William Raymond COLLINGS

The son of a London schoolteacher, and one of twins, Pennington Collings was educated at Harrow View Preparatory school in Ealing, New College Sheer School in Oxford and then King’s College London. He attended the University of London Officer Training Corps in 1925, and obtained a commission into the RAF in 1928, with a permanent commission four years later as a flying officer. In 1932, after service in India, Collings moved to the electrical and wireless school at Cranwell, and during his time there, showed his qualities as a fine tennis player when he won the RAF Inter-station doubles title in 1935.

A pre-war test pilot, Collings was promoted to squadron leader in 1938, when he was also awarded the AFC. He was mentioned in dispatches in 1942, and later awarded the DSO. He was commander of 156 squadron in 1943-44, and retired from the RAF as a wing commander in 1956. A keen bobsledder, Collings was captain of both the 2- and 4-man teams at the 1948 St. Moritz Olympics. He was the founder of RAF Winter Sports Association.