F/Lt. Thomas Archibald Douglas Ignatius McArdle
Royal Air Force
from:Whitley Bay, Northumberland
On 7th February 1934, aged 18 years, Tom McArdle joined the RAF in the ranks. (Tom's only option - he said there were no jobs to be had in civilian life in the Whitley Bay area at all.)
In 1935, aged 20 years, he was part of the RAF swimming team; at one stage he was in the same training group and barracks as actor Rex Harrison. He was training in armaments, which continued through his service. Tom also trained with the RAF rugby team.
In 1942, aged 27, Flt. Sgt. Thomas Archibald Douglas Ignatious [sic] McArdle on 4th February (Seny. 5th Aug. 1941) had his wings as Flt Sgt (London Gazette 28 April 1942).
In 1944, aged 29, he is listed as temporary rank Flt Lieut. T.A.D. McArdle. (Ex-forces records: I have not had sight of the full record, just a search result.)
Tom's last day of service was on 23rd November 1945, as a Flight-lieut (temp). He said he had been acting Sqn Ldr as his final rank. He was offered a further career in the New Zealand Air Force as Wing Commander immediate, but declined as he had 'had a bellyful' of the career structure of the RAF and its commissioned-officer social background. He enjoyed the job but disliked the environment he moved in which was snobbish and patronising to 'lower-class' officers.
Tom was serving at Didcot around 1942. He died in South Africa in 1998.
