack Cross.<ref name=lewis/><ref>Henshaw November 1984</ref>

On 15 March 1938, Clouston once again departed from Gravesend with Victor Ricketts in DH.88 Comet G-ACSS. He flew via Cairo, Basra, Allahabad, [[Penang]] and [[Singapore]] to Darwin, but without beating the 1934 record set by [[C. W. A. Scott]] and [[Tom Campbell Black]] in the same aircraft. He flew on to Sydney via Charleville, without being aware of the London to Sydney record, until massive crowds welcomed him there as a record-breaker. The next day, 20 March 1938, he flew across the [[Tasman Sea]] to Blenheim Municipal Aerodrome (Omaka) in New Zealand, setting more records. He then flew back to Australia, and continued on a return flight to Croydon, arriving in fog on 26 March 1938. He had established eleven records at the end of a round-trip of about 26,000 miles.<ref name=lewis/>

On 2 July 1938, he flew [[BA Eagle|BA Eagle 2]] (G-AFIC) in the [[King's Cup Race]] at [[Hatfield Aerodrome]], but was placed outside the top three.<ref name=lewis/>

==Second World War==
On the outbreak of the Second World War, Clouston was recalled to the RAF in the rank of flight lieutenant and was posted back to Farnborough to serve in the Experimental Section of the RAE as a test pilot with the rank of flight lieutenant. Although the unit operated some high speed fighters, it was forbidden to arm them, but Clouston reportedly on one occasion, shortly after the death of his brother, also a pilot in the RAF, over [[Dunkirk]], chased an intruding German aircraft with the intention of ramming it. Unsuccessful, Clouston was grounded on his return by the commanding officer. Increasing [[Luftwaffe]] incursions led to orders to arm the fighters, and their pilots were authorised to fly patrols over the airfield in the event of detection of approaching German aircraft. Clouston, having resumed flying duties, was on a such a patrol in a [[Supermarine Spitfire]] fighter when on his own initiative, he pursued some German aircraft. He subsequently claimed to have destroyed a [[Heinkel He 111]] medium bomber and a [[Messerschmitt Bf 110]] heavy fighter. He was again grounded when he returned.{{sfn|Grayland|1972|p=128}}{{sfn|Wynn|1989|pp=78–79}}

He carried out many flight tests using both tethered and untethered flares launched from a [[Handley Page Hampden]] flying behind a [[Armstrong Whitworth Whitley|Whitley]] bomber, in experiments to illuminate target aircraft at night. He also flew tests with a [[Douglas Havoc]], dispensing flash flares. In April 1941, he was attached to [[No. 219 Squadron RAF|No. 219 Squadron]], operating [[Bristol Beaufighter]]s from [[RAF Redhill]], to experience night fighter tactics. His reports to the Air Ministry led to improvements to cannons on Beaufighters, and better training for radar operators.

On 12 May 1941, he was posted as CO of [[No. 1422 Flight RAF]] of the RAE based at [[RAF Heston]]. There he carried out testing of the [[Turbinlite]] concept of an aerial searchlight mounted on a Havoc night fighter, in collaboration with Group Captain [[William Helmore]] and with aeronautical engineer [[L.E. Baynes]], nicknamed "The Baron", for whom he had great admiration. The next experiments involved dropping coils of wire suspended from parachutes, intended to interfere with the operation of intruding aircraft. Clouston conducted another trial instigated by Helmore, involving radio control of a full-size motor launch boat from a high-flying aircraft, using a Douglas DB-7 Havoc. He was also involved in testing the [[Leigh Light]], an aerial searchlight designed to illuminate submarines and surface vessels, and trialled on a [[Vickers Wellington]].<ref name=rafweb/>{{sfn|Middleton|1982|p=553}} He was awarded a [[Medal bar|Bar]] to his AFC in January 1942.<ref>{{London Gazette| issue = 35399| date = 1 January 1942| page = 41 | supp=y}}</ref>
[[File:Ensor and Clouston, 1944.jpg|thumb|right|Clouston, on the right, with Squadron Leader [[Mick Ensor]], one of his flight commanders at No. 224 Squadron]]
In March 1943, Clouston was promoted to wing commander, and posted to command [[No. 224 Squadron RAF|No. 224 Squadron]] firstly at [[RAF Beaulieu]], then in April 1943 at [[RAF St Eval]]. The squadron was mainly involved in anti-submarine operations in the Bay of Biscay, operating [[B-24 Liberator]]s with airborne radar and depth charges, later supplemented with Leigh lights. The Liberators were often attacked by formations of Bf 110s and [[Junkers Ju 88]]s. In October 1943 Clouston was awarded the [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)|Distinguished Flying Cross]],<ref>{{London Gazette| issue = 36192| date = 1 October 1943| page = 4357 | supp=y}}</ref> followed in April 1944 by the [[Distinguished Service Order]].<ref name=rafweb/><ref>{{London Gazette| issue = 36468| date = 14 April 1944| page = 1712 | supp=y}}</ref>

In February 1944, he was promoted to group captain, and posted as commanding officer of [[RAF Langham]], that was still under construction. Operations there started with [[No. 455 Squadron RAF|No. 455 Squadron]] and [[No. 489 Squadron RAF|No. 489 Squadron]], both flying Beaufighters on anti-shipping missions in the North Sea area. In October 1944, the Beaufighter squadrons were replaced by [[No. 521 Squadron RAF|No. 521 Squadron]] with [[Lockheed Hudson]]s and [[No. 524 Squadron RAF|No. 524 Squadron]] with Wellingtons.<ref name=rafweb/>

==Postwar==
In May 1945, Clouston was posted as CO of German airstrip B151 that was being developed into the headquarters of BAFO (British Air Forces of Occupation), and named [[RAF Bückeburg]]. In April 1946, he was appointed to a permanent commission with his existing rank of squadron leader.<ref>{{London Gazette| issue = 37534| date = 16 April 1946| page = 1904 | supp=y}}</ref> However, he was then offered the job of Director General of Civil Aviation of New Zealand. Instead of being released by the RAF, he was promoted to [[group captain]], and given a two-year posting on exchange to the [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]] as commanding officer of [[RNZAF Base Ohakea]].<ref>{{London Gazette| issue = 38020| date = 22 July 1947 | page = 3417 | supp=y}}</ref>{{sfn|Grayland|1972|pp=129–130}}

Returning to service with the RAF after concluding his appointment at Ohakea, he was commandant of the [[Empire_Test_Pilots%27_School|Empire Test Pilots' School]] at Farnborough in 1949.{{sfn|Grayland|1972|pp=129–130}} In October 1953, he was posted as Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO), effectively chief of staff, at [[No. 19 Group RAF]], [[Coastal Command]]. In July 1954, he was promoted to acting [[air commodore]], then posted as [[Air Officer Commanding]] Singapore. In 1957, he was appointed a [[Companion of the Order of the Bath]], and was given his final posting as commandant of [[Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment]] at Boscombe Down.<ref name=odnb/><ref name=rafweb/><ref>{{London Gazette| issue = 40960| date = 1 January 1957| page = 3| supp=y}}</ref>

In April 1960, Clouston retired from the RAF. He settled in Cornwall, where he died at [[St Merryn]] on 1 January 1984. His autobiography, ''The Dangerous Skies'', had been published several years previously.<ref name=AM/>{{sfn|Grayland|1972|pp=129–130}}

==Notes==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book|last1=Grayland|first1=Eugene|title=More Famous New Zealanders|date=1972|publisher=Whitcombe & Tombs|location=Christchurch, New Zealand|isbn=0-7233-0335-5}}
*Henshaw, Alex. "Personal Album", ''Aeroplane Monthly'', November 1984
*Lewis, Peter. 1970. ''British Racing and Record-Breaking Aircraft''. Putnam. {{ISBN|0370000676}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Middleton |first=Don |title=Test Pilot Profile No.4 – A.E. Clouston |magazine=[[Aeroplane Monthly]] |date=October 1982 |volume=10 |issue=10 |pages=548–553 |issn=0143-7240}}
*{{cite book|last=Mitchell|first=Alan W.|title=New Zealanders in the Air War|year=1945|publisher=George G. Harrap & Co.|location=London, United Kingdom|oclc=1079233416}}
*Orange, Vincent. 2004. ''[http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/71855 Clouston, Arthur Edmond (1908–1984)]''. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
*{{cite book|last=Rawlings|first=John|year=1976|title=Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft|publisher=MacDonald & James|location=London|isbn=0-354-01028-X}}
*{{cite book|last=Thompson|first=H. L.|year=1953|title=New Zealanders with the Royal Air Force|volume=I|url=http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2-1RAF.html|series=[[Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–45]]|publisher=War History Branch|location=Wellington, New Zealand|oclc=270919916}}
*{{cite book |last1=Wynn |first1=Kenneth G. |title=Men of the Battle of Britain |date=1989 |publisher=Gliddon Books|location=Norwich|isbn=0-947893-15-6}}

==Further reading==
*Clouston, A.E. 1954. ''The Dangerous Skies''. Cassell ASIN B0000CIX25

{{DEFAULTSORT:Clouston, A. E.}}
[[Category:1908 births]]
[[Category:1984 deaths]]
[[Category:Britannia Trophy winners]]
[[Category:British test pilots]]
[[Category:New Zealand test pilots]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of the Bath]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force air commodores]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Segrave Trophy recipients]]
[[Category:People from Motueka]]
[[Category:New Zealand emigrants to the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)]]
[[Category:British aviation record holders]]