Peter Garrod – Former Air Transport Auxiliary First Officer

Among the small group of veterans attending the unveiling of a memorial to all those who operated from the former Smith’s Lawn airfield was Peter Garrod who, as a pilot with the WW2 civilian Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA), had actually flown aircraft into the busy wartime site. Speaking briefly to HRH Prince Philip at the unveiling, 95 year old Peter recalled his slight concern that the heavy Warwick aircraft movement recorded in his log book was in danger of placing significant ruts in the airfield’s smooth grass surface.

Sadly, shortly after his attendance at the unveiling, Peter passed away and as a respected Commodore of the ATA Association, amongst other honours, he will be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing such a gentleman.

Son of a former WW1 pilot, Sir Guy Garrod GBE KCB MC DFC, who later rose to the rank of Air Chief Marshall in the RAF, Peter predictably wished to follow in his father’s footsteps and fly with the RAF. However, despite having amassed several hours aloft under his father’s tuition, his eyesight let him down and, after spending some time as an apprentice with the Hawker Aircraft Co., he responded to an advert for those with any flying experience to join the ATA. So it was that he came to be checked out and trained by the diminutive Joan Hughes; who was one of ATA’s first female pilots and who had logged some 600 flying hours by the age of 22.

Of note is the fact that the ATA recruited several aircrew members who bore a number of disabilities and yet managed to perform what was asked of them with little difficulty. From those like the former RFC pilot with one arm and one eye to an American with a pronounced stammer, the ‘Ancient and Tattered Airmen’ flew ‘Anything To Anywhere’ – whilst the ladies were said to be ‘Always Terrified Airwomen’!

Peter went on to fly no fewer than 68 different types of single and twin engined aircraft, some becoming particular favourites and moving him to decline the option of training to fly the larger four-engined types. He was particularly proud of having flown virtually every type operated by the Fleet Air Arm (FAA); although never landing one on a deck! However, he remembered with amusement his having surprised a Navy flag man when he had joined a circuit amid FAA trainees practising short landings at a land aerodrome and had ignored his frantic signals whilst carrying out a more conventional approach and touchdown.

Of the many hours flown during his ATA service, Peter not only ferried aircraft around the UK but was involved in several trips into liberated Europe. Indeed, he delivered a number of Spitfires to the French Air Force at Luxeuilwhen he had to operate out of several temporary landing grounds during the winter months.

Few ATA pilots could resist the temptation to try some aerobatics and Peter fell foul of officialdom when doing so in a Hurricane which cost him a suspension and the loss of three day’s pay.

Amusingly, by virtue of his height, he was once ordered to stand and block the King’s sight of an upturned aircraft during a Royal visit to White Waltham aerodrome near Maidenhead; the ATA’s wartime headquarters.

Post War, Peter worked for Unilever and turned to what was to become his other love, that of sailing. Having owned a series of four craft during his life, he was still solo crewing his last and longest held 32ft yacht ‘Artimon’ (little sail) well into his nineties. A long term member of the Royal Southern Yacht Club at Hamble, where he lived, he shunned the use of the club’s powered ferry craft, instead preferring to row his own dinghy out to his marina berth. Peter’s sailing logs echoed those of his ATA flying; for his exploring took him to a vast number of locations around our coast; to say nothing of his many experiences overseas. Peter was also a keen traveller and would often set off alone in his car seeking out new places to visit.

One recent trip down flying’s memory lane occurred last October, when his two sons, Christopher and Alastair, arranged for him to once again take to the skies in a Spitfire; albeit unlike those available during WW2 in that it was equipped with a second seat. Still able to wear his wartime leather flying jacket and helmet, he donned them for a much admired photo shoot before being kitted out with today’s required ‘bone dome’. Memories of some 300 flights in the type would certainly have been triggered as his sons looked on. Carrying on the family tradition, his elder son Christopher, a former commercial pilot, now owns two light aircraft and Peter has flown with him on numerous occasions; albeit having found it more difficult to climb in and out in recent times.

One particular annual event enjoyed by such former wartime aircrew is known as ‘Project Propeller’ and Peter with his son has often joined a small band of ex-ATA pilots who are significantly outnumbered by their military counterparts. Thanks to a group of private pilot volunteers, the veterans are offered flights to and from a chosen destination where they are given a chance to meet up and spend an entertaining day together.

In recent years, Peter was known for delivering talks to many local groups about his more favoured aircraft types and of flying them whilst serving in the ATA. He was also our ATA Association wreath layer and had in the past been honoured to perform the task at the Cenotaph on behalf of the civil air services.

I personally felt privileged to have known Peter in the all too short time since we first met and I am pleased to have shared some memorable occasions with him. However, we are proud to have recorded his characteristically warm voice describing some of his ATA experiences as part of our video interview collection at the Maidenhead Heritage Centre’s permanent ATA exhibition and archive; where our Spitfire simulator has received a seal of approval from Peter and his fellow veterans who have ‘flown’ it.

As is said in aviation circles “Blue skies Peter” we will all miss you.

John Webster

Secretary, Air Transport Auxiliary Association and

Volunteer Researcher, Maidenhead Heritage Centre.

Spitfire pre-flight photo shootWarwick Aircraft

Log book entry – Warwick from Smith’s Lawn to Sherburn-in-Elmet