Terry Bulloch | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Terence Malcolm Bulloch |
| Born | (1916-02-19)19 February 1916 Lisburn,County Antrim, Ireland |
| Died | 13 November 2014(2014-11-13) (aged 98) Buckinghamshire, England |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1936–1946 |
| Rank | Squadron Leader |
| Service number | 39373 |
| Unit | No. 120 Squadron |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Order &Bar Distinguished Flying Cross &Bar |
Squadron LeaderTerence Malcolm Bulloch,DSO* DFC* (19 February 1916 – 13 November 2014) was aRoyal Air ForceCoastal Command pilot during theSecond World War. He carried out the highest number of attacks onU-boats during theBattle of the Atlantic, sinking a record total of three (U-597,U-611 andU-514).
Bulloch, along with his twin sister Yvonne, was born on 19 February 1916 inLisburn,County Antrim, to Samuel, a linen trader, and Elsie Bulloch. His family moved toMalone Park,Belfast, when Bulloch was very young. Bulloch was educated at Mourne Grange School inKilkeel and laterCampbell College, Belfast – the same schools as his older brother Hugh Larmor McLearn Bulloch.[1] While at Campbell College, he joined theOfficers' Training Corps, becoming thesergeant piper.[2] Bulloch became interested in joining theRoyal Air Force after attending a lecture by aWing Commander fromRAF Aldergrove at Campbell College, who offered a flight in aVickers Virginia.[3]
Bulloch signed up with theRoyal Air Force in 1936 on a short service commission, having been denied entry toRoyal Air Force College Cranwell on medical grounds.[3] He underwent his initial training atPrestwick,Ayrshire, in the winter of 1936, before moving on toNo. 6 Flying Training School atRAF Netheravon, flying theHawker Hart andHawker Audax.[3] He received his commission as aPilot officer in May 1937.[1] Bulloch was posted toNo. 220 Squadron,Coastal Command, who were based atRAF Bircham Newton,Norfolk, flyingAvro Anson Mk.Is.[1][4] He was flying with No. 220 Squadron at the outbreak of war in September 1939, before being transferred toNo. 206 Squadron in early 1940.[2] Bulloch began flying theLockheed Hudson Mk.I after they were delivered to the squadron in March 1940.[5]
While operating the Hudson, Bulloch flew sorties over the Dutch, Belgian and French coasts – helping to support theBritish Expeditionary Forceevacuate Dunkirk in May/June 1940.[2] During this time, Bulloch shot down two German aircraft and was part of a detachment at RAF Aldergrove to flew anti-submarine sorties over the Atlantic.[1] In September 1940, he attacked Channel ports that were being used in preparation forOperation Sea Lion.[2] At the end of his first tour, Bulloch was awardedDistinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in October 1940,[6] and wasmentioned in dispatches the next month.[7]
Now aFlight Lieutenant, in December 1940 instead of being given leave, Bulloch was assigned to what would becomeRAF Ferry Command and was tasked with bringing aircraft across from North America to the United Kingdom.[1] On 13/14 April 1941, Bulloch became the first pilot to fly theBoeing B-17 Flying Fortress (known as the Fortress Mk.I in RAF service) across the Atlantic,[8] arriving at Prestwick after an eight-hour flight.[2] Bulloch later deliveredConsolidated Liberator GR.Is in June 1941.[1]
No. 120 Squadron was stood-up atRAF Nutts Corner, County Antrim, on 2 June 1941 as a maritime reconnaissance unit, equipped with the Liberator GR.I.[9] Bulloch marked a return to operational duties in August 1941, when he was posted to No. CXX Squadron.[2] On 21 October 1941, he participated in the squadron's first attack against a U-Boat using threedepth charges, however the damage was inconclusive.[2][10] Bulloch made six more U-Boat sightings over the next nine months,[2] before relocating toRAF Ballykelly,County Londonderry, in July 1942.[11] In September 1942, he was detached toRAF Reykjavik inIceland,[11] from here Bulloch sank the squadron's first submarineU-597 in the mid-Atlantic on 12 October 1942 while flyingAM929.[2] For his successful attack, Bulloch was awarded abar to his DFC.[6] On 1 December 1942, he was awarded theDistinguished Service Order (DSO) for his attacks onU-89 andU-132 on 5 November, for which he was credited with sinkingU-132 and damagingU-89.[12] On 8 December 1942, Bulloch came to the aid of convoy HX.217 who were under attack by awolfpack – sinkingU-611 and attacking another five with depth charges and machine gun fire – includingU-254 which was sunk after it had collided withU-211.[13] Bulloch left No. 120 Squadron in December 1942.[14] On 1 January 1943, Bulloch was awarded a bar to his DSO.[14]
In July 1943, Bulloch was attached toNo. 224 Squadron atRAF St. Eval,Cornwall to test the use of rockets on the Liberator.[15] Bulloch flew his first sortie with a rocket-fitted Liberator on 5 July but made no sightings.[15] With No. 224 Squadron, Bulloch carried out an attack onU-514 on 8 July 1943, sinking it with depth charges nearCape Finisterre withBZ721, having initially attacked with rockets.[2]
In 1944, Bulloch joinedNo. 231 Squadron, which had reformed on 8 September 1944 atDorval,Canada.[16] With No. 231 Squadron, he primarily ferried aircraft across the Atlantic.[2] By the time he left the RAF in July 1946, Bulloch had logged 4,658 flying hours (2,059 on operations) and 350 operational sorties,[13] including 1,721 hours on Liberators.[1]
Bulloch joined theBritish Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) as a Senior Captain in July 1946.[17] While with BOAC, he flew numerous types such as theLockheed L-749 Constellation,Boeing 377 Stratocruiser,Boeing 707 andBoeing 747.[2] By the time he retired in 1974, Bulloch had flown over six million miles and had crossed the Atlantic 1,113 times.[1]
Bulloch died on 13 November 2014.[2] The Royal Air Force named aBoeing Poseidon MRA1 ZP803 in his honour.[18]