Adrian Warburton
| Adrian Warburton | |
|---|---|
Flying Officer Adrian Warburton about to enter the cockpit of a Martin Maryland
|
|
| Nickname(s) | Warby |
| Born |
10 March 1918 Middlesbrough, England |
| Died | 12 April 1944 (aged 26) Egling an der Paar, Germany |
| Buried at | Durnbach Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 Royal Air Force
|
| Years of service | 1939–1944 |
| Rank | Wing Commander |
| Commands held | No. 683 Squadron |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Order & Bar Distinguished Flying Cross & Two Bars Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) |
Wing Commander Adrian "Warby" Warburton DSO & Bar, DFC & Two Bars (10 March 1918 – 12 April 1944) was a Royal Air Force (RAF) pilot during the Second World War. He became legendary in the RAF for his role in the defence of Malta.
His life and work has been depicted in the book Warburton's War by Tony Spooner and in the BBC Timewatch documentary The Mystery Of The Missing Ace. A fuller depiction of his life, The Maltese Spitfire, was written by Squadron Leader Harry Coldbeck, with an introduction by Wing Commander P.B. Lucas; both of whom knew Warburton extremely well.
The son of a naval officer, Warburton was born in Middlesbrough, and christened on board a submarine in Grand Harbour, Valletta, Malta.
He attended St Edward's School in Oxford, where two other famous airmen, Guy Gibson and Douglas Bader, were also educated.
Warburton was commissioned in the Royal Air Force in 1939 as an acting pilot officer. He was promoted to pilot officer (on probation) on 3 September 1939, and confirmed as a pilot officer on 31 October. On completing flying training, he was posted to No. 608 Squadron RAF, flying Blackburn Bothas on North Sea patrols. Warburton's criticism of the obsolete plane led to his commanding officer having him transferred to Malta as an observer, not a pilot. He joined 431 Flight, an RAF detachment flying reconnaissance sorties over the Mediterranean in twin-engined Martin Maryland reconnaissance/light bombers. Within four days of arrival, he had his pilot status reinstated. The Station Commander was short-toured and removed from flying duties.
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