Peter Page obituary

My father, Peter Page, who has died aged 90, was instrumental in the testing of aircraft ejection seats following service in the Parachute Regiment during the second world war.

Born in West Bromwich, Staffordshire, Peter never knew his father, Sydney, who died when he was less than a month old. He was the sixth child and, with his siblings, was brought up in straitened circumstances.

Before the second world war, Peter worked as a cinema projectionist at the Savoy cinema, in Fareham, Hampshire. After enlisting as an RAF cadet, he volunteered for the RAF Regiment as soon as it was formed in 1942. At one point on the German frontier, he and his corporal engaged enemy forces and killed seven frontline fighters. For this conspicuous action, Peter was mentioned in dispatches.

In 1944, he married Doris Sleet, in Islington, north London. He then transferred to the Parachute Regiment, and later became the signals operator to Brigadier Gerald Lathbury. He saw further action after dropping at Nijmegen, in the Netherlands.

Following demobilisation, Peter joined the Martin-Baker company, which had been invited by the Ministry of Aircraft Production to investigate the practicality of providing a means of assisted escape for fighter pilots and the development of aircraft ejection seats began. After many static and airborne dummy tests, a series of "live" ejections was programmed. Chief test pilot Bernard Lynch went first, and Peter second: both were successful. James Martin wanted to ensure his invention worked at higher speeds and, at 410 mph, Peter ejected into the unknown – and into disaster.

His feet were forced out of their rests and he hung precariously as the seat dropped 7,000 ft under its own parachute. Bad luck continued as the seat and its occupant landed heavily on the concrete runway. Peter's injuries were life-threatening. Both knees had torn ligaments and he sustained spinal damage. He spent six months in University College Hospital wearing a special body cast. Following modifications, the fourth test by Lynch was successful, but Peter never received full recognition for his pioneering efforts.

He then worked in the motor trade as a field service representative for Henlys, and at Mann-Egerton as a parts area representative before retiring. After my mother's death in 1989, Peter was lost. He then found companionship with Kay and, after her death, with Pat; both she and Peter were ardent dog lovers. After Pat's death in 2012, Peter lived alone in his house in Potton, Bedfordshire.

He is survived by me, by his half-sister, Marion Littlehales, and by several nieces and nephews.

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