The Airmen's Stories - P/O M R Ingle-Finch

Michael Roscoe Ingle-Finch was born at St. Helens, Isle of Wight on 17th June 1920. He attended Harrow School from 1933 to 1937.

He was awarded Aero Certificate 15449 at the Hampshire Aeroplane Club on 9th October 1937, his occupation recoded as 'Student'.

He joined the RAFVR about June 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot.

Called up on 1st September 1939, he completed his training and was commissioned.

After converting to Hurricanes he was posted to 151 Squadron at Digby on 18th September 1940, moved to 607 Squadron at Tangmere on 3rd October and to 56 Squadron at Boscombe Down on the 13th.

Above (L to R) : F/O AV Gifkins, F/O HSL Dundas, Ingle-Finch

On a flight to Kidlington in the squadron Magister on 16th November 1940, Ingle-Finch was injured when he crashed near Tidworth. He was admitted to Tidworth Hospital.

Ingle-Finch was a Flight Commander in 56 Squadron in 1942. In September 1942 Ingle-Finch scored 56 Squadron's first air victory in a Typhoon when he shot down a Ju88 off the east coast.

In September 1943 Ingle-Finch was given command of 175 Squadron at Lydd, a Typhoon fighter-bomber unit. He was awarded the DFC (gazetted 25th July 1944).

He completed his tour with the squadron in November 1944 and was awarded a Bar to the DFC (gazetted 23rd January 1945).

Ingle-Finch was released from the RAF in 1946 as a Wing Commander.

He then joined Marshalls of Cambridge as a test pilot. He joined Short Bros. as a test pilot in 1952 and displayed the Short Seamew at Farnborough in 1955 and the Belfast in 1964.

He died in February 2002.