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by members of the No. 89 Squadron
Reunion Club, to commemorate the long and distinguished career, both as an aviator and as a Royal Air Force officer, of Wing Commander George Hedley Stainforth. The Trophy had been commissioned and paid for, anonymously, by a Mrs Stella Sketch who died in May 2000.
477:
Following his death, a dossier was compiled by his friends detailing many of his achievements, recorded remarks and memories of him by distinguished officers and men who served with him during his lifetime. It also includes extracts from his own thoughts and writings. A copy of the dossier has been
364:
On 29 September 1931, the record attempt was made. Due to the aircraft having no flaps, Stainforth took off from the water after a very long run up. The record was established at a height of 400 m. He made a perfect record run over the four timed miles in opposing directions and achieved an average
547:
ending in arrows to depict high speed altitude flight, and with an outward sweep to infinity, which suggests that the sky is literally the limit of man's achievement in the air. Into his design, he has incorporated a star and its orbit to evoke the achievements of science and the
329:
Stainforth was also one of the team in 1931 when the Trophy was won for the third time in a row, and thus the competition won outright. Following the Trophy triumph on 16 September, he had the chance to once again break the
649:
in 1932 (at that point known as
Weymouth Grammar School, later renamed Weymouth Secondary School) as a memorial to Stainforth, its former pupil, who had set the world air speed record the previous year. Made of
341:, in which he achieved 379 mph. Following a minor taxiing accident during testing though, he caused S1596 to turn over and sink. Although she was recovered by divers the next day, he now transferred to
507:
to the operational station within the
Command which has produced the best overall performance and is their most prestigious trophy. The Stainforth family are still represented at the presentation.
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in May 1952. In 1996, the vane had to be taken down after the effects of years of sea spray and coastal winds had taken their toll, but it has since been restored and is now back in the gardens.
527:. The trophy depicts in silver three supersonic aircraft and spiralling vapour trails soaring into the stratosphere. The artist also tried to display an awareness of the achievements of the
287:
up for an attempt at the record over a measured mile course. He achieved a top speed of 351.3 mph and a ratified world absolute speed record, averaged over four runs of 336.3 mph.
456:
in
October 1941. At the end of that year, the squadron was posted to the Middle East, and on the night of 27 September 1942, Wing Commander Stainforth was killed in action while piloting
33:
658:
sheath, the vane was erected above
Weymouth College chapel in 1932, but moved for safety at the start of World War II. It was later presented to the borough council and placed in
978:
449:
Mark II. The tests began with
Stainforth flying the Messerschmitt and Tuck flying the Spitfire in level flight, dives and turns, and at various speeds at different altitudes.
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of 407.5 mph (655.8 km/h), being the first man in the world to exceed 400 mph. For this achievement he was awarded the
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entrant. The aircraft was withdrawn for technical reasons shortly before the competition, which was then won by his teammate
349:"sprint" engine, serial R27 and airscrew for the record attempt. The engine was using a specially prepared fuel mixture of
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175:
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Team in the design, being aware that these achievements resulted in the improved design and development, by
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Stainforth later went on to break another record, this time by flying upside down for 12 minutes.
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345:. This was another S.6B, which could also be fitted with the same specially prepared 2,600 bhp
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584:
795:
543:. In the design of the trophy, the artist has tried to show the Earth as seen by the astronauts,
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The
Stainforth Trophy was originally presented in 1974 to the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief
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361:. Starting the engine was uneasy and there was considerable danger of engine explosion.
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in south central
England. His task was to take part in comparison trials of a captured
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in the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Air Force and was posted as the
Officer Commanding
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The image of G H Stainforth appeared in a number of
Cigarette Card Sets including:
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The Stainforth Trophy is awarded annually by the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief
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686:"Not Found Wanting: A History of the Stainforths, an Anglo-Saxon family"
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This record was held but briefly, as a later run by the racing seaplane
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284:
266:
898:
Not Found Wanting: A History of the Stainforths, an Anglo-Saxon family
191:
George Hedley Stainforth was the son of George Staunton Stainforth, a
192:
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470:. He was buried with full military honours, at the British Cemetery
848:. Fleet Air Arm Archive. Archived from the original on 16 June 2015
651:
471:
384:
354:
55:
297:
655:
483:
350:
539:, which played such a major role in Britain's victory in the
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Leaving the MAEE in 1935, Stainforth spent a short period as
283:
On the following day, 10 September 1929, Stainforth took the
407:
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on 10 April 1924. He was promoted after four years to
183:
pilot and the first man to exceed 400 miles per hour.
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Military personnel from the London Borough of Bromley
922:
Race with the Wind: How Air Racing Advanced Aviation
621:
Stainforth Weather Vane, Greenhill Gardens, Weymouth
605:(issue year 1956). 50 Cards. Named as GH Stainforth.
989:
People educated at Weymouth College (public school)
999:Recipients of the Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
919:
37:Flight Lieutenant G H Stainforth (cigarette card)
964:Royal Air Force personnel killed in World War II
930:
705:God's Gift: A Living History of Dulwich College
679:
677:
675:
637:, commemorating Stainforth's world speed record
452:Stainforth was appointed as Officer Commanding
888:
774:. Stroud: Tempus (Images of England series).
763:
616:(issue year 1934). Number 38 – G H Stainforth
298:1931 Schneider Trophy and the 400 mph barrier
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672:
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838:
702:
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294:managed to raise it to over 350 mph.
233:Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment
179:(22 March 1899 – 27 September 1942) was a
31:
882:"1931 – Squadron Leader Orlebar's Report"
418:. On 12 January 1940, he was promoted to
814:The Defeat of Distance: Qantas 1919–1939
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724:"Weymouth and Portland Borough Council"
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591:(issue year 1936). 50 Cards. Named as
523:The Stainforth Trophy was designed by
231:on 1 July 1928, and was posted to the
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580:Famous British Airmen & Airwomen
801:
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410:. In February 1939, he returned to
223:on 15 March 1923 and was posted to
13:
939:People educated at Dulwich College
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14:
1010:
901:. pp. 385–86. Archived from
707:. London: Heinemann. p. 87.
334:. His first attempt was made in
994:British aviation record holders
949:Royal Air Force wing commanders
454:No. 89 (Night Fighter) Squadron
426:. In June 1940, Stainforth and
257:Stainforth is second from right
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846:"Fleet Air Arm Roll of Honour"
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322:Stainforth is fourth from left
81:Ismailia War Memorial Cemetery
1:
688:. p. 511. Archived from
665:
416:Examining and Handling Flight
414:Upavon as Officer Commanding
219:George Stainforth joined the
186:
645:was originally presented to
398:on 1 June 1936, served with
261:Stainforth was serving with
7:
320:1931 Schneider Trophy team
255:1929 Schneider Trophy team
235:(MAEE) for duties with the
10:
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920:Birch J. Matthews (2001).
589:Famous Airmen and Airwomen
866:: CS1 maint: unfit URL (
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265:in 1929, as pilot of the
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171:George Hedley Stainforth
959:Schneider Trophy pilots
608:Park Drive cigarettes (
16:Royal Air Force officer
817:. John gunn. pp.
794:Now on display in the
638:
520:
480:Royal Air Force Museum
323:
313:
258:
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603:Famous British Fliers
519:The Stainforth Trophy
518:
490:The Stainforth Trophy
412:Central Flying School
394:. He was promoted to
319:
305:
263:The High Speed Flight
254:
247:1929 Schneider Trophy
770:Alan Vessey (1997).
614:Champions 1st series
576:Lambert & Butler
498:, Air Chief Marshal
466:at Gharib, near the
447:Supermarine Spitfire
443:Messerschmitt Bf 109
424:No. 600 Squadron RAF
130:No. 600 Squadron RAF
984:People from Bromley
905:on 12 January 2012.
751:on 11 December 2007
703:Hodges, S. (1981).
692:on 12 January 2012.
500:Sir Denis Smallwood
458:Bristol Beaufighter
404:No. 30 Squadron RAF
369:on 9 October 1931.
225:No. 19 Squadron RAF
207:before joining the
135:No. 30 Squadron RAF
125:No. 89 Squadron RAF
954:British air racers
895:Peter Stainforth.
684:Peter Stainforth.
639:
555:Per ardua ad astra
521:
505:RAF Strike Command
496:RAF Strike Command
324:
314:
259:
924:. Zenith Imprint.
660:Greenhill Gardens
654:and covered in a
593:Flight Lieutenant
478:presented to the
437:, were posted to
432:Battle of Britain
327:Flight Lieutenant
237:High Speed Flight
229:flight lieutenant
165:
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66:27 September 1942
58:, London, England
25:George Stainforth
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944:English aviators
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811:Gunn, J (1985).
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747:. Archived from
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647:Weymouth College
629:Weather vane in
541:Second World War
529:Schneider Trophy
400:No. 802 Squadron
336:Supermarine S.6B
307:Supermarine S.6B
239:, also known as
203:. He joined the
201:Weymouth College
178:
150:Second World War
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914:Further reading
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567:Cigarette cards
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550:Royal Air Force
525:Robin Beresford
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396:squadron leader
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367:Air Force Cross
332:airspeed record
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292:Supermarine S.6
278:Supermarine S.6
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221:Royal Air Force
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209:Royal Air Force
197:Dulwich College
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181:Royal Air Force
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160:Air Force Cross
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146:First World War
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533:R. J. Mitchell
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422:and commanded
420:wing commander
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195:. He attended
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168:Wing Commander
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70:(aged 43)
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376:Career after
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347:Rolls-Royce R
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53:22 March 1899
45:
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34:
29:
22:
19:
921:
903:the original
897:
890:
876:
850:. Retrieved
813:
790:
771:
765:
753:. Retrieved
749:the original
745:"RAF Marham"
704:
698:
690:the original
643:weather vane
640:
613:
602:
588:
579:
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553:
522:
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476:
468:Gulf of Suez
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205:British Army
190:
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142:Battles/wars
101:British Army
68:(1942-09-27)
18:
974:1942 deaths
969:1899 births
439:Farnborough
933:Categories
666:References
378:The Flight
285:Gloster VI
274:H. Waghorn
267:Gloster VI
241:The Flight
187:Early life
87:Allegiance
49:1899-03-22
633:Gardens,
631:Greenhill
535:, of the
474:, Egypt.
389:HMS
193:solicitor
127:(1941–42)
862:cite web
798:, London
755:21 April
652:hardwood
635:Weymouth
610:Gallaher
599:Carreras
585:Carreras
537:Spitfire
472:Ismailia
445:E and a
391:Glorious
385:Adjutant
355:methanol
271:Flt. Lt.
121:Commands
95:Service/
387:aboard
56:Bromley
884:. RAF.
852:2 July
825:
778:
656:copper
612:Ltd):
562:Trivia
552:motto
511:Design
484:Hendon
461:serial
430:, the
351:petrol
215:Career
156:Awards
137:(1937)
132:(1941)
97:branch
77:Buried
464:X7700
359:ethyl
343:S1595
339:S1596
311:S1596
276:in a
72:Egypt
868:link
854:2007
823:ISBN
776:ISBN
757:2008
641:The
408:Iraq
357:and
199:and
111:Rank
63:Died
43:Born
819:138
578:'s
482:at
435:ace
406:in
176:AFC
935::
864:}}
860:{{
837:^
821:.
803:^
732:^
713:^
674:^
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486:.
353:,
309:,
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243:.
211:.
173:,
870:)
856:.
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726:.
51:)
47:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
