James McCudden, VC

Brought up in barracks and surrounded by family members in the Army, James McCudden's career path was destined almost from birth. Naturally gifted with superb eyesight and a technical mind, almost the ideal combination for a new form of warfare, he rose through the ranks to become the UK's leading Ace at the time of his demise. In the class ridden RFC he was an anomaly, and knew it, but gained the friendship and respect of all who flew with him irrespective of their background. He was therefore more than just a highly professional and successful pilot, he inadvertently personified the changes that were happening in Great Britain's society as a result of the Great War.

John Gilder is a lifelong aviation nut, a private pilot who has commentated for the Shuttleworth Collection for 22 years, the Moth Club at Halton and Belvoir Castle and the Tiger Nine at various events including Halton, Duxford and Shoreham. Not an academic but 'very well read', his tutor's illness terminated an Air Power MA course at Birmingham. He flew his first solo in a Tiger Moth with the Cambridge Flying Group and completed his PPL at Andrewsfield before joining the Tiger Club then rebasing to Headcorn. He has been a Moth Club member since 2012 and has a broad practical knowledge of vintage aviation. He is a popular vice chair of the NW Kent branch and the WFA's Cadet Steward at the Cenotaph.

All of John's talks are constantly updated with new or 'rediscovered' information. Returning to our Surrey branch by popular demand, his aviation talks are always well-received, as he is enthusiastic, humorous and surprisingly well informed.