May 2018 FLYPAST 69S
hortly after the outbreak of
World War Two, a small unit
was set up to put the concept
of high altitude photographic
reconnaissance to the test in
operational circumstances. Formed at
Heston, Middlesex, in January 1940,
the Photographic Development Unit
(PDU) flew a number of successful
sorties over enemy territory using
modified Spitfires.
Such were its achievements with
very limited resources that senior
officers started to take note and
an expansion of the unit was duly
authorised. From its very earliest
days, many overseas personnel
served in key posts with the PDU
and in the later, greatly expanded,
organisation.
One of the earliest recruits to the
rapidly expanding unit was Spencer
Leonard Ring, who was born in
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada,
in 1910. Ring learned to fly at his
local club in 1931. His dream was
to become an airline pilot, but
in order to be considered it was
necessary for him to accumulate a
lot of flying hours, something that
proved difficult with the small club.
A solution appeared when it was
announced that the RAF intended
to recruit qualified pilots from
Commonwealth and Dominion
countries. He succeeded in obtaining
a four-year short service commission
and joined the RAF in 1936.
In July, shortly after he arrived in
Britain, Ring was posted to the de
Havilland-run 1 Elementary and
Reserve Flying Training School in
Hatfield, Hertfordshire. He was
instructed by the school’s civilian
staff, mainly on Tiger Moths.
After a couple of months at
Hatfield, he was sent to Montrose in
Scotland, home of 8 Flying Training
School (FTS). There, Ring received
more formal service instruction,this time on Hawker
Harts and Audaxes.
On completion of
his course in April
1937, he was posted
to 12 Squadron based
at Andover, Hampshire,
and equipped with Hawker
Hinds. He made his first
flight in the type on April- Early in 1938, the unit
converted to the Fairey Battle
that was starting to enter
service in increasing
numbers as the
RAF prepared for
the increasing
possibility of
conflict with
Germany.
SPENCER RING WAS A PIONEER
OF BRITISH PHOTOGRAPHICRECONNAISSANCE.
ANDREW FLETCHER CHARTS HIS
EXCEPTIONAL CAREER
local club in 1931. His dream was
to become an airline pilot, but
in order to be considered it was
necessary for him to accumulate a
lot of flying hours, something that
proved difficult with the small club.
A solution appeared when it was
announced that the RAF intended
to recruit qualified pilots from
Commonwealth and Dominion
countries. He succeeded in obtaining
a four-year short service commission
and joined the RAF in 1936.
In July, shortly after he arrived in
Britain, Ring was posted to the de
Havilland-run 1 Elementary and
Reserve Flying Training School in
Hatfield, Hertfordshire. He was
instructed by the school’s civilian
staff, mainly on Tiger Moths.
After a couple of months at
Hatfield, he was sent to Montrose in
Scotland, home of 8 Flying Training
School (FTS). There, Ring received
more formal service instruction,this time on Hawker
Harts and Audaxes.
On completion of
his course in April
1937, he was posted
to 12 Squadron based
at Andover, Hampshire,
and equipped with Hawker
Hinds. He made his first
flight in the type on April- Early in 1938, the unit
converted to the Fairey Battle
that was starting to enter
service inincreasing
numbers as the
RAF prepared for
the increasing
possibility of
conflict with
Germany.