Foil: 52 Panel: 3 Column: 2 Line: 13

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Sponsor

Honored by:
Susan Pullin

Arthur James Pullin
ROC #34546–Aviation Biography

Arthur James Pullin was born in London, June 30, 1929. His parents were Arthur Albert Pullin and Emily Ann Collier. Arthur was raised in London throughout World War II. He was not evacuated like other children and lived through the Blitz.

In 1947 he was declared disabled for Conscription purposes following three intestinal operations. In May of 1947 he was a Corporal in 343 Squadron of the Air Training Corps, Camberwell, London.

On April 1st, 1948 he joined the Royal Observer Corps, 19 Group Yoke Four Post on the roof of Aske's School, New Cross, London. Headquarters of 19 Group was in Beckenham Place Park. Later 19 Group was erased and the Posts became 5 Group, Watford. The Royal Observer Corps was created within the Royal Air Force as a voluntary service that had rooftop Posts watching for aircraft and reporting sightings to the RAF before the invention of RADAR. In later years it became the service that would detect radiation fallout in the event of a nuclear attack, and the Posts were then located underground.

Arthur left London in 1954 after he married Vera Joyce Ross, and moved first to Biggin Hill, Kent, where he remained on 5 Group. In 1959 they moved to Borough Green, Kent and he transferred to 1 Group Maidstone, joining the Post in Borough Green.

He was promoted to Leading Observer (Post Instructor) and later Chief Observer. He was awarded the ROC Medal 1960, the 1st clasp in 1972 and the 2nd clasp in 1984.

He retired after 41 years of service in 1989 as an Observer Officer. During his time he attended two Royal Reviews at Bentley Priory with HM The Queen; 1966 and 1991. He was invited to attend the 1991 review after his retirement to escort Clerical Officer Alice Guest, who herself had served in the ROC in the Operations Room during the Battle of Britain and she was presented to Her Majesty.

Throughout his life Arthur has studied aviation history and became something of an expert on the Battle of Britain. He contributed aviation history articles to The RAFLET Philatelic Magazine and ROC publications.

In 1989 Arthur and Vera emigrated to the U.S. to be close to their children and grandchildren. As of this writing they live in Bumpass, Virginia at the ages of 92 and 93.