About Howard Layton

Howard Layton grew up in Stoke, a suburb of Coventry, England, and because of the need to help with family living expenses, he was already at work with the General Electric Company at age 14 1/2 years. He did, however, manage to get himself an electrical engineering education by taking advantage of a GEC sponsored training program at the Coventry Technical College.

He joined the Royal Air Force (RAF), on September 3rd 1939, the day that Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announced to the British people that his beloved country was now at war with Nazi Germany. Howard had hoped to become a pilot, but was disappointed when they assigned him the role of air gunner. However, following much negotiation, they reassigned him to Flight-Sergeant Navigator and his navigation skills eventually earned him a commissioned position within the RAF as a Pilot Officer.

On completion of flying training he was posted overseas to the North African Theater where, in support of the ground forces, he took part in all the mayhem of the Abyssinian campaign, the evacuation of Greece and the all-important battle of El Alamein. Between operational tours, he also spent six months as a navigation instructor in Kenya.

In 1945, Layton was repatriated to the UK for training as a Pathfinder Navigator in the high-speed Mosquito aircraft. Later in the year, he was appointed Fighter Command Signals Officer, East Anglia.

After the war, he emigrated to the USA, founded his own hi-tech manufacturing business, and met and married Nárcissza, a chemist and mathematician. Together, Howard and Nárcissza built their company into the flourishing enterprise that today employs about fifty highly qualified engineers and technicians and has achieved a leading position in the specialized markets that it serves.

Layton's professional qualifications include: Chartered Electrical Engineer (UK), Fellow of the Institute of Electrical Engineers (Brit). Former Vice Chairman of New England Branch of IEE. His other activities and qualifications are reviewed elsewhere on this website.