Terence Bulloch

Squadron Leader Terence Malcolm Bulloch, (19 February 1916 – 13 November 2014) was a Royal Air Force Coastal Command pilot during the Second World War. He carried out the highest number of attacks on U-boats during the Battle of the Atlantic, sinking a record total of three (U-597, U-611 and U-514).

Early life Bulloch, along with his twin sister Yvonne, was born on 19 February 1916 in Lisburn, County Antrim, to Samuel, a linen trader, and Elsie Bulloch. His family moved to Malone Park, Belfast, when Bulloch was very young. Bulloch was educated at Mourne Grange School in Kilkeel and later Campbell College, Belfast – the same schools as his older brother Hugh Larmor McLearn Bulloch. While at Campbell College, he joined the Officers' Training Corps, becoming the sergeant piper. Bulloch became interested in joining the Royal Air Force after attending a lecture by a Wing Commander from RAF Aldergrove at Campbell College, who offered a flight in a Vickers Virginia.

Military service 1936–1941 A No. 206 Squadron Lockheed Hudson Mk.I, which Bulloch flew between March and December 1940. Bulloch signed up with the Royal Air Force in 1936 on a short service commission, having been denied entry to Royal Air Force College Cranwell on medical grounds. He was flying with No. 220 Squadron at the outbreak of war in September 1939, before being transferred to No. 206 Squadron in early 1940.

While operating the Hudson, Bulloch flew sorties over the Dutch, Belgian and French coasts – helping to support the British Expeditionary Force evacuate Dunkirk in May/June 1940. and was mentioned in dispatches the next month.

Now a Flight Lieutenant, in December 1940 instead of being given leave, Bulloch was assigned to what would become RAF Ferry Command and was tasked with bringing aircraft across from North America to the United Kingdom. arriving at Prestwick after an eight-hour flight. Bulloch marked a return to operational duties in August 1941, when he was posted to No. CXX Squadron. Bulloch made six more U-Boat sightings over the next nine months, In September 1942, he was detached to RAF Reykjavik in Iceland, On 8 December 1942, Bulloch came to the aid of convoy HX.217 who were under attack by a wolfpack – sinking U-611 and attacking another five with depth charges and machine gun fire – including U-254 which was sunk after it had collided with U-211. Bulloch left No. 120 Squadron in December 1942. On 1 January 1943, Bulloch was awarded a bar to his DSO. Bulloch flew his first sortie with a rocket-fitted Liberator on 5 July but made no sightings. With No. 231 Squadron, he primarily ferried aircraft across the Atlantic. While with BOAC, he flew numerous types such as the Lockheed L-749 Constellation, Boeing 377 Stratocruiser, Boeing 707 and Boeing 747.