Thomas Edmond John Fitton CBE (16 August 1911 – 31 August 2000), known as John, was an Anglo-Irish first-class cricketer and Royal Air Force officer.

Thomas Fitton
Birth nameThomas Edmond John Fitton
Born(1911-08-16)16 August 1911[1]
Killarney, Ireland
Died31 August 2000(2000-08-31) (aged 89)
Devon, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchRoyal Air Force
Years of service1935–1966
RankAir commodore
CommandsDirector of Mechanical Engineering 1 RAF
Battles / warsSecond World War
Cricket information
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm medium-fast
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1932Oxford University
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 1
Runs scored 7
Batting average
100s/50s –/–
Top score 4*
Balls bowled 156
Wickets 2
Bowling average 38.00
5 wickets in innings
10 wickets in match
Best bowling 2/76
Catches/stumpings –/–

Life

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Fitton was born in Ireland at Killarney in August 1911. He was educated in England at Trent College, before going up to Brasenose College, Oxford.[2] While studying at Oxford, he made a single appearance in first-class cricket for Oxford University against the touring South Americans at Oxford in 1932.[3] Fitton was unbeaten in both Oxford innings', with scores of 4 and 3 respectively. He also took two wickets with his right-arm medium-fast bowling in the South Americans first innings, dismissing Dennet Ayling and Cyril Ayling.[4]

Military career

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After graduating from Oxford, Fitton joined the Royal Air Force as a pilot officer on probation in October 1935.[5] From April 1936–September 1937, he was a pilot with 43 Squadron, before becoming a flight instructor in September 1937.[1] He was promoted to flying officer in April 1938,[6] before being granted the acting rank of flight lieutenant in April 1939 before relinquishing rank in August 1939.[7][8] Fitton transferred to the Technical Branch in April 1940,[1] at which point he held the full rank of flight lieutenant.[9][10] He was granted the temporary ranks of squadron leader in June 1941 and wing commander in June 1942.[11][12] In November 1942, he was made a full squadron leader, antedated to June 1941.[13]

Following the war, he was promoted to wing commander in July 1947,[14] before being promoted to group captain in July 1953.[15] Fitton became the deputy director of the Technical Services in September 1958,[1] He was promoted to air commodore in July 1961,[16] with Fitton being made an CBE in the 1962 New Year Honours.[17] In June 1963, he was appointed director of mechanical engineering with 1 RAF.[1] He retired from active service in August 1966.[18] Fitton died in Devon in August 2000.

Personal life

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Fitton was married to Ruth Trewyn, née Oliver. They had one son.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Air Commodore T E J Fitton (37393)". www.rafweb.org. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  2. ^ "Player profile: Thomas Fitton". CricketArchive. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  3. ^ "First-Class Matches played by Thomas Fitton". CricketArchive. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  4. ^ "Oxford University v South Americans, 1932". CricketArchive. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  5. ^ "No. 34219". The London Gazette. 12 November 1935. p. 7168.
  6. ^ "No. 34513". The London Gazette. 24 May 1938. p. 3358.
  7. ^ "No. 34619". The London Gazette. 25 April 1939. p. 2755.
  8. ^ "No. 34687". The London Gazette. 19 September 1939. p. 6353.
  9. ^ "No. 35083". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 February 1941. p. 1079.
  10. ^ "No. 34870". The London Gazette. 11 June 1940. p. 3519.
  11. ^ "No. 35187". The London Gazette. 10 June 1941. p. 3323.
  12. ^ "No. 35618". The London Gazette. 3 July 1942. p. 2925.
  13. ^ "No. 35791". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 November 1942. p. 5036.
  14. ^ "No. 38020". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 July 1947. p. 3421.
  15. ^ "No. 39900". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 June 1953. p. 3608.
  16. ^ "No. 42403". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 June 1961. p. 4932.
  17. ^ "No. 42552". The London Gazette. 29 December 1961. p. 9.
  18. ^ "No. 44090". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 August 1966. p. 9264.
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