Gerry Sayer

Flight Lieutenant Phillip Edward Gerald Sayer OBE (5 February 1905 - 21 October 1942), was Chief Test Pilot for Gloster Aircraft as well as a serving RAF officer. Gerry Sayer flew Britain's maiden jet flight in Sir Frank Whittle's Gloster E.28/39 (Pioneer), an aircraft designed by George Carter, on 15 May 1941. He was born in Colchester, the only son of Wing Commander E.J. Sayer MC. He attended St Joseph's College, Nainital in India and Colchester Royal Grammar School, in England. Sayer joined the Royal Air Force in June 1924, obtaining a short-service (five year) commission, when on 23 May 1925, he became a Pilot Officer. He learnt to fly in an Avro 504K. Later he flew Sopwith Snipes, and became an RAF test pilot at RAF Martlesham...