Wednesday, February 23, 2011

S/Ldr John Stuart Muller-Rowland DSO DFC 1921-1950


Stuart Muller-Rowland was born on 27th November 1921 in Woking, Surrey. During the war he flew Bristol Blenheim bombers with 60 Squadron in India, later flying Bristol Beaufighters with 211 Squadron in Burma. After the war, with the rank of Squadron Leader, he joined the Empire Test Pilots School, completing No. 6 course. He was posted to the Royal Aircraft Establishment in 1948 and was named DH 108 pilot for the high speed programme.
Squadron Leader Stuart Muller-Rowland was killed when DH.108, VW120 crashed on 15 February 1950 at Little Brickhill whilst involved in transonic dive research.The test flight was supposed to examine the effects of change from sub-sonic to transonic flight, but the aircraft is thought to have broken up whilst in a dive.