Wing Commander Minden Vaughan Blake

The son of a country schoolmaster, "Mindy" Blake was born at Eketahuna on February 13 1913. Academically gifted, he graduated from Canterbury University in 1934 with an MSc (Hons) in mathematics. His academic excellence was coupled with great sporting prowess and a very inventive turn of mind. Having become New Zealand pole vault champion in 1936, he went on to take RAF titles in the sport both before and after the war.

While lecturing in physics at Canterbury University in 1936 he narrowly missed being awarded a Rhodes Scholarship but was subsequently successful in being accepted for graduate entry into the RAF under a Commonwealth scheme.  
 
Having completed his training in October 1937 Blake joined 17 Squadron, equipped with Gauntlet biplane fighters. He became a flight commander in June 1938 as the squadron began to receive its first Hurricanes.  
 
On 8 September 1939 Blake had a lucky escape when his engine cut after he had overshot his airfield making a night landing. In complete darkness he slowed the Hurricane to stalling speed at 300 feet, hit the chimney of Purley Hospital and crashed on to the foundations of the new nurses' home. He escaped with eighteen stitches in his scalp. The cause of the engine seizure was hay in the air intake and a modification by Rolls Royce subsequently prevented further occurrences of this problem.  
 
In April 1940 he was posted as an instructor but in the following August took command of 238 Squadron then moved on to command 234 Squadron in late September. During the Battle of Britain Blake destroyed three enemy aircraft and shared another. In late November he shot down a Do 17 and shared another leading to the award of the DFC.  
 
234 Squadron was re-equipped with Spitfires in February 1941 and began offensive sweeps over France. On 10 July the unit escorted bombers to attack shipping at Cherbourg and as the Spitfires turned for home they were attacked by Bf 109's. Blake destroyed two but his own aircraft was hit and he decided to ditch in the sea rather than bale out. A favourable wind helped him paddle his dinghy from a point seven miles from the French coast to within two miles of the Isle of Wight where he was picked up after twelve hours in the sea.  
 
In August 1941 Blake was appointed Wing Leader, firstly at Exeter, then Portreath, and by the time he received the DSO in July 1942 he had eight confirmed victories, with another three enemy aircraft shared. It was during this period that he used his inventive skills to produce the RAF's first gyroscopic gunsight.  
 
On 19 August 1942 Blake led his Wing during the Combined Operations raid on Dieppe. After shooting down a FW 190, he was again shot down into the sea. His eyes were badly injured during the dogfight having been cut by perspex splinters when a cannon shell smashed his windscreen. Despite his injuries he paddled his dingy through that day and into the night but was picked up by a German launch when only five miles from Dover.  
 
The Germans sent him to a hospital in Paris. After three weeks of treatment he was put on a train for Germany. He jumped from the train after escaping through a lavatory window but broke a hand and suffered further head injuries in the fall. After several days of freedom his already weakened condition worsened and he was recaptured, interrogated and sent to a prison camp from which he was not released until May 1945.  
 
Blake stayed on in the RAF until his retirement in 1958. He continued to live in England until his death there in November 1981.