Aviator

Flying-boat captain.

b. April 4, 1912 in Potchefstroom, South Africa.

Reid flew the C-Class flying boats that were introduced in 1936 along a route from Southampton to South Africa, via the Mediterranean, Egypt and East Africa.

During WWII he carried senior officers around the Mediterrranean and Egypt, and in 1943 he was involved in a dramatic rescue of survivors from a torpedoed merchant ship off Mozambique.

He died on December 4, 2006, aged 94

photo: 1931, aged 34

 An Insurance Broker and Underwriter, originally from Manchester. Lieutenant, Lancs Fusiliers in WWI. Started flying with the RFC in 1917 and was still active in 1964, when he gave a dinner for Gatwick's controllers.

  (r), Air Bathing Party, Skegness

© The Royal Aero Club  [0312-0136]

Amy Johnson gave him some flying lessons in 1931, and he adored her with "an unquestioning devotion"- in the post-Jim era he was one of her unsuccessful suitors. He flew to Brussels in 1936 and brought her home after her first attempt to fly to Cape Town had ended in Colomb Bechar, a French air base in the Sahara.

in 1935

(r) with Bill Pegg and DP Davies in 1954. They were test-flying the Bristol Britannia

b. January 3 1914 at Chagford, Devon, and educated at Gresham's School and Leeds University, where he gained a BSc.

He became an assistant ground engineer with the Herts and Essex Aero Club for two years, during which time he gained his pilot's licence. At the time (1935) his address was 'Brooklands Poultry Farm, Broxbourne, Herts', and the following year he joined Imperial Airways as a first officer.

After a period flying the HP 42 Rendall was posted to the de Havilland DH 86 service between Khartoum and West Africa. During this period he was a very junior co-pilot, acting as engineer, radio operator and steward all in one. Despite his multiple responsibilities, he claimed that his only piloting activity was to work the wing flaps with a hand pump, hence his nickname of "Flaps''. He also undertook charter work in West Africa for the Nigerian government.

Rendall was very keen on boating, and for some years he managed a friend's 60-foot motor yacht based in the Mediterranean. He later built and sailed his own boat.

With six children, including two sets of twins, he converted the family car, a pre-war Lea Francis, for holidays.

In 1955 the Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators awarded him a Master Pilot Certificate for "long service and high achievement'', and in 1959 he became a Liveryman of the Guild. He was appointed OBE in 1964.

 b. 12 Nov 1897, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

m. Alice Rose McLelland on 23 Sep 1919, in London, then flew to Australia:

"The Blackburn Kangaroo aeroplane, now en route to Australia (Captain Wilkins in command) is being piloted by Lieutenant Valdemar Rendle, the only son of the late Dr. Richard Rendle, of Brisbane, and Mrs. Rendle, Swan Road, Taringa. He was born at Taringa 22 years ago, and attended the Taringa State School, and afterwards the Brisbane Boys' Grammar School.

"Val," as he was known to his friends, was always keen on flying, and at an early age became a member of the Glider School and the Aeroplane Club.

At the time he made application for the Australian Flying Corps. Queenslanders were not being accepted by the authorities, so he decided to offer his services to the Royal Air Force, and, with Major T. M'Leod and seven other Queensland boys, he travelled to England, joining the R.F.C., and working his way through the corps from air mechanic to superior wing sergeant and pilot. After gaining his wings, he became an instructor, and for some time was acting flight-commander. In 1917 he gained his commission as lieutenant.

For more than a year he has been contemplating the flight to Australia, upon which he is now engaged, and is quite confident of the success of his party. " - The Daily Mail, Brisbane, 5 Dec 1919

d. 8 Nov 1962 (Age 64)

  1916

b. 5 July 1892 in Cape Town

later a Group Captain

d. in WWII: 5th September 1943, and is commemorated at the Sai Wan War Cemetery

photo: 1930

Royal Navy 1922-1951, but RAF 1925-36

photo: 1926, when profession: 'None', aged 20

b. Barton-on-Sea, Hampshire. Lived in St Albans.

"Has owned an Avro and is a consistent and capable amateur with no previous record of indulgence in racing or spectacular flying of any sort. Succumbed to competitive urge early this year [1936] and bought a Comper Swift previously His Majesty's [i.e. Edward VIII] when Prince of Wales"

Killed in WWII:  3 April 1943, when a Flt-Lt 78 Sqn RAF piloting a Halifax II; buried in Eindhoven (Woensel) General Cemetery.

photo: 1916, when a Captain in the 4th Northumberland Fusiliers, aged 21

photo: 1944, aged 49

from Northumberland. RAF during WWI, then Iraq and Kurdistan. Chief Flying Instructor at RAF Wittering 1927-30.

Later Air Chief Marshall Sir James; WWI ace (7 victories); helped form the Empire Air Training Scheme in 1939; advisor to Mountbatten, Eisenhower in WWII.

d. 1968

photo: 1932, when A Officer, aged 20

Owen Roberts (also known as "The Commander") (17 September 1912 – 10 April 1953) was a British Royal Air Force officer, aviator and founder of Caribbean International Airways.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owen_Roberts_(aviator)

  1917

 One of the original 16 pilots of Imperial Airways in 1924(in fact, he was the pilot on its very first service on 26th April, 1924, flying D.H.34 G-EBCX from London (Croydon) to Paris (le Bourget).

b. 2 Nov 1895, Nottingham

prev. London Scottish 1914, Border Regiment & R.E. 1915

RFC and RAF 1916-1919. RAF Overseas (Flt-Lt) 1924-37

Air Tranpsort Auxiliary in WWII  - see https://www.ata-ferry-pilots.org/index.php/category-blog-1939/75-robertson-harry

 d. 12 Oct 1950, Manchester 

One of the original 16 pilots of Imperial Airways in 1924

September 1925: "A new air record was created Friday, when Mr. A. L. Robinson, an Imperial Airways pilot, flew a Napier D.H. Express carrying six passengers from Londonto  Amsterdam, a distance by air of 275 miles, in 110 minutes. His average speed was 150 miles per hour."

His was a rather chequered career; apparently there was a rumour that he insisted on being paid in cash because the taxman was after him. This is from the Western Daily Press, 2 May 1934:

"Arthur Leonard Robinson (38), a wartime flying officer, stated to have been formerly employed as a pilot by Imperial Airways, was sentenced at London Session, yesterday, to six months' hard labour for obtaining credit by fraud from a London restaurant"

During WW2 he flew with the ATA, and later as a test pilot for Rolls Royce at Hucknall.

d. in 1950:

"ROBINSON Arthur Leonard of 21 Marshall-drive Bramcote Nottingham died 30 September 1950 Administration Liverpool 17 November to Irene Mabel Robinson widow. Effects £2,478 5s 8d." (which sounds quite a lot to me; I wonder how he got it?)

  1923

 C.O. (Wing-Cmdr) 10 Sqn RAF in 1928, RAF Duxford in 1929

Air-Aide-de-Camp to the King (as Group-Captain) 1936

  1930, aged 29

"He runs a Puss Moth as well as a Speed Six Bentley. He is probably unique, in that he has had his chauffeur, Mr. J. Camp, taught to fly at the Hanworth Club, so that he can have either his aircraft or his car brought to him when he requires them. He does a great deal of Continental flying..."

He was killed 31 Jan 1933 when making too 'impetuous' a turn after taking off from a snow-covered lake at St Moritz.

A 'good natured, wealthy young pilot'. And his 1919 diaries are in the National Archives.

  1917

  One of the original 16 pilots of Imperial Airways in 1924

b. London 31 May 1895

with Handley Page Transport Co 1920-24

Feb 1928: "Capt W Rogers, an Imperial Airways pilot, while testing an air liner, saw smoke and flames coming from the roof of a house near Croydon. He kept flying around the building until he had attracted attention to the house."

Lived at 'Le Bourget', Cosdach Avenue, Wallington, Surrey in 1932

1934

His grand-daughter kindly tells me that "He was a great character, full of fascinating stories of his flying days, very humourous, and proud to be a Cockney - he was known as "Wally Cockney." He enjoyed life, and lived to the age of 81. There is a BBC programme, made in the 1970s in which he and other pilots of the inter-war years were interviewed. The series was called "Yesterday's Witness" and the episode is "To Paris - By Air!" 

photo: 1932, aged 20

from Oxford.

"Director of the Portsmouth Flying Club and lately director of Portsmouth Southsea and Isle of Wight Airways. Had very bad luck when starting in the King's Cup of 1934. Made forced landing at Aldenham. Again bad luck in London-Cardiff Race in 1934 when motor stopped over finish line."

Another director of PS&IOWA was Lionel Balfour.

 b. Bedford 27 Dec 1897

Address in 1932: 1, Apsley Heath, Woburn Sands, Beds

  1936

b. 27 Jan 1895 - Alton, Hants

One of the best-known racing and pioneering pilots of the 30s.

His father, John, was a farm bailiff at Basing Farm, Froxfield, nr Petersfield, Hants. After working briefly as a bank clerk, Tommy joined the Royal Navy in 1914 and then transferred to the R.F.C. in June 1917.

"He was shot down three times, but escaped each time. He was awarded the DFC for his work with the fighter squadron in which Billy Bishop, VC, served. "

 m. 1925 Margaret Elizabeth [Ashford], [divorced 1938]

Retired from the RAF in 1926 with the rank of Flight-Lieutenant.

In December 1931, he made an unsuccessful attempt on the UK-Cape record, and then flew back "by easy stages".

 From Oct 1933, Manager and Chief Instructor at Sywell.

 "TOMMY ROSE is gone from Sywell, but not forgotten. As sales manager for Messrs. Phillips and Powis, the Reading aircraft manufacturers, he spends quite a lot of time flying round the country. Last week his photograph was 'splashed' in all the national daily papers, greeting Mr. H. L. Brook, the Yorkshireman airman, on his arrival at Croydon after breaking the Australia-England record previously held by Jim Mollison. There was no mistaking Tommy’s famous sports jacket and boyish grin!

Mr. Rose, the way, left a last impression at Sywell. Shortly before leaving, when the new gate was being erected in front of the clubhouse, he carefully placed his foot in the wet cement and printed beside it 'Tom Rose' with a trowel. The cement hardened, and the 'Rose' mark is there for posterity to reverence! Hundreds of feet have since trod the hallowed spot." - Northampton Mercury, 12 April 1935

Competed in the King's Cup six times, winning it in 1935...

© The Royal Aero Club [0122-0170]

... and coming second in 1934 and 1936.

 [The 1935 King's Cup itself recently sold at auction for £3,900:

Photo kindly supplied by Sarah Chambers, reproduced by kind permission of Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers.]

He became a national hero in March 1936 after his flight to Cape Town and back; "he can now claim to have made the fastest time for the trip both out and home. His new record is 6 days 6 hr. 57 min. (he got to the Cape in 89 hr. 37 min.), which beats F/O David Llewellyn's time—the previous best—by 5 hr. 6 min."

After the flight to the Cape, he had tea with the Prime Minister, General Hcrtzog, and also saw General Smuts. However, he was charmingly modest about his achievements:

"TOMMY ROSE ON LONG FLIGHTS

SAYS RECORD ATTEMPTS ARE 'LARGELY BUNKUM'

This flight business is bunkum! The authority for that picturesquely phrased piece of information is Flight- Lieutenant Tommy Rose, and he should know, for he hit the headlines in all the national newspapers when he smashed all records for the flight from London to the Cape. In a talk to the Round Table at Stewart's Cafe on Monday he summed up the whole business in these few words: 'All long distance flights are largely bunkum. The national newspapers, if there is no other news at the time, whip up an interest in these flights, and if one gets there safely and breaks a record everyone thinks: 'By gad, here's one of the twelve apostles come to life!’ (Laughter.)

'But I assure you there is nothing in it. The only things you have got do to be successful are to get the best machine you can find and then practise sitting still for a long, long time . . . . '

Reflections wise and witty on flying in general and his own flight in particular made Flight-Lieutenant Rose's talk one of the most delightful and amusing to which Tablers have listened to for a long time. His racy manner produced a laugh at almost every sentence, and a more unassuming world record breaker than this genial young man would be difficult to find.

There was one richly humorous story which is worth repeating. 'When I eventually got to the Cape I had to broadcast to the Union,' he said. 'The announcer seemed very nervous and this was what he said: ’Who do you think I have here the studio? None other than Mr Tom Mollison, who flew from London to the Cape in 37 days 18 hours.’ I met General Hertzog few days later and he said: 'if it takes all that time to fly, don't you think you had better come by boat next time?’

Flight-Lieutenant Rose answered a number of questions and urged the need for municipalities laying down landing grounds for aircraft. Members of the Rotary Club and of other Round Tables were present, as guests, to hear the airman’s talk. " - Eastbourne Gazette, 6 May 1936

© The Royal Aero Club [0129-0039]

Before the 1936 Schlesinger Race to Johannesburg, he predicted: "It is my opinion that the pilot of the aeroplane which gets there in under forty-eight hours will deserve just about the biggest bunch of bananas ever found.

Having got lost myself many times down this route when flying without wireless, I fully expect to do so again, and the pilot in this race who can honestly say at the end that he was sure of his position all the time will either be very lucky, very clever, or have a queer idea of honesty."

From 1939 to 1946, Chief Test Pilot for Miles Aircraft, living in Sonning, Berks;  in July 1943 he was reported to have "improved considerably and to be well on the way to recovery, after he contracted a chill when captaining his works cricket team. "

 Won the Manx Air Derby in 1947, still flying a Miles Hawk;  three circuits of the island at 181 mph.

d. 20 Jun 1968 - Alderney, Channel Islands.

photo: 1916, when a Flight Sub-Lieut in the Royal Navy, aged 19

born in Derbyshire; WWI ace (9 victories)

Air Commodore in WWII, in India and Burma

photo: 1928, aged 28

2nd Viscount Runciman of Doxford, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne; after Eton and Cambridge, joined his dad's shipping firm, then Imperial Airways. First Director-General of BOAC, Commodore of the Royal Yacht Squadron, OBE, etc, etc; died 1989

His sister, Margaret Fairweather, was killed in WWII serving in the ATA. See 

https://www.ata-ferry-pilots.org/index.php/category-blog-1940/81-fairweather-margaret-mrs