Researching John Cunningham

Cunningham was born in Croydon, and as a teenager was keen on entering the aviation industry. Temporarily abiding by his father's wishes for him to avoid the military, he approached the de Havilland company and was accepted as an engineering candidate. Concurrently, he joined the Royal Auxiliary Air Force and became a member of No. 604 (County of Middlesex) Squadron. Cunningham began his training in August 1935, flew solo in March 1936 and received his wings in 1937. He gradually became an established test pilot, gaining considerable flying time on different types of aircraft.

In August 1939 Cunningham rejoined his squadron, now equipped with a version of the Bristol Blenheim. His observer was Jimmy Rawnsley, who would serve as his gunner and radio operator for most of the war and contribute to all but three of his victories. In July 1940 the squadron was re-designated as a specialised night fighter unit and was amongst the first to receive airborne interception radar (AI). Cunningham was promoted to squadron leader in September 1940.

On the night of the 19 November 1940, Cunningham claimed his first victory. By the time the Blitz had ended in June 1941, he had destroyed 13 enemy aircraft and claimed three as probable victories, and two damaged. After a prolonged rest period, he was promoted to wing commander in 1942. He was also appointed to command No. 85 Squadron RAF, by which time his tally had reached 16 enemy aircraft destroyed. In 1943 and early 1944 he added a further four victories, one probable and one damaged. Cunningham's combat career ended with 20 aerial victories, three probable and six damaged. He spent the remainder of the conflict in various staff officer positions. By the end of the war in Europe in May 1945 he had attained the rank of group captain.

After the war Cunningham rejoined de Havilland and continued his test-pilot career. He flew the world's first jet airliner, the de Havilland Comet, in 1949. He then flew commercial jets for a time in the early 1960s and continued flying in the industry until the late 1970s. He also worked for British Aerospace as executive director, retiring in 1980. In recognition of his wartime exploits and his contribution to civil aviation he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

He was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the son of Richard Cunningham and Elizabeth Day, who was the daughter of John Day. Cunningham was educated at King's College in Windsor. In 1799, he married Ruth Amelia Irish, the daughter of settlers from Rhode Island. Cunningham served as a major in the militia, as a justice of the peace and as custos rotulorum. He was also an immigration agent and registrar of deeds. He was elected to the assembly in an 1808 by-election held after the election of William Allen Chipman was overturned and then again in an 1814 by-election held following the death of Samuel Hood George. Cunningham died at Antigonish Harbour at the age of 71.

He was married to his wife, Nuala, with whom he had four sons - Shane, Ivor, Gary and Enda. He died in 2012 following a battle with cancer.

Cunningham later moved to South Australia and played in 's 1997 South Australian National Football League (SANFL) Premiership side, winning the Jack Oatey Medal as the best player in the grand final.

For several years, he worked for the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) of the British Antarctic Territory (BAT). On 23 November 1964, he became the first to climb Antarctica's Mount Jackson. In 1960–61, he was a member of the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey, serving as Station Commander at Stonington Island in 1962–63. He was a member of the British Antarctic Survey, and was Station Commander of Adelaide Island in 1964–65. He was also a member of the South Georgia Survey of 1955–56. He died after a climbing accident off "sea-cliffs" of mountains of Holyhead on 31 January 1980, when he was carried away by sea waves to his death as he did not know how to swim.

Cunningham was born in Northampton, Western Australia, to Mary (née Lenahan) and Timothy Cunningham. He farmed in the area and was prominent in local agricultural circles, also serving on the Northampton Road Board. Cunningham entered parliament at the 1914 state election, replacing the retiring John Nanson. He was defeated at the 1917 election by Henry Maley, another endorsed Country candidate, and failed to even make the final two-candidate-preferred count. After leaving politics, Cunningham returned to farming. He died in Geraldton in October 1949, aged 81, and was unmarried.

As president, Cunningham was able to expand the endowment to five million dollars, almost double the size of the faculty, and increase the student population from around 160 students to 970 students. Cunningham also spearheaded the construction of several new buildings in order to accommodate the growth in students and faculty.

After leaving Davidson, Cunningham was appointed the executive director of the Southern Presbyterian Foundation.