Older readers will recall the 'Biggles' stories by W. E. Johns featuring James Bigglesworth, the daring pilot who frequently performs bold exploits behind enemy lines.

His deeds are mirrored in the real-life career of Claude Alward Ridley, an RFC (later RAF) pilot whose deeds meant that he was eventually posted to Stow Maries airfield for home defence duties because the Germans might have shot him as a spy had he been captured.

Ridley was born in 1897 in Sunderland. He answered the call to fight when war was declared in 1914, and after serving with the Royal Fusiliers on the Western Front he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in July 1915.

Ridley served in No 3 Squadron in France and was wounded in the foot. Transferred back to England he shot down a Zeppelin in 1916 (a rare feat) and was awarded the Military Cross. This exploit is described in detail by Peter Layzell in 'Penny Farthing', the newsletter of Maldon Museum in the Park.

But Ridley's real adventures started with his posting to the new 60 Squadron in France in 1916. Here he was required to ferry spies to towns behind enemy lines – landing his frail plane in fields with no knowledge of what awaited him.

On such a mission in August 1916 his aircraft broke down after landing. German troops captured Ridley and his passenger, but amazingly they quickly escaped. The spy departed, having first given Ridley some civilian clothes. This of course transformed Ridley into a spy under military law – instead of being given P.O.W. status he could be shot.

The Netherlands was neutral in the First World War, so Ridley made his way there through occupied France and Belgium, taking copious notes of German troop movements and positions as he went. Apparently his survival tactic in these occupied countries was to approach civilians saying, 'I am a British Officer trying to escape – will you help me?' He was back in Britain by 13th October 1916, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his gallantry.

Ridley's espionage activities however presented his superiors with a dilemma: if he served on the Western Front and survived a crash behind German lines he would face trial and execution as a spy. It was decided to post him to Stow Maries as a Lieutenant with 37 Squadron.

Here the 19-year-old Ridley led flights against the German Zeppelin and Gotha bomber raids against London and the South-East. This was hazardous – the fighter planes were flimsy, minute compared with their opponents, and not designed to fly at high altitude. Furthermore, British anti-aircraft batteries tended to fire indiscriminately against both friend and foe, forcing Ridley on one occasion to make an emergency landing at Rochford.

In spite of this, Ridley survived the war, having gone on to command squadrons at Rochford and Throwley. He retired from the RAF with the rank of Squadron Leader in 1928. He was recalled in 1939 and served as a Wing Commander, dying in 1942 from natural causes.

Claude Alward Ridley made one more journey to Stow Maries – he was buried there at the church of St Mary and St Margaret on 27th June 1942.