[Jonathan Saunders]

I see this is an old thread but as my aviation interest, which has ultimately brought me here, is based on local research I recently undertook on the McCudden family, so it seems apt for me to make my first post here.

There was a fourth brother, Maurice Vincent McCudden born in 1901. Unlike his three elder brothers, he went straight into the RFC rather than the Royal Engineers. He enlisted as a "Boy" around 1916.

To cut along story short, in 1920 he was accepted for pilot training, I think at the direct intervention of Trenchard who had somehow ensured the family would be able to cover any costs. However Maurice failed the medical due to a childhood head injury and it was then arranged he would be released from the service, and would be able to gain his pilot licence with the Royal Aircraft Factory/Establishment in a civilian role. He then went on to become a very well respected test pilot before I think ill health grounded him. During this period he also raced motorbikes (another McCudden family passion) at Brooklands. In 1933 he became gravely ill with abdominal problems and died shortly after an operation in 1934, aged 33.