John Cunningham achieved 20 personal victories, damaged 7 aircraft, and possibly shot down 3 more. His first victory occurred on November 19, 1940. He served with the 604th and 85th Squadrons, actively participating in the night defense of Great Britain. Cunningham flew the Blenheim, Beaufighter, and Mosquito aircraft during his distinguished career.
Early Victories and Night Operations
Cunningham secured his first victory in a Beaufighter on the night of November 19-20, 1940. He subsequently became one of the most successful Allied night aces, downing 19 enemy aircraft at night during the war and one more in daytime, but under conditions where regular day fighters were not engaged in combat.
This particular daytime engagement is notable because it lasted quite long. Cunningham didn’t win by using his onboard weapons but rather by simply “outflying” his enemy, eventually forcing them to make a mistake, which resulted in the German aircraft crashing to the ground.
“Before we leveled out, Jocko excitedly yelled, ‘Straight ahead! Another one, just a few hundred yards away!’ I started a sharp turn when Jocko yelled again, ‘Look! He’s only two hundred yards away, slightly higher. You’re closing too fast!’
‘Oh, God! I see him!’ I shouted back. Right above me, another Bf 110 was in a deep turn. At the speeds we were flying, it seemed like a little more and we’d be flat as a pancake. I sharply pulled back on the stick and immediately opened fire on the dark silhouette from less than 50 yards! A dazzling flash erupted, and the Messerschmitt seemed to explode right in front of me.”
Transition to Mosquito and Post-War Career
Cunningham achieved his first 16 victories in a Beaufighter while with the 604th Squadron. After this period, he and his permanent navigator, Jimmy Rawnsley, received a brief leave. From mid-1943, they continued their service, this time with the 85th Squadron, which was equipped with Mosquito aircraft.
By this time, opportunities for encountering the enemy in the night sky had diminished, and German pilots were exceedingly cautious. Nevertheless, Cunningham’s list of victims grew to include three more Focke-Wulf FW 190 fighter-bombers and one Messerschmitt Me 410. After the war, he served for a long time as the chief test pilot for the De Havilland company, becoming most famous for testing the Comet jetliner.