Adrian married Eileen Adelaide Mitchell, known as Betty, on 28 October 1939. He was 21 and had known Betty for only a few weeks. Betty was 27, a divorcee with a 9-year-old daughter in her parents’ care. Adrian did not tell his parents of the marriage then or later and, in a clear breach of regulations, he did not inform the RAF. Adrian never altered his RAF next-of-kin forms, which named his father. Although Adrian rented a bungalow near Thorney Island where he was based, he virtually ignored his new wife, visited rarely, and lived in the Officers’ Mess as required by RAF regulations. In later years, Betty said she and Adrian never lived together. In July 1940, on hearing Adrian was in Blackpool, Betty travelled there to agree a divorce. They met, but divorce papers were never served. Betty never saw Adrian again.