Sidney McQuillan

November 23, 2016

Admitted to: SSQ. RAF Hospital Ely. (21/02/45).		Date of Injury: 21/02/1945
D.O.B/Age when admitted: 06/09/1920 (25)		Cause of Incident: Enemy Action. Crashed at parent drome when hit by enemy fighter.
Transferred to QVH: 26/11/1945		Injuries: Burns to face and hands.
No. of Operations at East Grinstead: 10

IDENTITY CARD

This is to certify that the patient mentioned below and whose description is stated hereon is the authorised holder of this Identity card.

Forename: Sidney			Surname: McQuillan
Service No: 1542879			Nationality: British

Awards/Honours: ---			Patient Unit: 196 Sqn
Profession: Wireless Op/Air Gunner			Patient Rank: WO

Death: 29/12/2008			Age at Death: ---
Dr Rank:			Dr Unit:

Notes:

Previously: RAF Innsworth; No 4 Radio School, Madley; 10 AFU, Dumfries; 81 out Ashbourne.

Attacked by JU 88 while on approach to landing, too low to bail out, but pilot managed successful landing. Escaped through the astrodome and down the wing. Grab burning fire extinguisher, burns hands + crush injuries.

Visits Falklands burns injured.

Glossary:

AFU - Advanced Flying Unit
SSQ - Station Sick Quarters

Further Reading:

McIndoe's Army' By Edward Bishop.
'Goldfish, Caterpillars & Guinea Pigs: Accounts of Pilots of Air Crews From The Second World War', by Colin Pateman, Chapter 26, pp. 222-40.
'Looking Back', Sid McQuillan, The Guinea Pig, Christmas 1966, pp. 23-5.

References:

'How I Became a Guinea Pig', Sid McQuillan, The Guinea Pig, July 1984, p. 25.

East Grinstead Museum Collection:
EGRTM 2751.63 - Set of five images of members of the Guinea Pig Club, including McQuillan.
EGRTM 2785.72 - Photograph of McQuillan and his wife talking to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh at a Guinea Pig event.