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the DH Comet Racer G-ACSS Grosvenor House. Percival Mew Gull G-AEKL had just been named Miss
Liverpool in a ceremony when the accident occurred. This aircraft was to have been used in an air race from England to South Africa that had been announced in 1936. The aircraft was sponsored by Mr. John Mores of Littlewoods. K3044 was written off but G-AEKL was repaired only to be destroyed in an air raid at Lympne on the 3rd. July 1940. Status, Pilot, Flying Officer, Peter Stanley Salter, OK. Status, Civilian, Tom Campbell Black, Killed.
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bomber that had landed ran into Black's Mew Gull as he taxied out for take off. Black was reputed to have been looking down at his map at the time. The propeller of the large biplane tore through the side of Black's cockpit, striking and mortally wounding him in the chest and shoulder. He died on the
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agent expressed concern for the safety of the two German crew members. Tom Black carrying fresh drinking water took off in search of the two fellow airmen. He located the crippled aircraft and landed in the treacherous desert terrain. The two airmen had draped a tarpaulin over their aircraft and were
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in the starters list for the race, Campbell Black and C. W. A. Scott won the "Speed
Section" of the race in an extraordinary time of 71 hours, and won the First Place Prize of 10,000 pounds. They also won the "Handicap Section" but the race rules didn't allow them to win the two sections. Black and
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G-AEKL piloted by Mr. Tom
Campbell Black whilst taxiing on aerodrome after landing resulting in the death from his injuries of Mr. Tom Campbell Black as he was waiting to take off. Mr Tom Campbell Black who was best known for winning the air race held in 1934 from England to Australia, co-piloting
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and the records for the period summer 1915 to summer 1917 indicate that he entered
Hampden House, May 1915, was appointed House Prefect, January 1917 and played Second XI Football, 1915 to 1916 and 1916 to 1917. Campbell Black attended Army Class II and entered the RN College at Greenwich and
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lying under it to protect themselves from the searing sun, one of the men was seriously ill. After two days without fresh drinking water and food they gratefully welcomed Tom Black and his supplies. Tom introduced himself as
Campbell Black. The German pilot was Ernst Udet,
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and start many of the flights from
Firbeck following the extension to the length of the aerodrome to accommodate the heavily laded aircraft during takeoff. Lady Fielding convinced Cyril Nicholson to name the aircraft
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An aerodrome had been constructed to the west of the hall under the direction of Capt. Tom
Campbell Black the joint winner of the 1934 Mildenhall-Melbourne Air Race. Cyril Nicholson had funded the purchase of a
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as it would always come back. Boomerang did not live up to her name and in a near fatal accident over Africa the Comet was written off and
Campbell Black's aspirations of flying from Firbeck to the
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1932. Held
Saturday, 18 June, total Island course: 108 miles (174 km). At the end of the two laps it was Ashwell Cook with Tom Campbell Black as navigator, who came through to win in a
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report of the London to
Melbourne Air Race, a mention is made of an incident that happened concerning Black: "Captain T. Campbell Black famed for his spectacular rescue of
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during their flights looking for game in Africa that persuaded the Prince equerry to alter the itinerary of a royal engagement to Sheffield and visit the club.
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aircraft, primarily piloted by Campbell Black. The airline grew into a comprehensive air carrier across Kenya. Captain Hugo Dunkerley, the editor of
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attained a commission in the R.N.A.S. (Naval Air Service). He served first as a pilot in the Naval Air Service and later in the RAF during the
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was encouraged by his enthusiasm to form Wilson Airways Ltd., in Kenya. At inception later in the same year, her airline possessed a single
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224:, German War Ace, in the desert wastes of the treacherous Nile country three years ago." A reference to this act is found in Ernst Udet's
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The heat is unbearable, the brain dehydrated. Slowly, a dull despair takes hold. A sick friend, no food, and the unfriendly natives.
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in 1935 at a cost of 10,000 pounds for Campbell Black to attempt further endurance flights. It was intended to name the aircraft
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For the British Aviator or Aviators accomplishing the most meritorious performance in aviation during the previous year.
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aircraft averaging 102 mph (164 km/h). The following references to Tom Black are recorded in the history of "
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Peter Stanley Salter who was the Assistant Adjutant and Chief Flying Instructor of No. 611 Squadron collided in his
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While the company was profitable, Wilson Airways was disbanded in 1939 with the outbreak of the Second World War.
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It is stated in the Shuttleworth Collection Records, England, that an aircraft currently in their collection, a
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and decommissioned in 1920. Black family history has it that Tom and his brother managed a coffee plantation in
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Norman Black a renowned motor cycle and motor car racing driver 1920-1950s Cousin of Tom Campbell Black
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and back in a weekend came to an end. It was Tom Campbell Black's previous connections with the
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DeHavilland DH.88 Comet, "Grosvenor House" G-ACSS, in Martin Place, Sydney 12 November 1934.
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He was the son of Alice Jean McCullough and Hugh Milner Black. He became a world-famous
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and adventurer. An adventurer saved by an adventurer. Ernst described his situation as
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and Sudan borders. An aircraft had left Juba but had not reached its destination, the
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On 19 September 1936, while preparing for the race, he was killed at Liverpool,
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were entered in the London to Melbourne Air Race, officially known as the "
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In the same year, Tom Campbell Black entered an air race from England to
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While flying for Wilson Airlines in 1931, Tom Black arrived in
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The following report was made on an air race held at the
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won the London to Melbourne Centenary Air Race in 1934.
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way to hospital. He left a widow, the English actress
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628:People educated at Brighton College
568:. New York: Arco Publishing, 1981.
556:Tom Campbell Black: Pioneer Aviator
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482:Incidents Report at Speke Airport
458:Incidents Report at Speke Airport
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19:For the Scottish playwright, see
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588:The MacRobertson Air Race, 1934
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464:On the 19th of September, 1936
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409:The Schlesinger Race and Death
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16:English aviator (1899–1936)
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524:Firebeck Hall 1935 - 1939
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643:Britannia Trophy winners
638:Royal Air Force officers
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361:de Havilland DH.88 Comet
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216:In the 20 October 1934
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623:People from Brighton
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313:The Britannia Trophy
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191:Florence Kerr Wilson
554:McCullough, Bruce.
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593:Tom Campbell Black
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85:Horsebreeder
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618:1936 deaths
613:1899 births
470:Hawker Hart
352: 1585
341:Cirrus Moth
333:Isle of Man
258:World War I
237:Juba, Sudan
141:Early years
607:Categories
488:References
222:Ernst Udet
195:Gypsy Moth
179:Miss Kenya
370:Boomerang
152:Great War
102:Parent(s)
74:, England
72:Liverpool
59:, England
509:Archived
480:—
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177:. Named
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365:Firbeck
199:Aeroken
171:Mombasa
131:aviator
83:Aviator
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245:Uganda
92:Spouse
493:Notes
249:Shell
241:Kenya
175:Kenya
156:Kenya
570:ISBN
545:ISBN
374:Cape
65:Died
50:Born
430:RAF
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