NOTES ON OFFICIALS AND OFFICERS.

Wing Commander R.B.B Colemore, O.B.E, R.A.F Director of Airship Development, is the Air Ministry director under the Air Member of Council for Supply and Research, responsible for all airship activities. His directorate is organised in five main divisions; research and design; flying; organisation; construction and maintenance ; and finance and administration. Each of the first three divisions is in charge of an assistant director; a works manager is responsible for the fourth and a secretary and accountant for the last. The Director has his headquarters at the Royal Airship Works, Cardington, Bedford, whether the airship R101 was designed and constructed and which is also the base for British airship operations. The trials of R100 and R101 have been carried out at Cardington.

Wing Commander Colemore was born in Portsmouth in 1887, was educated at Stubbington House, Fareham and in H.M.S. "Britannia". He became a Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Navy in 1907 and was promoted Lieutenant in 1909. He retired in 1911 and on being mobilised at the outbreak of War became a Lieutenant-Commander. He served with the Armoured Car Division at Antwerp in 1914 and commanded the armoured car section which was employed at Gallipoli in 1915 and later in the same year was Commanding Officer in the first camaign against the Sensussi tribes on the Egyptian borders. He was transferred to the Airship Section of the Royal Naval Air Service in 1916 and after serving at the airship station at Barrow became Commanding Officer of the airship base at Mullion, Cornwall. While holding this command he evolved a novel scheme of dealing with the submarine menace by a system of combined patrols of airship, seaplanes and aeroplanes in conjunction with surface craft. This method proved so successful that Lt.Col. Colmore (as he became on formation of the Royal Air Force) was appointed first class Staff Officer Aircraft Operations, Plymouth, with a view to the same principles being applied against submarines along the whole British Coasts,and in this connection he was later posted as Chief Staff Officer, Aircraft Operations, with Commander-in-Chief, Grand Fleet, based at Dundee. The war ended, however before the system could come in to general operation.

After the War he was granted a permanent commission as Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force, and was attached as Staff Officer for Airships to the department of the Controller General of Civil Aviation, Air Ministry.

When it was decided in 1924 to proceed with the development of airships he was appointed Deputy Director of Airship Development in the Department of Air Member of Council for Supply and Research and became Director at the beginning of the present year. He is seconded from the Royal Air Force for airship duty. He was on board R100 during her Canadian flight in July and August this year and represented the Air Ministry during her stay in Canada.

Major G H Scott C.B.E, A.F.C Assistant Director of Airship Development (Flying) was born in 1888 at Catford, Kent and was educated at Richmond School, Yorks, and at the R. N Engineering College, Keyham. From 1908 he was engaged in general engineering until the outbreak of War when he joined . After service at Farnborough, in H.M.A. Eta and at Kingsnorth. He proceeded in 1915 to the airship station at Barrow and became captain of the Parseval P.4. The following year he was appointed to the command of the airship station at Anglesey and in 1917 became captain of R.9, the first British rigid airship to fly, and was also appointed Experimental officer, Airships, at Pulham airship base. On the formation of the Royal Air Force he was given the rank of Major.

Towards the end of 1918 he was chosen to command R.34 and was awarded the A.F.C. for his wrork on airships. In 1919 he commanded R.34 on 1st flight from East Fortune, Scotland to the United States and back to Pulham. For this he was awarded a C.B.E. This was the first flight of any aircraft to America and also the first outward and homeward flight. He was demobilsed from the Royal Air Force later in 1919. In 1920 he was appointed to the tecnhnical staff of the Royal Airship Works, Cardington. He is the inventor of the Air Ministry system of airship mooring to a tower, which is also employed in the United States. In 1924 he was appointed officer in Charge of Flying and Training in the Airship Directorate and in January of this year became Assistant Director (Flying). He visited Canada in 1927 to advise the Canadian Government on the selection of an airship base which resulted in St. Hubert, Montreal being chosen and equipped. Since the autumn of last year he has carried out extended trials of the two new British Airships R.101 and R.100, which are the largest airships in the world and contain many novel features compared with previous airship types. He took part in the Canadian Flight of R.100 during July and August this year fnd was officer in Charge of the Flight.

Lieutenant-Colonel V.C. Richmond, O.B.E., B.Sc., A.R.C. F.R.A.S. Assistant Director of Airship Development C.rodhnical) was born in 1893 at Dalston, London, and was educated at the Royal College of Science. London. He became Engineer to Messrs. S. Pearson & Sons. for physical and Structual problems in connection with dock construction. In 1915 he joined the Royal Naval Air Service and was engaged until the end of the War principally on the construction of non-rigid airships. In 1920 he went to Germany with the Inter-Allied Commission of Control and during part of the time was in charge of the Naval Sub-Commission for the surrender of airships and seaplanes. In 1921 he joined the Airship Research Department of the Air Ministry and until 1923 was engaged on research into problems connected with rigid airship construction. From 1923 to 1924, during the cessation of airship activity in this country, he was in charge of the Material and Researh Branch under the Director of Research, Air Ministry and since 1923 also, has been Lecturer in Airship Design and construction at the Imperial College of Science. He joined the Royal Airship Works in 1924 as Officer in Charge of Design and Research, during which time the R.101 has been designedand constructed. In 1930 was appointed Assistant Director (Technical).

Flight Lieutenant H.C. Irwin, A.F.C., R.A.F.
, Captain of R.101 was born in 1894 at Dundrum, Co. Cork, Ireland, and was educated at St. Andrew's College, Dublin. He joined the R.N.A.S. Airship Section in 1915 and from 1916 to 1917 was Captain of Non-Rigid airships S.S. Zero, Coastal and N.S. types in Home Waters and the East Mediterranean. Ha commanded R.33 and R.36 in 1920 and from the following year to 1924 was performing R.A.F duty at Service Stations and Staff duties at the Air Ministry. In 1925 he was transferred to the Royal Airship Works, Cardington, and in 1926 again commanded R.33 when She carried out various experimental flights to gather technical data required in connection with the design of R.100 and R.101. From 1926 to 1928 he commanded the R.A.F. School of Balloon Training on Salisbury Plain and in 1929 was again transferred to the R.A.W. to take over command of R.101. He was a member of the British Olympic Athletic Team at Antwerp in 1920 and has repeatedly represented Ireland and the Royal Air Force in International and Inter-Service Athletic Contests. He is seconded for airship duty from the Royal Air Force.

Squadron Leader E.L. Johnston, A.F.C., O.B.E., Reserve of Air Force Officers, Navigator of R101 was born in Sunderland in 1891 and was educated at Tynemouth High School and the Marine School, South Shields. He is a qualified Master Mariner and originally served in the Royal Naval Reserve. He transferred to the R.N.A.S. (Airship Section) in 1916 and after commanding coastal type airships he later became Commanding Officer of Luce Bay airship station, in the South West of Scotland. On the formation of the Royal Air Force he was appointed Captain and later was promoted to the rank of Major. After the War he served in the navigation branch in the Air Ministry but later retired from the Royal Air Force. He was appointed to the Royal Airship Works, Cardington, in 1924 for navigational duties and was loaned for some time to Imperial Airways Ltd., in order to open up European aeroplane routes. In 1927 he was navigator to the Secretary of State for Air on the first Imperial Airways flight to India and back. He is navigator tor R.100 as well as R.101 and in that capacity flew with the former on her voyage to Canada and return in July and August of this year. He is also an Air Ministry Examiner for Navigators licences. He recently organised the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators of the British Empire and holds the Position of Deputy Master in that organisation.

Lieutenant-Commander N.G. Atherstone, A.F.C., R.lr. (Retd. ), First Officer R.101 was born in 1894 at St. Petersburg; Russia, and was educated at Larchfield, Helensburgh, Winton House, Winchester, and Charterhouse. He joined the Royal Navy as a Cadet in 1913 and was appointed to H.M.S. "Highflyer" for training. On the outbreak of War he was appointed to H.M.S. "Gibraltar" and served with the 10th Cruiser Squadron, Grand Fleet and Destroyers until 1917 when he transferred to Airships, becoming Pilot of Non-Rigids SS. Zero, and N.S. types. In 1918 he was appointed 1st Officer of R.29 and was awarded the A.F.C. He returned to the Royal Navy in 1919 and retired in 1920 becoming resident in Australia. He was promoted Lieutenant-Commander R.N.(Retd. ) in 1926 and he returned to England in 1927 on being appointed to the Royal Airship Works, Cardington, for Airship duties. He was appointed First Officer R.101 in 1929.

Flying "Officer M.H. Steff, R.A.F.,Second Officer R.101 was born in 1896 at Luton, Beds. He joined the Navy in September, 1914 and served in H.M. S. "Inflexflexible" from 1915 onwards and was present at the battle of Jutland in 1916. He became a flight officer in the Kite Balloon section of the R.N.A.S. in the begining of 1918 and served in the Adriatic Barrage Kite Balloons in Italy. He took part in minesweeping operations in 1919 in the Aegean Sea, the Dardanelles and the Black Sea and in 1920 he was posted to the instructional staff of the School of Balloon Training in England where he served for four years. He proceeded in 1925 to the Royal Airship Works for Kite balloon experiments and was appointed 2nd Officer of R.101 last year. He has been loaned to R.100 for her Trial flights, as 2nd Officer, and in that capacity flew with her to Canada and back in July and August of this year. He is seconded from the Royal Air Force for airship duty.

Mr. M.A. Giblett, M.Sc., Meteological Officer, R101, was born in 1894 at Englefield Green, Surrey, and was educated at the Universities of Reading and London, During the War he served as MeteoroIogical Officer, Royal Engineers, in the North Russian Expeditionary Force, Archangel, and in 1919 loaned the Meteorological Office, Air Ministry, being in the Forecast Division until the beginning of 1925 except during 1921 when he was detached for duty during the trial flights of Airships R.80, R.36 and R.38. When an Airship Services Division was created in the Meteorological Office, Air Ministry, in 1925 he was appointed Superintendent. He was a member of the Official Airship Mission which visited South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and India in 1927 to advise the Governments on the steps to be taken to provide the necessary ground organisation for airship operations. He has also organised the necessary meteorological services for airship flights to Canada and on the route to Egypt and India. He is on the Council of the Royal Meteorological Society and is Meteorological Secretary of Section A of the British Association. He flew in R.100 as Meteorological Officer on her trip to Canada and return in July and August of this year.

Squadron Leader F.M. Rope, R.A.F., Assistant to Assistant Director (Technical ). was born in1888 at Shrewsbury and was educated at Shrewsbury School and Birmingham University where he took an engineering degree. He left the University in 1910 and until 1912 was an engineer to the British Electric Plant Co., Alloa. He then joined the Rio Tinto Co., London, Mining and Mechanical Engineers. From 1913 to 1914 he was employed on locomotive engineering by the Brighton Railway and from then to 1915 served in the same capacity with the Nigerian Government Railway, West Africa. He Joined the R.N.A.S. in 1915 serving at Capel and Kingsnorth Airship Stations where he subsequently became Staff Officer in the Director of Research Department. From 1921 to 1924 he was Technical Staff Officer,R A.F, Iraq and was then appointed to the Royal Airship Works,Cardington. He is seconded to the Royal Airship Works from the Royal Air Force.

Mr. H.J. Leech, A.F.M., Foreman Engineer Royal Airship Works, was born at Dudley, Worcestershire in 1890 and educated at Appleby. He served as an apprentice with the B.S.A. Co. on motor car manufacturing from 1906 to 1911 and was engaged in this l of engineering until 1916 w'hen he joined the R.N .A .S .(Airship Section). He became an engineer on Non-Rigid Airships SS Zero, C.P. and C. Star types and the Parseval., and was an engineer on the S.R.1, an Italian Semi-Rigid, when she flew from Rome to England in 1918. He was demobilised in 1919 but rejoined. airships 1920 and was placed in charge of the Engine Shops at Pulham Airship Station. He remained there until 1924 when he was transferred to the Royal Airship Works, Cardington, and took charge of the Engine Shops where he has been engaged on test and research work and the development of the Diesel Oil Fuel Airship Engine

Lieutenant-Commander H.W. Watt, RNR Officer in Charge of Karachi Airport., joined the Royal Naval Reserve in 1910 and from 1914 to 1916 was engaged in Naval Patrol Work. He then transferred to the R.N.A.S.(Airship Section) becoming Captain of Non Rigid types and in 1918 was appointed Captain of H.M.A.R.26. In the following year he went to Pulham Airship Station and took part in Airship Mooring Experiments but retired in 1920 and became a resident in New Zealand. In 1929 he was appointed to The Royal Airship Works, Cardington, for training to take charge of Karachi Airportt, Aeroplanes and Airships. He proceeded in August 3 year to take up that appointment and also to make all of the local arrangements for the forthcomming India Flight of R.101. He is also in charge of the civilian aeroplane base at Karachi, administered by the Government of India.

Officer H.F. Luck, R.A.F
., Officer in Charge Airship Base, Ismailia, joined the Naval Wing, R.F.C., (Airship Section) in 1913 and commenced flying in airships on H.M.A. No.4. He remained with this ship until 1915 when he became engaged on the construction and flying of Coastal Airships. In 1917 he was engaged on the construction and the flying of R.25 and in 1918 was flying non-rigid S.S. type airships and was Senior Flying Officer at a Mooring Out Station. In November 1918 he was appointed to the R.34 and flew in that ship on every flight which included the voyage to America and back in 1919. Between 1920 and 1921 he flew in R.33 and R.80 and from the latter year until 1929 he was engaged mainly on armament duties at various stations in the Royal Air Force. He was then appointed to Royal Airship Cardington to be trained in Mooring Tower duties and in August of this year proceeded to Egypt to take charge of Ismailia Base and to make all arrangements for landing, re-fuelling and re-victualling R.101 at this intermediate Base on the Cardington to India Air Route.

Crew of H.M.A. R101
Name
Age
Designation
Decorations
Birthplace
Remarks
Atkins, G.K
30
W/T Operator
Nil.
London Joined Airship Service 1917, SS16, SSZ 37, SSZ 53, Coastal 3 & 5a, R101 and R100, R100 Canadian Flight
Bell, A.V.
31
Engineer
Nil.
Fambridge Ferry, Essex Joined Airship Service Nov 1919, R33 Joined Crew R101 July 1929, R33 Breakaway crew
Binks, J.H.
37
Engineer
Nil
Sheffield, Yorks Joined Airship Service 1925, R33, Joined R101 Crew 06.08.29
Blake, R
33
Engineer
Nil.
Westminster, London No previous flying experience. Joined crew R101 Oct 1929
Burton, C.A.
29
Engineer
Nil
Hull, Yorks. No previous flying experience. Joined crew of R101 Oct 1929.
Church, S.
25
Rigger
Nil
Cardington, Beds No previous flying experience. Joined crew of R101 Oct 1929.
Cook, A.J.
27
Engineer
Nil
Lambeth, London No previous flying experience. Joined crew of R101 Oct 1929.
Disley, A.
28
W/T Operator
Nil.
Lancaster, Lancs. Joined Airship Service 04.03.29, R101 and R100. R100 Canadian Flight
Fergusson, C.J.
36
Engineer
Nil
Gillingham, Kent No previous flying experience. Joined crew of R101 Aug 1929.
Ford, H.E.
27
Rigger
Nil.
Kingsbridge, Devon Balloons R.A.F from 27.04.20 to 25.05.29. Attached Cardington for construction of R37 and R33. Joined crew R101 1929
Foster, P.A.
28
Rigger
Nil.
Bedford, Beds. No previous flying experience. Joined crew of R101 Oct 1929.
Gent, W.R.
53
1st Engineer, R101
A.F.M.
Northampton Joined Airship Service in 1915. Ships SS type, C.12, C Star 1, 14,A R29, R32, R34, R36, R33 Crew of R34to U.S.A. and return, R.33 Brewaway crew.
Graham, E.A.
28
Cook
Nil
Ranelagh, Co.Dublin Previously employed on Ocean going vessels and Messrs Dudeney & Johnson Ltd. Bedford. Joined R101 Sept 1930
Hasting, A.C.
30
Engineer
Nil
East Ham, London Joined Airship Service 1918, Ships R33, R80, R38. Joined R101 1929
Hodnett, F.
29
Assistant Steward
Nil
Youghal, Co Cork, Ireland Joined Airships 23.04.30 assistant Steward on R100 Canadian Flight
Hunt, G.F.
41
Chief Coswain
A.F.M. & Bar
Twyford, Berks Joined Airship Service in 1913. Ships "Beta" & Kite Balloons, Coxn R29, R33, Joined R101 as Chief Coxn, Aug 1929. R33 breakaway crew.
Keeley, S.T.
35
Chief W/T Operator
Nil.
Stufton, Diss, Norfolk Joined Airship Service in 1924. R33, on bard when broke away. R101 and R100. R100 Canadian flight.
Key, T.A.A
35
Charge-Hand Engineer
Nil
Hastings, Sussex Joined Airship Service 1915. Ships Exptl SS. SS8, SS19, and others, R36, R33 Joined R101 1929
King, W.H.
32
Engineer
Nil
Tonbridge, Kent Served on Airships SSZ18, R29, R36, R33 Joining R101 in 1929. R33 Breakaway crew.
Larkins, C.W.
25
W/T Operator
Nil.
Blackheath, Kent Joined airships Sept 1929. R101& R100. Crew on return from Canada
Littlekit, M.F.
29
Engineer
Nil.
Sherfield English, Nr Romsey No previous flying experience. Joined crew R101 July 1929
Mason, C.H.
33
Assistant Coxswain
Nil.
Harringay, Middlesex Joined Airship Service 1916. Ships SS and CP types No.9 2nd Coxn of Parseval No.6. R33. Joined crew of R101 1929
Megginson, J. W
18
Galley Boy
Nil
York. No previous flying experience. Joined crew R101 Oct 1929
Moule, W.
30
Engineer
Nil
Wolverhampton No previous flying experience. Joined crew R101 Oct 1929
Norcott A.W.J
29
Rigger
Nil
Royston, Herts No previous flying experience. Joined crew R101 Oct 1929
Oughton, L.F.
29
Assistant Coxswain
Nil.
St Pancras, London Joined Airship Service 1919. Ships R24, R33, R36. Joined R101 1929
Potter, W.A.
32
Assistant Chief Coxswain
Mentioned in dispatches
Yoxford, Suffolk. Joined Airship Service 1915. Ships C.1, R9, R23, R31, Asst Coxn R33, Crew R33 Breakaway, Joined R101 Asst.Chief Coxswain. 1929
Radcliffe, W.G.
31
Rigger
Nil
Bedford, Beds No previous flying experience. Joined crew R101 Oct 1929
Rampton, M.G.
31
Rigger
Nil
Binstead, Hants Joined Airship Service 1915. Ships SS.22, Cox SS54 & others. R31, R32, R34, R9, R23, R36. Joined Crew R101 1929
Richardson, A.J.
29
Rigger
Nil
Wilstead, Beds No previous flying experience. Joined crew R101 Oct 1929
Rudd, E.G.
25
Rigger
Nil
Norwich, Norfolk No previous flying experience. Joined crew R101 Oct 1929
Savidge, A.H.
32
Chief Stweard
Nil
Reading, Berks. Steward White Star, Cunard, Union Castle & Orient Lines. Joined Airships 1921, R36 R101 & R101. R100 Canadian Flight
Savory, V.
33
Engineer
Nil
London No previous flying experience. Joined crew R101 Sept 1929
Scott, S.E.
40
Charge-Hand Engineer
Nil.
Liecester Joined Airship Service 1921. ships R33 & R101 (July 1929) R33 breakaway crew
Short, G.W.
34
Charge-Hand Engineer
Nil
Maidenhead, Berks Joined Airship Service July 1918. Ships C9 C2 SSZ R33, Joined crew R101 July 1929
Taylor, C.E.
33
Rigger
Nil
Wilstead, Beds No previous flying experience. Joined crew R101 Oct 1929
Watson, G.
25
Engineer
Nil
Gillingham, Kent No previous flying experience. Joined crew R101 May 1929

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