I explained the situation to Eric when he arrived and we climbed aboard. After about ten minutes airborne heavy rain and turbulence hit us. I confess that I had not expected such extreme conditions and decided that I must land and wait for the front to go through.
    I caught sight of Upper Heyford runway - just one end of it - and called the USAF for landing clearance. An aggressive American controller replied "What's your praablem?". I said I was now declaring an emergency landing and would explain matters when on the ground.
    The final approach in blinding rain, considerable crosswind and turbulence was not easy and we were lucky to keep straight and not burst a tyre.
    We came to a halt in the middle of the airfield and were immediately surrounded by Jeeps carrying armed US military police, 'whitecaps'. I called back to Eric (a rather pale Eric) to let me do the talking. I shall never forget him descending from the Rapide to be greeted by a 'whitecap' holding a gun to his left ear.
     Now, Upper Heyford was a USAF Strategic Air Command base and the boss, General Curtis Le May, was in the habit of sending in test cases to catch them out on security. And here was a gaily painted, antique, twin engined biplane, a man in flying overalls, and an immaculate gentleman in a natty pin-stripe suit complete with brief case claiming, to be a Director of a major aviation company.
    Within minutes we were in the guardroom, a bare cell with three chairs. Could we identify ourselves, asked the MPs? "Ah, yes" says our Commercial Director, opening his bulging brief case; but it contained not one piece of paper bearing his name or position. We suggested that they 'phoned Kingston and after two hours under guard we were eventually released. Then, a hire car to Wonersh.
    The following day I received a charming letter from Eric thanking me for saving him, saving the aeroplane, and saving me.
    That was the end of our favourite DH 89A Rapide, G-AHGC, and we took delivery of a new, modern, de Havilland dove airliner, G-ASMG.
    Footnotes. I collected the Rapide from Upper Heyford the following day. Sure enough the starboard engine harness was saturated and the Gipsy Six ran rough until we were over Oxford. Shamefully, the Rapide was dismantled and unceremoniously dumped on the Dunsfold's November 5th bonfire! Following many protests it was removed, rebuilt and flown to the Channel Islands.
    Eric Rubython was a 'people person' relating to all levels of the Company and many of us remember various acts of kindness, although from time to time he had his other moments - don't we all! He was, in his spare time, a keen gardener, golfer and fisherman and maintained an interest in all sports.
    He leaves a widow, Joan, in the USA to whom we offer our condolences. Typically he left his body to medical science depriving us of the opportunity of paying our last respects to a much respected colleague and leading figure in the aircraft industry. There was a sad lack of written appreciation in this country which these few inadequate words seek to put right.