Ronald Morley Cox was born in Bromley, Kent, UK on the 23rd March 1925. His father had fought in France during World War I with the Canadian Highlanders. Wounded on three occasions he was finally discharged in June 1919. He died in 1933.



The family moved to Cornwall sometime after Ron’s father’s death and he attended Redruth Grammar School. Ron was a keen sportsman and he also joined the ATC. He later became an RAF Volunteer Reserve and was sent to Belfast in 1943. There he was awarded the Lord Wakefield prize for Best All-Round Cadet.



He was sent to Hyde Park Air Receiving Centre and in November 1943 posted to Marshall’s Airfield, Cambridge where he flew Tiger Moths, completing 12 hours training. From there the RAF sent him to Heaton Park, Manchester and in April 1944 Ron found himself with other recruits on the Isle de France liner to New York and from there to Moncton, New Brunswick. After a long wait he was transferred to No 5 British Flying Training School at Riddle Field, Clewiston, Florida where he joined Course 22.



His course included Bill Downs, Bill Dawson, Ron Edmunds, Geoff Hawes and Bill King along with another 95 cadets. Ron’s flight training began with 70 hours on Stearman aircraft, with his instructor Reed Clary. Training included air gunnery, night cross country and landing, lining up with six paraffin flare lamps on the runway, and instrument flying. The navigation system consisted of a beam from a radio beacon.



Next transferred to Harvards Ron completed 70 hours dual and 80 solo. He was presented with a special award by John Paul Riddle at the Wings Presentation Parade. His total flying time was now 230 hours, completed before his twentieth birthday.



Life in Florida included opportunities for sport and sight-seeing in Fort Myers, Palm Beach and Miami. Along with other cadets Ron was welcomed by Mr and Mrs Nesmith for weekend visits to their home.



Ron returned to the UK in April 1945 and was based in Harrogate.

After the atomic bombs were dropped on Japan in August 1945 Ron was sent to Little Rissington and then to Moreton Valence to convert to twin-engined Oxfords with a view to being posted in SE Asia. RAF pilots were assigned to Transport Command and in January 1946 he left the UK in a Liberator bound for Cairo.





Having remained at the Mena transit camp for five days they continued to Aden and then on to Karachi. Calcutta was revealed as the final destination and Dakotas the aircraft of choice. Ron flew fare-paying passengers between Calcutta, South East Asia and Hong Kong. The return trip to Hong Kong took a week and, as there was no air conditioning and no oxygen in the cockpit all flights flew no higher than 10,000 feet.



In July 1946 Ron was on flying missions to Chittagong dropping rice to areas cut off by flooding. From there more trips to Hong Kong, Rangoon and Cawnpore.

Ron returned to Southampton and from there to the Aircrew Reallocation Unit at South Cerney. He became a fully qualified air-traffic controller for the RAF going on to study history at King’s College, Cambridge. Flying continued with the University Air Squadron and from there to a career in printing.



Throughout his working life and retirement Ron has continued to fly light aircraft and still maintains his links with Florida and the 5BFTS Association. Ron was also elected an honorary life member of the Honourable Company of Air Pilots’ Flying Club and is a member of the University of London Air Squadron Former Members’ Association.