Isaac John Fitch | |
---|---|
Born | 3 October 1903 Bedford, England |
Died | 25 July 1944 (aged 40) Florida Island, Solomon Islands |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | Royal Air Force |
Years of service | 1926–1944 |
Rank | Air commodore |
Service number | 22162 |
Commands held | Commanding air officer, Tarawa |
Battles/wars | Second World War |
Air commodore Isaac John Fitch (3 October 1903 – 25 July 1944) was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force, deputy director of intelligence at the Air Ministry and commanding air officer of Tarawa during the Second World War. [1] [2] [3] His relatively brief career was cut short when, en route to Australia, the aeroplane carrying him crashed into a hilltop on Florida Island killing everyone on board. [1] [3] [4]
Fitch was born in Bedford on 3 October 1903. [1] He was the third son of Frank Fitch, a master baker and confectioner, [5] and Mary Redfern Fitch, both of Bedford. [6] [7] He was educated at Bedford Modern School. [2]
Fitch joined the Royal Air Force in 1926 as a pilot officer on a short service commission. After flight training he served with Army co-operation squadrons at home and in India until 1929. In 1930, he was promoted to flying officer after completing a signals course and thereafter spent for five years in the Middle East. [1] In 1937, he passed the RAF staff College course in Andover[ citation needed] and was promoted to squadron leader. [1]
During 1938 and 1939, Fitch was in the Directorate of Signals at the Air Ministry. [1] [8] At the outbreak of the Second World War, he initially served on signal duties in France [1] and was made group captain on 1 June 1942, [9] and air commodore in September 1943. [1] Later that year, he was made deputy director of intelligence at the Air Ministry [10] and commanding air officer of Tarawa. [2] [3]
On 25 July 1944, Fitch took a flight from Tarawa, his final intended destination being Australia. [3] He was flying with Consairways, a war airline that had been established by Donald Beatty [11] and was under contract to Air Transport Command. [3] [12] The plane crashed into a 750 ft hilltop on Florida Island on approach to Carney Field, while travelling from Tarawa to Guadalcanal, en route to Australia. [3] It has been written that Fitch was carrying a case that "contained war plans detailing the upcoming major offensive in the Pacific, formulated by President Franklin Roosevelt and Pacific Command and was being delivered to General MacArthur". [4]
Fitch was first interred in Lunga and re-interred in the Bourail New Zealand War Cemetery. [3]
In 1931, Fitch married Florence (née Gribble) in Bedford, England. [13] She survived him. [7] He was a useful rugby player and played for Bedford, making 93 appearances between 1921 and 1928. [14]
Isaac John Fitch | |
---|---|
Born | 3 October 1903 Bedford, England |
Died | 25 July 1944 (aged 40) Florida Island, Solomon Islands |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | Royal Air Force |
Years of service | 1926–1944 |
Rank | Air commodore |
Service number | 22162 |
Commands held | Commanding air officer, Tarawa |
Battles/wars | Second World War |
Air commodore Isaac John Fitch (3 October 1903 – 25 July 1944) was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force, deputy director of intelligence at the Air Ministry and commanding air officer of Tarawa during the Second World War. [1] [2] [3] His relatively brief career was cut short when, en route to Australia, the aeroplane carrying him crashed into a hilltop on Florida Island killing everyone on board. [1] [3] [4]
Fitch was born in Bedford on 3 October 1903. [1] He was the third son of Frank Fitch, a master baker and confectioner, [5] and Mary Redfern Fitch, both of Bedford. [6] [7] He was educated at Bedford Modern School. [2]
Fitch joined the Royal Air Force in 1926 as a pilot officer on a short service commission. After flight training he served with Army co-operation squadrons at home and in India until 1929. In 1930, he was promoted to flying officer after completing a signals course and thereafter spent for five years in the Middle East. [1] In 1937, he passed the RAF staff College course in Andover[ citation needed] and was promoted to squadron leader. [1]
During 1938 and 1939, Fitch was in the Directorate of Signals at the Air Ministry. [1] [8] At the outbreak of the Second World War, he initially served on signal duties in France [1] and was made group captain on 1 June 1942, [9] and air commodore in September 1943. [1] Later that year, he was made deputy director of intelligence at the Air Ministry [10] and commanding air officer of Tarawa. [2] [3]
On 25 July 1944, Fitch took a flight from Tarawa, his final intended destination being Australia. [3] He was flying with Consairways, a war airline that had been established by Donald Beatty [11] and was under contract to Air Transport Command. [3] [12] The plane crashed into a 750 ft hilltop on Florida Island on approach to Carney Field, while travelling from Tarawa to Guadalcanal, en route to Australia. [3] It has been written that Fitch was carrying a case that "contained war plans detailing the upcoming major offensive in the Pacific, formulated by President Franklin Roosevelt and Pacific Command and was being delivered to General MacArthur". [4]
Fitch was first interred in Lunga and re-interred in the Bourail New Zealand War Cemetery. [3]
In 1931, Fitch married Florence (née Gribble) in Bedford, England. [13] She survived him. [7] He was a useful rugby player and played for Bedford, making 93 appearances between 1921 and 1928. [14]