The Airmen's Stories - P/O R C Gosling

Reginald Clive Gosling was born in Gravesend on 4th July 1919 and educated at Cecil Road School and Gravesend County School. He joined the RAFVR in November 1938 as an Airman u/t Pilot.

He was called to full-time service in October 1939 and posted to 3 ITW Hastings. He then went to 7 EFTS Desford on 16th April 1940, completed his flying training at RAF College Cranwell from 10th June to 29th August, converted to Spitfires at 7 OTU Hawarden and joined 266 Squadron at Wittering on 28th September.

Posted from the squadron on 30th June 1941, Gosling joined 72 Squadron at Biggin Hill.

He went to Vickers-Supermarine on 10th January 1942 as a test pilot, remaining there until 4th July 1944.

Gosling was posted to 616 Squadron at Manston on 10th July and was with the squadron, flying Meteors on the Continent and in Germany, until its disbandment at Lubeck on 29th August 1945.

He was released from the RAF on 31st December 1945 as a Flight Lieutenant. He served in the RAFVR from January 1948 until the end of 1950.

Gosling died in May 2001 in Exeter.