One was his hobby as a glider pilot which he had taken up when a rear-admiral.

Later he became a keen glider pilot, which further stimulated his interest in how light materials could respond to aerodynamic and structural forces.

On his return home he heard there was a surplus of powered aircraft pilots, so volunteered to join the glider pilot regiment, hoping he would take part in the fighting.

Despite his asthma, he finally become a glider pilot, once being drawn up to about 28,000ft (8,500m) by a powerful updraught.

As the plane spun out of control and nose-dived towards the ground, the glider pilot - thought to be in his thirties - got out and parachuted to the ground.