Born on 1 February, 1912 at Southsea, Hampshire, Mermagen was educated at Brighton College. He joined the RAF on a short service commission in 1930 and went on to be a pilot with No 43 Squadron.
“Tubby” Mermagen was posted to the Central Flying School, Upavon in February 1934, for a course. He instructed with the Oxford University Air Squadron and then at a flying training school at Netheravon. On 1 June 1936 he was granted a Permanent Commission.
Mermagen joined the staff at CFS in August 1936. He led the Inverted Flying Formation at the 1937 Hendon Air Display and performed individual aerobatics before the King on 9 May 1938.
In February 1939 Mermagen took command of RAF Usworth. It was upgraded to a Wing Commander appointment, but Mermagen remained at Usworth as Officer i/c Administration and Operations.
During October he moved to Duxford, to reform and command No 222 Squadron, initially with Blenheims but with Spitfires from March 1940.
Over Dunkirk on June 1 he destroyed a Bf 110, the squadron’s first success. He would later recall his exchange with one of his Flight Commanders, Flight Lieutenant Douglas Bader, after the aircraft had returned.
Mermagen said: “Well, I must say I was most surprised when that thing fell down.”
Bader responded: “I must say, so were the rest of us.”
On 19 June Squadron Leader Mermagen damaged a He 111 at night over Hull. He was awarded the AFC in July.
On 31 July 1940 Mermagen was posted to RAF Warmwell, for ops duties. He joined HQ No 9 Group on 9 August, again for ops duties. He was attached to HQ No 12 Group on 12 August.
He temporarily commanded No 266 Squadron at Wittering for five days from 12 September.
Mermagen commanded RAF Speke and then RAF Valley. He was posted to the Middle East and then held staff appointments in the UK and France as well as serving in Berlin.
Tubby Mermagen retired from the RAF on 14 November 1960 as an Air Commodore.
He was appointed OBE in 1941, advanced to CBE in 1945 and became CB in 1960. He died in January 1998. In his youth he appeared as a Rugby Union wing three-quarter for Richmond and the RAF.
