King's Cup - 1922

 Click here to see the Newsreel!  

Friday 8 and Saturday 9 September, 1922. Croydon

Story of the race:

"The aviation community... is to be regarded as a band of pioneers. In 1909 or thereabouts they had to demonstrate to a doubting world that flying was possible. Today they are faced with the no less difficult task of proving to a sceptical world that flying is safe, that it is reliable and that it is commercially useful"

Pilot: click on links for more		Aircraft			Race No	Fate
	Sqn-Ldr Harold J Payn	Avro Baby	G-EAUM	First Reg. 12 Jul 1920 Owned by A.V Roe & Co; LER Bellairs & FG Miles; RA Whitehead; HH Leech; HRA Edwards; R Brown; GL Young Wfu 8 Nov 34	1	retired Glasgow - magneto trouble
	Flt-Lt Walter TH Longton	Sopwith Gnu	G-EAGP	First Reg. 12 Jul 1919 Owned by Sopwith Aviation & Engineering Co Ltd; Lt Col FK McLean; Maj SA Packman; Southern Counties Aviation Co Crashed Kings Lynn 2 May 26	3	7th
	Mr Charles R Carr	Avro 504K	G-EADA	First Reg. 29 May 1919 Owned by A.V Roe & Co Canc. 1924	4	forced landing at Halifax
	Lt-Col Spenser DA Grey	Blackburn Kangaroo	G-EAMJ	'Felix the Cat' First Reg. 8 Sep 1919 Owned by 'North Sea Aerial Navigation Co Wfu 2.2.29 scrapped Sherburn	5	Officially, retired Newcastle - could not reach Glasgow before dark - but see below.
	Mr C T Holmes	Boulton & Paul P.9	G-EASJ	First Reg Apr 1920 Owned by Brig Gen JG Weir; FT Courtney; Henderson Flying School Ltd Sold South Africa 1.28	6	9th
	Mr R W Kenworthy	Blackburn Kangaroo	G-EAIU	'Bonzo' First Reg 1 Aug 1919 Owned by North Sea Aerial Navigation Co Ltd Wfu 19.4.29 Scrapped Sherburn	7	Officially, retired Newcastle - could not reach Glasgow before dark. [Actually, He and Spencer Grey started out the next morning at daybreak (having been assured that they were still in the race) and plodded 'like the tortoise' to Manchester, where they discovered that "the hare had been very much awake and had already won the race. We therefore made for Croydon."]
	Col John E Tennant	Boulton & Paul P.9	G-EAWS	First Reg. 21 Apr 1921 Owned by Bolton & Paul Canc 15.5.29	8	10th
	Capt S Cockerell	Vickers Vulcan	G-EBEM	First Reg. Apr 1922 Owned by D Vickers MP; L Hamilton Lost at sea off Italian coast 5.7.26	9	8th
	Capt Frank C Broome	Avro 545	G-EAPR	First Reg. 21.11.19 Owned by A V Roe & Co Wfu .27 rebuilt as 586 G-EBTX .27	10	retired section 1
	Flt-Lt Rollo AW deHaga Haig	Bristol Monoplane	G-EAVP	First Reg 28.09.20 Owned by EG Chapman Crashed nr Chertsey 23.6.23	11	retired Aylesbury - engine trouble
	Mr F P Raynham	Martinsyde F.6	G-EBDK	First Reg. 16.06.22 Owned by Martinsyde Ltd; FP Raynham; LCGM Le Champion; Leslie Hamilton; Maj JC Savage Dismantled Brooklands 4.30	12	2nd
	Mr Cyril F Uwins	Bristol 10-seater	G-EBEV	'City of Bristol' First Reg 22.08.22 Owned by Bristol Aeroplane Co Ltd; Instone Air Line Ltd; Imperial Airways Ltd Wfu .25 Canc 3.1.27	13	retired section 1
	F/O Leslie Hamilton	D.H.9c	G-EBAX	First Reg. 05.01.22 Owned by de Havilland Aircraft Co Canc 23.4.24	14	6th
	Mr Alan J Cobham	D.H.9b	G-EAAC	'Antiopa' First Reg 30.04.19 Owned by Aircraft Transport & Travel Ltd; Aircraft Manufacturing Co; de Havilland Aircraft Co Ltd Wfu 28.1.33	15	3rd
	Mr A F Muir	D.H.9	G-EBEP	First Reg. 25.09.22 Owned by The Duke of Sutherland; Surrey Flying Services Ltd Crashed Saunderstead Surrey 17.11.28	16	11th
	Mr Alan S Butler	D.H.37	G-EBDO	'Sylvia' later 'Lois' First Reg. 22.06.22 Owned by AS Butler Crashed Ensbury Park Bournemouth 4.6.27	17	5th
	Mr M M Piercey	D.H.9	G-EBEN	First Reg. 24.08.22 Owned by Aircraft Disposal Co Ltd; British & Egyptian Tea Co Ltd Sold abroad 3.12.24	18	4th
	Mr Herbert H Perry	D.H.9a	G-EBCG	'Bellini' First Reg. 01.04.22 Owned by Aircraft Disposal Co Ltd Canc 5.1.27	19	retired section 1
	Mr Cyril C Turner	S.E.5a	G-EBDU	'The Sweep' First Reg. 28.06.22 Owned by Maj JC Savage Canc 2.6.24 Scrapped Hendon	20	retired section 1
	Capt Frank L Barnard	D.H.4a	G-EAMU	'City of Cardiff' later 'City of York'  First Reg. 11.09.19 Owned by Instone Air Line Ltd; Imperial Airways Ltd Wfu 11.3.24	21	Winner
	Capt Frank T Courtney	Siskin II	G-EBEU	First Reg. 21.08.22 Owned by Sir WG Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Ltd Canc 11.8.25	22	retired Glasgow - broken fitting

Starters: 21 (out of 23 entrants)

Did not start:

Finishers: 11

The Aviators

  Capt Franklyn Leslie Barnard OBE AFC

   photo: 1925, aged 29      

 Winner of the first King's Cup in 1922. "an exceptional pilot - careful, skilful, and daring" and "his ability as an engineer was fully equal to his skill as a pilot".

b. 1896; his father, Owen Barnard, was a stockbroker's clerk (and not related to Charles Barnard's father).

AFC in WWI; chief pilot for Instone (later) Imperial Airways. OBE in 1927.

Killed in July 1927 while testing propellers for the Bristol Badminton which he had entered for the King's Cup Race, which crashed at Filton after the engine seized. Major Beaumont, appearing for Imperial Airways at the inquest, said the company felt it had "lost one of the world's magnificent airmen".

1927

It is with profound regret that we have to record the death, as the result of a flying accident on Thursday, July 28, of Capt. F. L. Barnard.

Capt. Barnard—one of our mostexperienced and popular pilots—was carrying out a test flight on the Bristol " Badminton " ("Jupiter VI ") biplane, which had been entered for the King's Cup Air Race, at Filton aerodrome, when, according to eyewitnesses, the engine suddenly stopped and the machine crashed to the ground just outside the 'drome from a height of about 200 ft. When a number of people who had been watching the flight arrived in the field where the machine had crashed, the latter was found completely wrecked, with the engine embedded in the ground, and the unfortunate pilot lying in the cockpit beyond human aid.

From evidence at the inquest, which was held on July 29, it appears that when Capt. Barnard's engine failed, he put the machine into normal gliding angle and attempted to land. While manoeuvring to do so, the machine lost flying speed and stalled from about 80 ft. Capt. Barnard had already made three other test flights on the machine, trying out different airscrews.

Capt. Barnard's loss to the aviation world is a great one indeed, for he was an exceptional pilot, careful, skilful, and daring—but daring only when flying alone or testing. He served in the Air Force during the war, and was awarded the Air Force Cross. Following the Armistice he was pilot to No. 24 Communication Squadron, when he carried many distinguished personages to and from the Continent. He then became associated with Instone Air Lines, and later, when Imperial Airways was formed, was their chief pilot.

His skill as a pilot was such that he was entrusted with many important aerial missions—the most conspicuous of which was the piloting of the Imperial Airways D.H. "Hercules" air liner, carrying Sir Samuel Hoare, Lady Maud Hoare and party from London to Cairo on the inaugural flight of the Egypt-India service. He also, it will be remembered, took part in previous King's Cup races, being the winner in1922 and 1925, and flying last year the Bristol " Badminton "in its original form.

Capt. Barnard leaves a widow and young son, to whom, in common with his many, many friends, we offer our deepest sympathy." - 'Flight'

  Capt Henri Charles Amedie de la Faye Biard

  c.1934, aged 42.

http://www.greatwarci.net

From Jersey; a very early flier, test pilot for Supermarine.

Schneider Trophy pilot in 1922, 23 and 25 (during which he crashed, "making a huge hole in the sea", but emerged merely slightly dazed).

His autobiography is called, er, 'Wings' (1934).

  photo: 1917, when a Lieutenant in the Army Service Corps, aged 25

He and CJQ Brand were in the same squadron in WWI.

In 1920 the Heavenly Twins were the pilots of the attempt, organised by The Times, to make the first flight from Cairo to the Cape. The Vimy Commercial aeroplane left Brooklands on January 24 but crashed at Tabora [Tanganyika] on February 27. They finally reached the Cape "after a series of undeserved misfortunes".

photo: 1921, aged 23

Chairman of de Havilland; the story goes that in 1921 he asked the one-year old de Havilland Aircraft Company to build a fast two-passenger touring aeroplane to his specification,

and stumped up £3,000 for them to do it. The money saved the company from extinction and they appointed him to the board of directors forthwith. He held the position until he retired in 1950.

The aeroplane became the DH37, (which he named, firstly, 'Sylvia' after his sister, then, rather diplomatically, 'Lois', after his wife, q.v.), which he entered in the very first King's Cup Race in 1922 and again in 1924, coming third.

He and Lois set up a world speed record of 120mph for 1000 km in 1928, and they also flew to Cape Town together .

Entered the MacRobertson Race in 1934 (assigned No 59) but didn't take part.

Was still aviating in 1970.

 Sir Charles Roderick Carr KBE CB DFC AFC

photo: 1916, when a Flight Sub-Lieut. in the Royal Navy, aged 25

photo: 1947, aged 56

Born Feilding, New Zealand.

Part of Shackleton's last Antarctic expedition in 1921, later Air Marshall RAF and Chief of the Indian Air Force.

 Mr (Sir) Alan John Cobham KBE AFC

  in c.1934, aged c.40

see: Alan Cobham's Flying Circus

photo: 1930, aged 33

b. 9 Feb 1895, the 'willowy' Vickers chief test pilot - he and his assistant Frank Broome (q.v.) were known as the 'Heavenly Twins'.

RFC in WWI (7 victories).

Married Miss Lorna Lockyer in 1921.

Killed in WWII: on the 29th November 1940, when the Running Horse(s?) Pub in Erith was bombed.

His 6-year-old daughter Kathleen also died and they were buried at the church of Saint Mary, Sunbury on Thames.

Lorna also died during the Blitz. Some children survived and were split up and most were adopted, losing touch with each other.

 Capt Frank Thomas Courtney

        photo: 1972, holding the King's Cup at the RAF Museum, Hendon, aged 78

http://www.earlyaviators.com

Also flew in the 1929 Cleveland National Air Races. Also flew the Cierva autogyro in 1925, (but not in the King's Cup)

photo: 1915, aged 20

b. 19 May 1895 in Pulborough, Sussex

WWI ace (5 victories), awarded the Military Cross for 'conspicuous skill and gallantry'.

d. 23 June 1923 when the Bristol M.1D G-EAVP (which flew in both the Aerial Derby and the King's Cup in 1922) lost a wing and crashed near Chertsey.

photo: 1911, when a Lieut in the Royal Navy, aged 22

born in Rio de Janeiro; later a Wing Commander; DSM, Order of Leopold of Belgium, Croix de Guerre.

Died in 1937

Spenser Grey - Wikipedia

 1916, when a captain in the Royal Gloucester Regt, aged 22

A stunt pilot known as the 'Flying Gypsy'; RAF in WWI (6 victories in Greece) who was Princess Anne Lowenstein-Wortheim's pilot after the war.

He and his friends piled into his Vickers Viking flying-boat G-EBED in 1927 (the same year it was written off, btw) to fly from the Swiss Winter Sports' Season to spend a holiday on the French Riviera." - see the video here: By Air To Anywhere - British Pathé (britishpathe.com)

They, together with Fred Minchin (left), were killed when trying to cross the Atlantic from East to West in 1927.

For a video of them and the aeroplane, see the middle bit here: Old Flying Stories - British Pathé (britishpathe.com)

[The rest of it shows Walter Hinchliffe's preparations for a planned similar flight with Charles Levine (qv)].

photo: 1927, aged 35

 Australian 'Lone Eagle', aviation pioneer, killed in a crash in Italy in 1933

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Hinkler

  1930

An AT&T pilot, then one of the original captains of KLM, then a flying instructor in the Reserve of Air Force Officers (RAFO)

  1938

An aeronautical Engineer from Yorkshire, b. 1892. RAeC Certificates 1222 (1915) and 15944 (1938). Test pilot for Blackburn until 1925.

Schneider Trophy pilot in 1923 in the Blackburn 'Pellet'; he had a lucky escape when during take-off "The starboard wing tip float touched, and the machine turned over on its nose and sank. For what seemed a very long time there was no sign of the pilot, and fears were entertained that he had not been able to extricate himself. Suddenly, however, he appeared, bobbing up like a cork, and climbing on top of the wreck was picked up by one of the many motor launches which sped to his assistance as soon as the crash occurred. He promptly fainted on getting safely on to the wreckage, but was soon revived and brought back to his hotel, nursed by Mrs. Kenworthy, who. was in the motor launch Vivid which was among those standing by. He had had quite a marvellous escape, and seemed none the worse for his experience. It was stated that someone actually timed Kenworthy, who was said to have been under water for 61 seconds. He later related how, when the machine turned turtle, he found himself inside the cockpit with his head on the floor and his feet pointing towards the cockpit opening, which he could dimly see. Holding his nose with one hand he wriggled free and shot to the surface."

  1916, aged 24

 'Scruffie' Longton, from Lancashire. 11 victories in WWI flying SE5s; DFC and bar.

Well known pre-war motor-cycling, and post-war aeroplane racer; whilst practising for the Bournemouth Air Meeting in April 1927, his aeroplane was hit by "one or two charges of shot from a sporting gun", possibly in protest at flying races on a Good Friday. A reward of £25 was offered for the detection of the culprit.

He was killed soon after - June 1927 - in a mid-air collision at the Bournemouth Whitsun Meeting, flying the prototype Bluebird.

"Every aircraft constructor knew that 'Longton's opinion' was worth having on anything new." C G Grey

  1930

  1916, when a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers, aged 29

Test pilot for the Air Ministry; AFC 1923