Sponsored by
Tributes to pilot trainer
Charles Williamson
TRIBUTES have been paid to an ex-serviceman who trained scores of pilots ready for action in the Second World War.
Charles “Chippy” Williamson was an RAF pilot who, following his own training, rather than being called up for active service, was hand-picked to be an instructor for other airmen during the 1939-1945 conflict.
The ex-staff flight instructor, who flew various planes including a DH Tiger Moth, an Airspeed Oxford, a Fairchild Cornell, an Avro Anson I and Dakota III, is even thought to have trained actor Sir Richard Attenborough during his time in service.
He died on February 11 at the University Hospital of Hartlepool after a battle with ill health.
The funeral of the 90-year-old father-of-three, who was awarded the Atlantic Star, the 1939-1945 Star, the Defence Medal and the 1939-1945 War Medal, took place yesterday at All Saints Church in Stranton, followed by cremation at Stranton Crematorium.
His devoted daughter Anne Tarbitt said: “My father was proud to have done his bit.
“He did his pilot training and was desperate to go into active service.
“But the RAF wanted him to stay and be an instructor for other pilots and aircrew.
“He never got into active service, much to his upset as he just wanted to go and fight, as boys do.”
Mrs Tarbitt, from the Fens area, still has her father’s pilot’s flying logbook, which shows he enlisted aged 19 on December 5, 1942 and was demobbed on July 9, 1946.
He completed nine months pilot training in Canada before returning to Britain, where he was stationed in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Cheshire, Berkshire, Nottingham and Derbyshire and Northern Ireland.
He trained crew members in bombing procedures for raids, navigation, how to land in all weathers and other aviation skills.
Upon his demobbing, the people of his birthplace, Great Broughton, in North Yorkshire, presented him with a certificate of appreciation for his “self-sacrificing service”.
Mr Williamson, whose nickname Chippy came from when he was a young boy and used to chip away at bits of wood and create intricate pieces, moved to Hartlepool after he married town woman Patricia Flanders, Mrs Tarbitt’s mother.
He worked as a passenger sales representative for British Rail before and after his war service, and was also a member of the volunteer Home Guard before signing up.
Mrs Tarbitt said life could have been very different for the whole family if British Rail had not kept his job open.
She added: “He was recommended for squadron leader, but he didn’t take the position as he had a job to come home to.
“Who knows where he could have been if he had stayed on?
“He was a family-orientated man, and had a great sense of humour.”
Mr Williamson, from the Fens area, was also father to the late Michael, who passed away six years ago, and daughter Lynne Apedaile.
The Formula 1 fan also leaves behind grandchildren Andrew and Neil Tarbitt, Carl and Faye Wilson and Clare Kaye and Ruth Purvis, as well as 11 great-grandchildren.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Hartlepool
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: East
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.