Dave Southwood joined the Royal Air Force in 1973, then in 1985 he graduated from the Empire Test Pilots' School (ETPS) long course, winning the McKenna Trophy which was awarded to the student test pilot who, in the opinion of the staff, through their skill, attitude, teamwork and effort, exhibited the best example of the spirit of aircraft test and evaluation throughout the course.  

On graduation from ETPS he was posted to A Squadron (now Fast Jet Test Squadron) at RAF Boscombe Down where he was project test pilot for extensive test flying from the initial phases of the Tornado GR1, through to all the weapons and avionics upgrades to the Tornado GR4, and the development of the Tornado F3 fighter variant for the RAF.  He also led the test flying of numerous Urgent Operational Requirements modifications to the Buccaneer and Jaguar for the first Gulf War.  Most significantly, his abilities were recognised in being selected as the test pilot on a classified UK team that was invited to preview the United States’ F-117 Stealth Fighter while the aircraft was still a ‘Black’ programme hidden from most US and all non-US citizens. 

From A Squadron, Dave moved to ETPS where he spent a large part of his test flying career as an instructor, including several spells as the course Principal instructor.  During this time he used his spare time to fly and displayed numerous classic aircraft, notably the Messerschmitt 109 and the Hawker Hunter.  

Dave’s command of flight test practice and theory, supported by his experience in a wide variety of types, made him seen increasingly as the ‘go to’ expert for flight test advice, both within and outside the UK military.  This included assisting universities in the modelling of various prototypes and innovative aircraft designs’ flying characteristics through clinical simulator evaluation and assessment and in advising flying organisations on the characteristics and foibles of classic aircraft types.

Throughout his career, Dave combined his exceptional practical flying skill with a deep understanding of aerodynamics, flight mechanics and aircraft evaluation. Whether contributing to military aircraft development programmes, instructing future generations of test pilots and flight test engineers, or supporting research into novel aircraft concepts, he consistently advanced both the practice and understanding of flight test. His influence extends far beyond the aircraft he flew personally, through the many test pilots, engineers and researchers whose careers he shaped. 

Dave had a contagious and unbound enthusiasm for aviation in all respects, affording him the status of a professor who was also a naturally gifted pilot.  He enabled his students to get the very best from each flight, encouraging them all to have the ‘curious mind’ which enabled the development of their observational powers.  His uncanny ability to exploit theoretical understanding and go back to first principles, using complex aerodynamic derivatives as if they were simple arithmetic, was beyond impressive and a legend in the test pilot community.  Those who were lucky enough to have his guidance and fellowship during their careers were truly made the better for it; he shaped so many great test pilots and engineers during his career which has made an enormous difference to the standard of developmental aviation in the round. He has always had the ability to give people a desire to learn, explore and investigate.   

Dave Southwood’s contribution to aviation has been exceptional. As a test pilot, flight test instructor, mentor and ambassador, he has influenced and advanced the understanding and practice of aircraft evaluation of several generations of pilots and engineers, contributing to the art and science of aviation and flight test over many years.  There is no more deserving recipient of the Derry and Richards Memorial Medal.

1953  Wg Cdr J H Heyworth

1953/54  Wg Cdr R Beamont

1954/55  L P Twiss Esq

1955/56  Sqn Ldr J S Fifield

1956/57  M Randrup Esq

1957/58  T W Brook-Smith Esq

1959/60  A W Bedford Esq

1960/61  M J Lithgow Esq

1961/62  E B Trubshaw Esq

1962/63  H C H Merewether Esq

1963/64  P Bugge Esq

1964/65  E B Trubshaw Esq

1965/66  J Cunningham Esq

1966/67  H Cliff Rogers Esq DFC

1967/68  D G Taylor Esq

1968/69  J L Dell Esq

1969/70  T P Frost Esq

1970/71  W Gellatley Esq

1971/72  Duncan Simpson Esq

1972/73  J Cochrane Esq

1973/74  W P I Fillingham Esq

1975   not awarded

1975/76  Gilbert Defer Esq

1976/77  T M S Ferguson Esq

1978   not awarded

1978/79  Paul Millett Esq

1979/80  John F Farley Esq

1980/81  David Eagles Esq

1982   not awarded

1982/83  H R Radford Esq

1983/84  ChristopherYeo Esq

1984/85  Jeremy Lee Esq AFC

1985/86  Roy Moxham Esq

1986/87  J A Robinson Esq

1987/88  H E Frick Esq

1988/89  Angus M McVitie Esq

1989/90  K P Orme Esq

1991  not awarded

1991/92  P A Sedgwick Esq

1992/93  C F Roberts Esq

1993/94  C W Hague Esq

1995   not awarded

1995/96  D L J Thomas Esq

1996/97  Graham Tomlinson Esq

1997/98  Jeremy P Tracy Esq

1998/99  Sqn Ldr David R Southwood BSc AFC RAF

1999/2000  Keith Hartley

2000/01  Derek Reeh

2001/02  Simon Hargreaves

2002/03  Gordon G (Jock) Reid FRAeS

2003/04  Paul Hopkins

2004/05  John Turner

2006  not awarded

2006/07  Graham M Archer

2007/08  Peter Lawrence Chandler

2008/09  Iain Young MBE BSc FRAeS

2009/10  Graham Tomlinson

2010/11  Edward (Ed) Strongman

2011/12  Andrew Warner MA(Oxon) MRAeS

2012/13  Peter Wilson

2013/14  Mark Bowman

2015  not awarded

2016  Lt Cdr Robert Dowdell RNR

2017  Andrew Strachan

2018   Frank Chapman

2019 - 2020  Not awarded

2021  Kelly Latimer

2022  Phillip O'Dell

2023  Flight Lieutenant Aaron How RAAF

2024  Not awarded

2025  Not awarded