Airman who flew on a Fairey Battle wing TC Barber Service Number 55748

Back in the 1980’s when I was a Space Cadet I was introduced to a gentleman who told me some very interesting stories of his time in the RAF leading up to and during the second world war.
His name was Thomas Charles Barber (Service Number 55748) and joined the RAF in 1936.
He told me a story about being on airfield duty as a young airman when he was sent back to camp to get greatcoats and a flask of tea. He stated that on picking up the required equipment, he jumped on to the trailing edge of a Fairey Battle wing and took a ride to the end of the runway to his post.
Unfortunately he missed the opportunity to jump off the trailing edge in time and ended up hanging in for dear life as the aircraft took off and did a circuit before the pilot realised something was wrong and landed. Thomas then jumped clear of the aircraft and was later reprimanded for loosing the greatcoats and flask. He played me a tape he had recorded of him telling this story on a radio station in the 1980’s. He then went on to tell me that he later became a bomb disposal engineer and showed me pictures of him with a number of German bombs. He came to our Air Cadets Squadron and told these stories to the squadron. He gave me his original RAF medical card which covers the period of 1936 to 1945. I believe he stayed on after the War and reached the rank of Wing Commander. Forces War Records claim that he was an Aircraft Accident investigator and explosives specialist.
I believe that Thomas has now died and wondered how I could find out more about his exploits?
Any help would be appreciated.