{{Short description|British aerospace engineer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}} {{Use British English|date=September 2017}} '''Thomas Henry Kerr''' {{post-nominals|CB}} (18 June 1924 – 9 September 2004) was a British aerospace engineer. He served as a Royal Air Force pilot during World War II. He later served as the director of the Royal Aircraft Establishment and director of research and development at Royal Ordnance. He was president of the Royal Aeronautical Society from 1985 to 1986.{{cn|date=December 2024}}

==Early life== Kerr was born on 18 June 1924 in Nottingham, England,<ref name="obit - Times">{{cite news|title=Thomas Kerr|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/obituaries/article2081476.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150603115228/http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/obituaries/article2081476.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 June 2015|access-date=12 August 2013|newspaper=The Times|date=18 November 2004}}</ref> to Albert Edward Kerr and his wife Francis Jane Kerr (née Simpson).<ref name="Who Was Who">{{cite web|title=KERR, Thomas Henry|url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whowaswho/U22962|work=Who Was Who|publisher=A & C Black|accessdate=12 August 2013|date=November 2012}}</ref> His father had served in World War I as an air observer.<ref name="obit - Times" /> He was educated at Magnus Grammar School, Newark-on-Trent.<ref name="Who Was Who" /> In 1941, the school formed an Air Training Corps squadron which he immediately joined.<ref name="obit - Times" />

Having served as a pilot during World War II, he was demobilised in 1946. He then joined Durham University, where he studied physics.<ref name="obit - Times" /> He graduated in 1949 with a first class Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree.<ref name="obit - Times" /><ref name="Who Was Who" />

===Military service=== Having attended the Durham University short course,<ref name="obit - Times" /> Kerr joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1942.<ref name="Who Was Who" /> He trained as a pilot and later served as a flying instructor.<ref name="obit - Times" /> Having held the rank of aircraftman 2nd class, he was commissioned as a pilot officer on probation on 27 May 1944.<ref name="LG 15 December 1944">{{London Gazette |issue=36844 |date=15 December 1944 |pages=5796–5799 |supp=y }}</ref> On 27 November 1944, his commission was confirmed and he was promoted to war substantive flying officer.<ref name="LG 27 March 1945">{{London Gazette |issue=37007 |date=27 March 1945 |page=1724 |supp=y }}</ref> He was promoted to war substantive flight lieutenant on 27 May 1946.<ref name="LG 18 June 1946">{{London Gazette |issue=37619 |date=18 June 1946 |page=3158 |supp=y }}</ref> With the end of World War II, the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve was reconstituted and he retained his commission with the rank of flight lieutenant dated to 1 January 1948.<ref name="LG 20 February 1948">{{London Gazette |issue=38218 |date=20 February 1948 |page=1430 |supp=y }}</ref> He relinquished his commission on 1 January 1953.<ref name="LG 2 January 1953">{{London Gazette |issue=39745 |date=2 January 1953 |page=165 |supp=y }}</ref>

==Career== In September 1949, Kerr joined the Royal Aircraft Establishment.<ref name="obit - Times" /> As part of its ''Aero Flight'',<ref name="Who Was Who" /> he researched into factors affecting the spinning of aircraft.<ref name="obit - Times" />

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/thomas-kerr-s3tdtd5dwlv Obituary - The Times]

{{s-start}} {{s-npo|pro}} {{s-break}} {{s-vac|unknown}} {{s-ttl|title=President of the Royal Aeronautical Society|years=1985&ndash;1986}} {{s-aft|after=John Fozard}} {{s-end}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kerr, Thomas}} Category:1924 births Category:2004 deaths Category:Companions of the Order of the Bath Category:British aerospace engineers Category:Royal Air Force pilots of World War II Category:Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve personnel of World War II Category:Alumni of University College, Durham Category:People educated at Magnus Church of England School Category:Royal Air Force officers