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Aviation History
1955
1955 - 1397.PDF
23 September i955 509 HUNTERS' SALUTE: An arrow-head formation of Hunters of No 111 Sqn. from North Weald flies past during the drumhead service held at Biggin H.ll last Sunday. An illustrated account of Battle of Britain week appears overleaf, and further pictures on page 557 Parts of exercises of this kind usually take place over the week-ends in order to allow the participation of a large number of Auxiliary pilots and ground-crews and fighter control and airfielddefence personnel, as well as the Royal Observer Corps. Capt. E. H. Lawford WE regret to record the death, at Bexhill on September 15thof Capt. E. H. ("Bill") Lawford, A.F.C. Seventy years of age, he had been ill for some three years. To Capt. Lawford fell the distinction of being Britain's firstairline pilot, for on August 25th, 1919, he inaugurated the first regular air service to be flown by a British company. His aircraftwas a D.H. Airco 4A of Air Transport and Travel, Ltd., and the route was between Hounslow and Le Bourget, Paris. Theinaugural outward journey, flown with a "payload" of one journalist and a mixed cargo of mail, grouse and Devonshirecream, took 2\ hr. Long-range Whirlwinds TWO Westland Whirlwinds recently ordered (picture, page 533)by Royal Dutch Shell left Eastleigh Airport, Southampton, last Tuesday morning on the longest fligat ever attemptedby a British helicopter. Equipped with long-range fuel tanks, they were bound for Doha on the Persian Gulf, a distance of over3,000 miles, which it is planned to complete in six days. The route will be across France, Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Iraq. The pilotsare Alan Bristow and Alan Green. In service, the helicopters will be used to fly workmen andsupplies from shore bases to offshore oil-drilling rigs, on which special platforms have been erected to receive them. Hitherto thelabour force and other supplies have been transported in launches, which are sometimes prevented from operating by rough water. Post-war Research in Canada THE eleventh British Commonwealth and Empire Lecture ofthe Royal Aeronautical Society will be presented this year by Dr. J. J. Green, M.B.E., B.Sc, Ph.D., who will speak on TheGrowth of Aeronautical Research in Canada during the Post-War Decade. The lecture will be given at the Royal Institution,Albemarle Street, London, W.I, at 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 6th. Dr. Green, who emigrated to Canada from England in 1930,worked for the National Research Council until 1943, when he became chief research engineer to the R.C.A.F. After the warhe joined the Air Transport Board and served as its chief aero- nautical research engineer until his appointment to the DefenseResearch Board in 1949. Last year, Dr. Green became the first President of the CanadianAeronautical Institute, and on September 1st this year took up duties as Defense Research Board representative on the CanadianJoint Staff in Washington. His predecessors as "Commonwealth and Empire" lecturers include Sir Wilmot Hudson Fysh, whodelivered the first lecture in 1945; Peter Masefield, whose out- standing 1948 lecture still ranks as a textbook on airline economics;and, last year, H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh, who spoke on Aviation and the Development of Remote Areas. Tribute to Robert Blackburn WORK ceased throughout the Blackburn and General Aircraftfactory at Brough last Friday when more than 4,000 members of the firm gathered for an informal memorial service for theirlate chief, Mr. Robert Blackburn, whose death had taken place suddenly on the previous Saturday. The wings and tailplane ofa Beverley spanned the entrance to the crowded hangar, dwarfing the bareheaded workers. Mrs. Phyllis Blackburn, the widow,Mr. Eric Turner (managing director) and relatives and close frknds were present. . In a personal tribute to Mr. Blackburn, Mr. Turner said itwas not far short of 50 years since he designed, built and flew his first aircraft. It was Robert Blackburn who, in the earliest daysof flying, realized what was involved, and staked everything, including life and limb, to perfect the art."All of us," continued Mr. Turner, "are very proud that the oldest British aircraft still flying is Robert Blackburn's, much ofit built with his own hands. It was he who built the first British a'1-metal aircraft and it was his aircraft which gave the firstdemonstration of wireless telegraphy. I do not think there is any aspect of aviation which at one time or another did not benefitfrom Robert Blackburn's vision, enterprise, ability and unflagging determination. He built every conceivable type of aircraft, aswell as piston engines, gas turbines and propellers. Robert Blackburn was one of the first in the world to run a flying schooland to see the possibilities of commercial aviation. It is getting on for 40 years since he formed a company to carry freight andpassengers across the North Sea. He was undoubtedly one of the greatest men in the history of aviation." Going on to speak of the other attributes associated with Mr.Blackburn's name, Mr. Turner said that he had "an uncanny ability to infuse his colleagues with a great sense of loyalty,affection, team spirit and confidence. ... I am sure he died a happy man, well aware of the great progress made by the companyhe had built up from such small beginnings." A memorial service is to be held in London—at Christ Church,Down Street, W.I, on Wednesday next, September 28th, at noon. THE MOVING SCENE at Brough as thousands of employees stocd silent and bareheaded in one of the big hangars (see "Tribute to Robert Blackburn," above).
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