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Aviation History
1951
1951 - 1177.PDF
730 FLIGHT FESTIVAL AIR RACE WHO'S WHO Some Biographical Notes on the Pilots Due to Compete at Hatfield Tomorrow 1AST week—in order to give intend-ing visitors time to make their plans-/ in advance—we published a guide to the Festival of Britain 1951 Air Races, to be flown at Hatfield tomorrow, June 23rd. Details of the course, admission prices, etc., were given, together with complete lists of entrants, pilots, aircraft and engines. Further details of the flying display items are now available. Lome Welch and Donald Brown are to execute sailplane aerobatics; C. T. D. Hosegood will demon- strate a Bristol Sycamore helicopter; the Patrouille d'Etampes will give another of its renowned displays; F/O. Murphy (Meteor 8, No. 66 Sqn.) will perform individual aerobatics; Prince Cantacuzene (Biicker Jungmeister) will repeat the low-altitude display which caused a sensation at the recent Swansea meeting; instructors from No. 226 Operational Training Unit will perform Meteor team aerobatics; and there will be a parachute spot-landing competi- tion. Exact times of these demonstrations, and of the races, are not finally decided, but it is certain that the first event will be the King's Cup Race, starting at 1.30 p.m. The final of the R.Aux.A.F. Cooper Trophy Race will not now take place. The Air Ministry states that it has been can- celled in order not to interfere with the Auxiliary squadrons' three-month con- tinuous-training period. Below, to complete the picture, are per- sonal notes on the pilots in the races. It will be seen that a few racing numbers are duplicated; the reason is that half-a-dozen aircraft which are competing in the high- speed events are not entered for the King's Cup and the races being run concurrently with it, and they are numbered independ- ently of the main King's Cup list. Apart from considerations of space, omission of details as to distinguished war records, and so forth, does not necessarily mean that those concerned have no such records—merely that they have not sup- plied full details to the Royal Aero Club, to whom we are indebted for the bulk of the information given. Aitken, G/C the Hon. Max (No. 88, Gemini):Son of newspaper-owner Lord Beaverbrook, Max Aitken was commissioned in No. 601Aux.A.F, Sqn. in 1939 and had a distinguished record as a war pilot. Conservative M.P. forHolborn, 1945-49; is a London Express News- papers director. Alexander of Yugoslavia, H.R.H. Prince(No. 81, Proctor): This 27-year-old royal en- thusiast served in the R.A.F. during the war.He is competing in the King's Cup and Kemsley Races. Ashton, J. H. (No. 57, Hawk Trainer): A37-year-old private owner from Staffordshire. Basnett, J. T. (No. 63, Hawk Trainer):Learned to fly at Denham in 1948; 25 years old, lives at Iver, Bucks. Bates, R. W. (No. 14, Hornet Moth): To pilotone of the two now-rare Hornet Moth enclosed- cockpit biplanes in the King's Cup. - Bennett, D. J. (No. 76, Proctor): A 30-year-old engineer who learned to fly at Cambridge in 1946. Bishop, C. A. Nepean (No. 49, HawkTrainer); Aged 50, and affectionately known as "The Bishop of Redhill," is an instructorthere. Has competed in the last two King's Cup Races, and other events. Bowles, W. P. (No. 35, Messenger): Com-pany director, learned to fly at London Aero- plane Club in 1935; fairly consistent air-racecompetitor. Broom field, D. J. P. (No. 15, Autocrat):Handley Page (Reading) test pilot; has taken over aircraft to have been flown by W/C.J. D. H. Slade. Brown, J. K. (No. 50, Moth Minor Coupe):Was an Aux. A.F. instructor in 1939; flew throughout war; took three-year course atD.H. Technical School, then was appointed instructor at No. I E.F.T.S., Panshanger.Bullen, G. F. (No. 41, Miles Whitney Straight): A Hawker test pilot; flew in lastyear's Daily Express Race. Butler, A. S. (No. 45, Leopard Moth): 53-year-old de Havilland ex-chairman; private owner since 1919. Second in King's Cup, 1930.Cole, A. L. (No. 51, Comper Swift): Flies one of the two remaining examples of these speedylittle pre-war monoplanes. Formerly at D.H. Technical School, now with English Electric.Third in 1949 King's Cup, second in 1948 Siddeley Trophy. Holds 100 km closed-circuit record in Class C.ia at 126.22 m.p.h. Colquhoun, L. R. (No. 2, Spitfire 22):Vickers-Supermarine test pilot; holds amphibian 100 km closed-circuit record(Seagull, 241.88 m.p.h.); awarded George Medal in 1950 for landing damaged Attackersafely. Coltman, A. E. (No. 44, Hawk Major):Learned to fly at the Midland Aero Club in 1929. Cooper, J. (No. 47, Moth Minor): 51 yearsold, served in R.F.C. and R.A.F. in World War I. Cotter, D. G. S. (No. 10, Autocrat): An ex-A.T.A. pilot, is one of the dozen Londoners in the King's Cup Race.Crammond, Lt. Cdr. J. G. (No. 82, Hendy Heck): Private owner and member of R.Ae.C.committees; served in Fleet Air Arm during war. Flew in 1949 King's Cup. His Heck isthe only one extant. Cunningham, G/C. J. (No. 3, VampireN.F.10): D.H. chief test pilot since 1946, and has been responsible for most of Comet testflying. Learned to fly with No. 604 Sqn. at Hendon in 1936 and later commanded it; night-fighter pilot during war; gained height record (Vampire, 59,446ft) in 1948.Curtis, Miss E. L. (No. 48, Wicko): Learned to fly at Ford in 1937; served in A.T.A. duringwar, and was first woman to fly four-engined aircraft; M.C.A. operations officer, 1946-48;now on technical staff (civil aircraft testing), Boscombe Down. Dawson, C. D. (No. 34, Hawk Trainer): Aged27, lives at Edgware, Middlesex. Day, E. (No. 68, Hawk Trainer): 25-year-oldKentish farmer and last year's King's Cup winner. Also flew in Daily Express Race lastyear. Derry, S/L. J. (No. 4, Venom): D.H. experi-mental test pilot since 1947. Joined R.A.F. as W.Op/AG.; commanded No. 182 Sqn. inI945J was Vickers-Supermarine test pilot in 1946-1947; gained 100 km closed-circuit record(D.H. 108, 605 m.p.h.) for Britain in 1948; second in S.B.A.C. Race last year.de Vere, C. J. (No. 69, Hawk Trainer): Learned to fly at Shoreham and Weston in1947; is now a student at the College of Aero- nautical Engineering. Donaldson, G/C G. F. K. (No. 5, Taylor-craft): Learned to fly in 1935. Lives at West Kirby, Cheshire. Duke, S/L. N. F. (No. 26, Tomtit): Hawker'schief test pilot, well versed in "swept-back jettery", but equally happy to be racing a pre-war biplane. Was Fighter and Boscombe Down pilot. Holds London-Karachi recordin Sea Fury; won 1949 Kemsky Trophy, third in 1950. Dunkerley, F. (No. 94, Gemini): This 46-year-old managing director of a Lancashire cotton mill has been one of the most con-sistently successful racing pilots during recent years. His latest capture was the GoodyearTrophy a month ago. Fillingham, W. P. L (No. 56, Chipmunk):Chief production test pilot at D.H. Joined them in 1940, tested D.H. types in Canada. WonTigerMoth race at Lympne, 1948, and has flown in previous King's Cup contests.Foster, Maj. W. L. (No. 36, Hawk Trainer): At 55, the oldest pilot competing; engineer byprofession, learned to fly at Hanworth in 1939. Franklin, W. T. (No. 58, Gemini): Aged 38,lives at Enfield, Middlesex. Freeman, K. M. (No. 52, Hawk Trainer):Competed in Daily Express race last year. Gillman, Capt. R. E. (No. 3, Avian): 30-year-old pilot of a 21-year-old aircraft. Grace, Mrs. Y. M. (No. 8, Taylorcraft): Aclub pilot believed to be new to air racing; lives at Codicote, Herts. Hayhow, T. W. (No. 27, Aiglet): A marineengineer of Middlesbrough; has competed in several races.Hilton, T. R. (No. 54, Chipmunk): Learned to fly at London Aeroplane Club in 1949.Hughes, F/L. E. S. (No. 2, Moth): Serving„ officer (R.A.F. Station Jurby); is flying one of"oldest aircraft in the King's Cup. *: Hull, P. M. A. (No. 4, Moth): Scotland's onlyrepresentative in this year's King's Cup. His Moth, G-ABAG, is believed to be the oldestaircraft in the race. Irwin, Mrs. Zita (No. 75, Proctor): Pilots theWindmill Theatre's Proctor. Learned to fly. at Hatfield in 1939, served in A.T.A. duringwar. James, Dr. W. L. (No. I, Chilton): Only"ultra-light" exponent in the Races; learned to fly at Reading in 1930.Jamieson, R. W. (No. 46, Leopard Moth): Learned to fly in New Zealand; was an;instructor at Luton; is now D.H. production - test pilot. Jemmctt, D. C. (No. 39, Hawk Trainer): Acompany director who learned to fly at Wolver- hampton in 1947 and has consistently com-peted in races since. ^ Lashbrook, W. I. (No. 79, Proctor): Chief:pilot and operations manager, Lancashire ;' Aircraft Corporation. Joined R.A.F. as appren-*tice in 1927 and learned to fly in 1937. Shot;-;, down in 1943 but evaded capture. Has flown*:150 types. Consistent race competitor, and'rr won Air League Cup at Sherburn last year.Lawrence, P. G. (No. 38, Messenger): Chief test pilot, Blackburn and General Aircraft,Ltd. Joined Fleet Air Arm in 1939, served in Swordfish squadrons, 1940-42; Naval ServiceTrials Unit, 1942-45; E.P.T.S., 1945- Won 1949 Air League race in a Firebrand.Lithgow, M. J. (No. 5) Attacker): Vickers- Supermarine test pilot. Learned to fly atR.A.F. Reserve School, Gravesend, but serveds . as Naval pilot during war. Secured 100 kmclosed-circuit record for Britain in 1948 (Attacker, 565 m.p.h.); won S.B.A.C. Cup inAttacker last year Little, Dr. D. F. (No. 66, Vega Gull): Aprivate owner who regularly participates in Continental rallies in his Vega Gull.Marler, G. C. (No. 31, Falcon Six): "Flying business-executive" from New Zealand. Com-peted in 1949 Thruxton Races and 1950 King's Cup. Matthews-Naper, R. (No. 33, Messenger :31-year-old Australia-born farmer, lives in Eire, is flying Irish-registered aircraft. Meille, Col. Enrico (No. 98, Ambrosini):The only entry received from abroad; the per- formance of his Ambrosini S.7—a type abeutwhich little is known here—in the Kems;;y Trophy will be watched with interest.Millican, K. C. (No. 74, Proctor): A con- sistent performer at flying events in .heNewcastle-on-Tyne area; won the Grosvenor Cup Race when it was flown there last year. Continued on page 732)
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