Arthur Blake

Arthur Giles Blake (12 September 1917 – 29 October 1940) was a British flying ace of the Royal Navy (RN) during the Second World War. He was credited with five aerial victories. Born in Gateshead, Blake joined the RN in early 1939 and was assigned to the Fleet Air Arm for flight training. After the Battle of France, Blake was seconded to the Royal Air Force's Fighter Command due to a shortage of pilots. Posted to No. 19 Squadron as a reinforcement pilot in July, he flew extensively during the Battle of Britain and destroyed a number of German aircraft. He was killed in action two days before the official conclusion of the Battle of Britain. Early life One of eight children of John Blake, a sales representative, and his wife Mary, Arthur Giles Blake was born on 12 September 1917 in Gateshead, England. His family subsequently moved to Slough where he was educated. Following the completion of his schooling, Blake worked as a clerk. In 1938, he applied to join the Royal Navy (RN) on a short service commission with a view to becoming a pilot in the Fleet Air Arm (FAA). He was accepted and entered the RN early the following year. Blake, holding the rank of a midshipman, was first posted to the Royal Naval College at Greenwich. Then, in August he went to No. 20 Elementary Flying Training school, a Royal Air Force (RAF) facility at Gravesend, where he learnt to fly de Havilland Tiger Moth trainers. The following month he was promoted to acting sub-lieutenant.