Roger Topp
Roger Leslie Topp | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 14 May 1923 Chichester, West Sussex, England |
| Died | 6 March 2020 (aged 96) Norwich, Norfolk, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1939–1970 |
| Rank | Air Commodore |
| Unit | No. 111 Squadron RAF |
| Commands | No. 111 Squadron RAF (1955–1958) |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
| Awards | Air Force Cross with two Bars |
| Relations | Audrey Jeffery (m. 1945–1999, her death) |
Air Commodore Roger Leslie Topp AFC (14 May 1923 – 6 March 2020) was a British Royal Air Force (RAF) officer, test pilot, and aerobatic innovator who founded the Black Arrows, a predecessor to the Red Arrows, the RAF's premier aerobatic display team. Topp is best known for leading the Black Arrows to achieve a world record for the largest number of aircraft looped in formation—22 Hawker Hunters—at the 1958 Farnborough Air Show, a record that remains unbroken.[1]
Early life
[edit]Roger Leslie Topp was born on 14 May 1923 near Chichester, West Sussex, the son of a farmer.[1] He was educated at North Mundham School and left at age 15 to join the RAF as a boy entrant in the apprenticeship scheme in 1939.[1] He began training at the wireless and radio school at RAF Cranwell, but the outbreak of World War II interrupted his three-year course.[1] After two years, he served as a wireless mechanic at RAF Gosport.[1]
Military career
[edit]World War II
[edit]In 1944, Topp was selected for pilot training and sent to Canada under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.[1] Upon returning to the UK, with the demand for fighter pilots reduced, he was reassigned to fly gliders due to heavy losses of glider pilots during D-Day and Arnhem.[1] In March 1945, during a glider operation near the Rhine, Topp made a forced landing and destroyed an enemy gun emplacement with an anti-tank rocket launcher, showcasing his courage under pressure.[1]
Post-war service
[edit]Topp elected to remain in the RAF after the war, joining No. 98 Squadron RAF to fly de Havilland Mosquito fighters in Germany with the British Air Forces of Occupation.[1] He later became an instrument flying instructor, training pilots across multiple squadrons, and was awarded his first Air Force Cross (AFC) in 1950 for his instructional work.[2]
In 1950, Topp attended the Empire Test Pilots' School at Farnborough and remained as a test pilot at the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE). He conducted high-risk trials, including airborne structural testing of the de Havilland Comet following catastrophic crashes in the Mediterranean, earning a second Bar to his AFC in 1955.[2]
Black Arrows and No. 111 Squadron
[edit]In January 1955, Topp assumed command of No. 111 Squadron RAF ("Treble One") at RAF North Weald, later moving to RAF Wattisham in Suffolk.[3] Facing low morale, he introduced aerobatics to boost the squadron's spirit, forming the Black Arrows in 1956.[4] Under his leadership, the Black Arrows performed a world record-breaking loop of 22 Hawker Hunters at the 1958 Farnborough Air Show, followed by the first-ever 16-aircraft barrel roll.[3][1] This feat, accomplished on 7 September 1958, remains unmatched for the largest formation loop in aviation history.[3][5]
Topp also set a speed record on 8 August 1956, flying a Hawker Hunter from Edinburgh to London at an average speed of 717.504 mph, covering 331.6 miles in 27 minutes and 52.8 seconds.[2] He handed over command of No. 111 Squadron and the Black Arrows to Squadron Leader Peter Latham in October 1958.[3]
Later career
[edit]In 1959, Topp was promoted to Wing Commander and served as an air defence operations officer at Brockzetel, Germany.[1] He retired from the RAF in 1970 as an Air Commodore.[4] His aerobatic displays with the Black Arrows laid the groundwork for the formation of the Red Arrows in 1964, which cemented his legacy in RAF aerobatic history.[4][6]
Personal life
[edit]Topp married Audrey Jeffery in May 1945; she predeceased him in 1999. They had a son and a daughter.[1] Known for his modesty, Topp emphasized manners and respect, telling his son, "Manners are paramount, as is respect for others."[1] On his 90th birthday in 2013, he was reunited with his restored Hawker Hunter, named "Blackjack" after his call sign, at Wattisham Airfield Museum.[7]
Topp died on 6 March 2020 in Norwich, Norfolk, aged 96.[4] Tributes highlighted his inspirational role in aerobatic aviation, with historian David Eade noting that Topp's "foresight" influenced the Red Arrows.[4]
Legacy
[edit]Topp's leadership of the Black Arrows and their record-breaking performances elevated the RAF's aerobatic reputation, directly influencing the creation of the Red Arrows.[4] His contributions were recognized with three AFCs and widespread admiration within the aviation community.[2] Posts on social media following his death underscored his impact, with one user stating, "Leading 22 Hawker Hunters in a loop is no mean feat! Blue skies, Sir."[8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Air Commodore Roger Topp, pilot who flew gliders after D-Day and formed the Black Arrows display team – obituary". The Telegraph. 18 March 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Air Commodore Roger Topp AFC". 111 (F) Squadron Association. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Black Arrows". Wikipedia. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f "Tributes paid to Black Arrows leader Roger Topp, who inspired the RAF Red Arrows". East Anglian Daily Times. 10 March 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
- ^ @CcibChris (15 February 2025). "Black Arrows, one of predecessors to Red Arrows, aerobatic demo team formed 1956 by S/L Roger L.Topp..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "The Red Arrows: a history". Boundless by CSMA. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
- ^ "RAF Black Arrows Hawker Hunter 'presented' to ex-pilot". BBC News. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
- ^ @MikeLingPilot (12 March 2020). "Sad to learn that the Black Arrows leader Roger Topp, who inspired the @rafredarrows, has passed away..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
External links
[edit]- 111 (F) Squadron Association
- Red Arrows History at RAF Website
- BBC News: RAF Black Arrows Hawker Hunter 'presented' to ex-pilot
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