FLight Lieutenant George Willaim Starling MBE Royal Air Force
George William Starling jnr
The Man George William Starling junior was born on Monday 12th November 1928 in Goole, Yorkshire, son of George William Senior, a LNER Signalman and Emily Strickland nee Duckels and appears to be an only child.
In 1938 the family moved to Whitley Bay, where his father was actively involved in the St John Ambulance Brigade. The 1939 Register shows George junior living with his parents at 104 Beverly Road, Whitley Bay and still attending school. He was educated at Snaith and Norton junior schools and completed his education at Whitley Bay Grammar School.
He was too young to serve in the Armed Forces during World War II but worked for one of the many local civil defence organisations, being awarded the Defence Medal at the end of the war aged 16!
In 1947 aged 18 he joined the Royal Air Force at Padgate with service number 2337638 and after training in Wiltshire and Somerset, posted to Transport Command. After time in London, he served with No 46 Group seeing extensive service during the Berlin Airlift from June 1948 to September 1949. 46 Group was disbanded on 15 October 1949 at Lüneburg Airfield. He later served in Austria, Italy, Singapore, Gibraltar and Malta.
On leaving the RAF as a Sergeant, he became involved with the Air Training Corps in 1953 in Whitley Bay. In 1962 he moved to Berwick Upon Tweed when he purchased the Castlegate Dairy, which he ran for 15 years. On 19th August 1967 aged 39 he was also Commissioned as a Pilot Officer into the RAF VR(T) at 1016 (Berwick) Squadron ATC and on 22nd August 1969 promoted to Flying Officer. A year later in 1970 he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant and took over command of 1016 Squadron.
In 1938 the family moved to Whitley Bay, where his father was actively involved in the St John Ambulance Brigade. The 1939 Register shows George junior living with his parents at 104 Beverly Road, Whitley Bay and still attending school. He was educated at Snaith and Norton junior schools and completed his education at Whitley Bay Grammar School.
He was too young to serve in the Armed Forces during World War II but worked for one of the many local civil defence organisations, being awarded the Defence Medal at the end of the war aged 16!
In 1947 aged 18 he joined the Royal Air Force at Padgate with service number 2337638 and after training in Wiltshire and Somerset, posted to Transport Command. After time in London, he served with No 46 Group seeing extensive service during the Berlin Airlift from June 1948 to September 1949. 46 Group was disbanded on 15 October 1949 at Lüneburg Airfield. He later served in Austria, Italy, Singapore, Gibraltar and Malta.
On leaving the RAF as a Sergeant, he became involved with the Air Training Corps in 1953 in Whitley Bay. In 1962 he moved to Berwick Upon Tweed when he purchased the Castlegate Dairy, which he ran for 15 years. On 19th August 1967 aged 39 he was also Commissioned as a Pilot Officer into the RAF VR(T) at 1016 (Berwick) Squadron ATC and on 22nd August 1969 promoted to Flying Officer. A year later in 1970 he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant and took over command of 1016 Squadron.
Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. Defence Medal. Cadet Forces Medal.
In 1976, he joined the Special Constabulary and in 1977 sold Castlegate Dairy to Associated Cooperative Creameries. He then worked in the motor industry at Peter Spellman Ltd in Spittal, Northumberland as their Sales Manager and in 1978 became self-employed.
In 1979 he was awarded his Cadet Forces Medal, still as OC 1016 Sqn and promoted to Section Officer in the Special Constabulary in 1981. In addition to the ATC and SC he was on the Committee of Berwick Sailing Club for five years and their President for three. He was a founder member of the Millfield Gliding Club and Chairman for two years of the Berwick Entertainments Committee.
In the London Gazette of 31st December 1982, George was appointed as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Military Division for his services to the Air Training Corps. Something he described as “An honour for the work done by all the staff who over the past 15 years have done so much for the Air Training Corps in Berwick and for the Wing”.
On 22nd August 1986 aged 57 he retired from the RAF VR(T) retaining his rank of Flight Lieutenant. He maintained his association with 1016 Sqn becoming Chairman and lived at 13 Church Street and later 14 Askew Crescent in Berwick.
George seems to have never married and passed away on 25th March 2019 aged 90 in hospital at Berwick. There was a private cremation followed by a memorial service at St Andrew’s Church, Wallace Green, Berwick on 11th April 2019 at 1130h. Donations could be made to 1016 Sqn ATC.
In 1979 he was awarded his Cadet Forces Medal, still as OC 1016 Sqn and promoted to Section Officer in the Special Constabulary in 1981. In addition to the ATC and SC he was on the Committee of Berwick Sailing Club for five years and their President for three. He was a founder member of the Millfield Gliding Club and Chairman for two years of the Berwick Entertainments Committee.
In the London Gazette of 31st December 1982, George was appointed as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Military Division for his services to the Air Training Corps. Something he described as “An honour for the work done by all the staff who over the past 15 years have done so much for the Air Training Corps in Berwick and for the Wing”.
On 22nd August 1986 aged 57 he retired from the RAF VR(T) retaining his rank of Flight Lieutenant. He maintained his association with 1016 Sqn becoming Chairman and lived at 13 Church Street and later 14 Askew Crescent in Berwick.
George seems to have never married and passed away on 25th March 2019 aged 90 in hospital at Berwick. There was a private cremation followed by a memorial service at St Andrew’s Church, Wallace Green, Berwick on 11th April 2019 at 1130h. Donations could be made to 1016 Sqn ATC.
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George Starling's miniature medals and British Army on the Rhine Commemorative Medal 'Berlin Airlift'.
The Advertiser Thursday 6th January 1983
The Journal. Saturday 23rd October 2010.
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George Starling (right) Alan Beith MP making presentation. 1016 (Berwick) Squadron Air Training Corps.
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Medal Details:
- Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire: Unnamed as awarded.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- Cadet Forces Medal: FLT.LT. G.W.STARLING. R.A.F.V.R (T)
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