James Brian Tait | |
|---|---|
 Tait on the wreck of the German battleship Tirpitz, 1945 | |
| Nickname(s) | "Tirpitz" |
| Born | 9 December 1916 Manchester, England |
| Died | 31 August 2007 (aged 90) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1936–64 |
| Rank | Group Captain |
| Commands | RAF Coningsby (c. 1953–55) No. 617 Squadron No. 78 Squadron (1942, 1944) No. 35 Squadron (1941) No. 51 Squadron (1941) |
| Battles / wars | Second World War |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Order & Three Bars Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar Mentioned in Despatches (2) |
| Other work | Computer programmer with ICL |
Group Captain James Brian "Willie" Tait, DSO & Three Bars, DFC & Bar (9 December 1916 – 31 August 2007) was an officer in the Royal Air Force during and after the Second World War. He conducted 101 bombing missions during the war, including the one that finally sank the German battleship Tirpitz in 1944. He succeeded Leonard Cheshire as commander of the famous 617 Squadron and with six gallantry decorations to his name, remains one of the most distinguished airmen in the history of the nations of the British Commonwealth.