THE PROVING FLIGHT

Arthur David Beaty ( March 28th, 1919 - December 4th, 1999 ) was born in Hatton ( former Ceylon, present day Sri Lanka ). He was educated at the Kingswood School ( Bath, Somerset, England ) followed by Merton College ( Oxford, Oxfordshire, England ) where he read History and edited Cherwell, a student newspaper. 

Whilst at Oxford, the Second World War broke out prompting him to volunteer for pilot training with Oxford University Air Squadron. David Beaty was initially rejected by the R.A.F. pilot selection panel. Thanks largely to the support of his university tutors, he eventually passed selection and completed flying training, receiving a pilot grading of " exceptional ". 

Following flying training, he joined the Coastal Command, flying the Consolidated Liberator. He completed four tours with No. 206 Squadron and was rewarded with the Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar ( D.F.C. & Bar = two D.F.C.'s ). 

After the war, David Beaty was offered a regular commission with the R.A.F. However, he turned down the opportunity and joined B.O.A.C. where he was posted to the carrier's flagship route across the North Atlantic. His flying career with B.O.A.C. was short - lived. Soon, he took up writing on a full - time basis. 

David Beaty wrote 20 novels ( under the names Paul Stanton and Robert Stanton ) as well as some non - fiction books, such as : The Take Off ( 1949 ), Cone of Silence ( 1959 ), Village of Stars ( as Paul Stanton, 1960 ), The Siren Song ( 1964 ), The Human Factor in Aircraft Accidents ( 1969 ), The White Sea Bird ( 1979 ), The Complete Skytraveller ( 1979 ), Wings of the Morning ( with Betty Beaty, 1982 ), Light Perpetual : Aviators' Memorial Windows ( 1995 ). 

( source : Wikipedia )