Sidney James Heath, F/Sgt AFM. Coxswain and Rigger (RAF Service Nr. 314892; B. Jan. 1883, D. 24 Aug 1921).
Served on R36. Heath received a bar to the Air Force Medal (AFM originally awarded to him June 3, 1919 when he was a Sergeant Mechanic) for having put himself at peril to save the airship, along with Flt. Sgt. W. R. Mayes. The bar was announced in the Supplement to the London Gazette on June 4, 1921.
On the third trial flight (Apr 5, 1921), R36 went into a steep dive caused by the upper and starboard control surfaces failing and jamming during speed trials, along with serious stabilizer damage, due to heavy air turbulence. These men ventured out upon the unstable starboard stabilizer to effect makeshift repairs exposed to the elements. This enabled a safe emergency return to Pulham for full repairs. Heath joined the Royal Navy as Boy 2nd Class, Oct 1898.
As of July of 1905, he had been promoted to Leading Seaman. He served on the armed merchant cruiser Celtic as a Petty Officer, 1st Class. Transferring to RNAS in 1916, he helped design and rig airships under construction and participated in their testing and operations. Before flying on R36, he had been involved in her design as early as April, 1918.
After serving on R36, he was transferred to R38 and was killed when that airship was destroyed on Aug. 24, 1921.