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Bill Lancaster (aviator)

Captain William Newton Lancaster (14 February 1898 – 20 April 1933) was a pioneering British aviator.

Bill Lancaster
Bill Lancaster and Chubbie Miller stand in front of the Red Rose.
Born(1898-02-14)14 February 1898
Birmingham, England
Died20 April 1933(1933-04-20) (aged 35)
Tanezrouft, Algeria
OccupationAviator

Early life edit

Born in Birmingham, England, Lancaster emigrated to Australia prior to World War I. In 1916, he joined first the Australian Army and later the Australian Flying Corps. He remained in Britain after the war and joined the Royal Air Force, marrying Annie Maude Besant in 1919 and serving in India during the 1920s.[1] He was promoted to flying officer from pilot officer on 30 April 1921.[2]

England to Australia edit

In 1927, Lancaster transferred to the RAF Reserve (he continued to hold a commission until 30 April 1930),[3][4] and decided to make a name for himself by flying from England to Australia. He made this flight in the Avro Avian Red Rose, accompanied by Australian Jessie "Chubbie" Miller, who helped finance the flight.[5] It was at the time one of the longest flights made in such a small aircraft—although they were overtaken en route by Bert Hinkler in another Avian—and the first England–Australia flight by a woman.[6] A huge crowd greeted them on arrival in Darwin, and on their subsequent tour around Australia.[7]

In 1928 Lancaster and Miller moved to the United States on the promise of a Hollywood movie which was never made. Lancaster then made a living selling British aero engines,[1] and Miller became an aviator in her own right, competing in the famous "Powder Puff Derby" of 1929.[8]

Murder trial edit

In 1932, Lancaster had been in Mexico looking for work. At the same time, Haden Clarke, a male American writer, had been living in Lancaster and Miller's Florida home in order to assist Miller's writing of her autobiography. Clarke and Miller had developed a relationship in Lancaster's absence, and Clarke convinced Miller to leave Lancaster and marry him instead. Upon receipt of this news, Lancaster returned promptly to Florida.

On 20 April, Clarke was killed by a gunshot wound to the head.[1] Despite that the gun was Lancaster's, and that he admitted forging suicide notes found at the scene (one addressed to Lancaster and another to Miller), forensic evidence provided by the prosecution was confusing to the jury.

Albert H. Hamilton, a criminologist with a somewhat dubious past,[9] provided easy-to-understand testimony in Lancaster's favour. Additionally, even though Lancaster and Miller had dissolved their romance and partnership, Miller spoke in Lancaster's defence and the trial judge gave a summing up in his favour.

Lancaster was acquitted of murder after 5 hours of deliberation. It is regarded that although the evidence was in doubt, a main factor in Lancaster's acquittal was his calm, straightforward, gentlemanly demeanor in the courtroom; and the portrayal of the victim as depressive, drug-addicted and suicidal. Public opinion may also have played its part in influencing the jury; indeed, at one point the behaviour of those in gallery became so unruly (cheering for Lancaster), that Judge Atkinson interrupted with a firm, "This is not a vaudeville show!"[5]

Final flight edit

After the trial, Lancaster and Miller returned to England. Broke and friendless, Lancaster decided to attempt the hotly contested England-to-South Africa speed record. Purchasing the Avro Avian Southern Cross Minor from Charles Kingsford Smith, he departed England on 11 April 1933. As the Avian was considerably slower than other aircraft of the time, Lancaster would have to make short stops and get little sleep to have any hope of achieving the record.[1][5]

Having got lost several times, having not slept for 30 hours and being ten hours behind his intended time, Lancaster departed from Reggane on the evening of 12 April to make a 750 mi (1,210 km) night crossing of the Sahara. The Avian's engine failed after less than an hour's flying, and he crash-landed in the desert far north of his expected flight path. Relatively uninjured and occasionally firing flares he awaited rescue. Searches by aircraft, however, were too far to the south, and a car searching from Reggane was also unsuccessful. He died eight days later, on 20 April 1933, exactly one year after Clarke's death. His final message, written on a fuel card on the morning of the 20th, was "So the beginning of the eighth day has dawned. It is still cool. I have no water. I am waiting patiently. Come soon please. Fever wracked me last night. Hope you get my full log. Bill"[1]

Discovery edit

The crash site was discovered by French troops on 12 February 1962,[10] approximately 170 miles south of Reggane in the Tanezrouft region. Lancaster's body had been mummified, and his diary and personal effects had survived intact. The diary was returned to Miller, who allowed it to be published.[5]

 
The wreckage of the Southern Cross Minor displayed at the Queensland Museum.

The wreck of the Southern Cross Minor was recovered in 1975.[11] It now resides in the Queensland Museum in Brisbane but is now held in storage and no longer on public display.

Popular culture edit

A TV miniseries called The Lancaster Miller Affair was made in Australia in 1985.[12][13]

A season two episode titled "The Lost Desert Flyer" of the documentary TV series Vanishings! first aired in 2004.[14]

The 2009 movie The Last Flight by Karim Dridi is based on the French novel Le dernier vol de Lancaster by Sylvain Estibal, which is loosely based on the real-life events surrounding the disappearance of Bill Lancaster.

In 2014 Andrew Lancaster premiered his 90min family documentary The Lost Aviator which challenges the Lancaster family as to whether Bill Lancaster was guilty of murder in Miami 1931.[15]

In 2017, Carol Baxter's book The Fabulous Flying Mrs Miller: an Australian's true story of adventure, danger, romance and murder, which tells Bill and Chubbie's story, was published by Allen & Unwin, Sydney.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e Gwynn-Jones, Terry (January 2000). "Bill Lancaster: Lost in the Sahara After Attempting to Break the England-Cape Town Flight Speed Record". Aviation History. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  2. ^ "No. 32325". The London Gazette. 17 May 1921. p. 3934.
  3. ^ "No. 33155". The London Gazette. 27 April 1926. p. 2863.
  4. ^ "No. 33607". The London Gazette. 20 May 1930. p. 3157.
  5. ^ a b c d Love is in the Air - Times Online(subscription required)
  6. ^ Records Territory 22 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Photo of crowd in Canberra, National Archives of Australia[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ History of American Women's Aviation Feats – 1929 Women's Air Race: Aviation History: Wings Over Kansas 27 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine at www.wingsoverkansas.com
  9. ^ Evans, Colin (2003). A Question of Evidence: The Casebook of Great Forensic Controversies, from Napoleon to O.J. p. 67. ISBN 0-471-44014-0.
  10. ^ "Bill Lancaster: Lost in the Sahara After Attempting to Break the England-Cape Town Flight Speed Record | HistoryNet". HistoryNet. 12 June 2006. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  11. ^ The Southern Cross Minor (re)discovered in 1975 21 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ Australiantelevision.net
  13. ^ The Lancaster Miller Affair at IMDb  
  14. ^ The Lost Desert Flyer at IMDb  
  15. ^ The Lost Aviator at IMDb  

bill, lancaster, aviator, captain, william, newton, lancaster, february, 1898, april, 1933, pioneering, british, aviator, bill, lancasterbill, lancaster, chubbie, miller, stand, front, rose, born, 1898, february, 1898birmingham, englanddied20, april, 1933, 193. Captain William Newton Lancaster 14 February 1898 20 April 1933 was a pioneering British aviator Bill LancasterBill Lancaster and Chubbie Miller stand in front of the Red Rose Born 1898 02 14 14 February 1898Birmingham EnglandDied20 April 1933 1933 04 20 aged 35 Tanezrouft AlgeriaOccupationAviator Contents 1 Early life 2 England to Australia 3 Murder trial 4 Final flight 5 Discovery 6 Popular culture 7 ReferencesEarly life editBorn in Birmingham England Lancaster emigrated to Australia prior to World War I In 1916 he joined first the Australian Army and later the Australian Flying Corps He remained in Britain after the war and joined the Royal Air Force marrying Annie Maude Besant in 1919 and serving in India during the 1920s 1 He was promoted to flying officer from pilot officer on 30 April 1921 2 England to Australia editIn 1927 Lancaster transferred to the RAF Reserve he continued to hold a commission until 30 April 1930 3 4 and decided to make a name for himself by flying from England to Australia He made this flight in the Avro Avian Red Rose accompanied by Australian Jessie Chubbie Miller who helped finance the flight 5 It was at the time one of the longest flights made in such a small aircraft although they were overtaken en route by Bert Hinkler in another Avian and the first England Australia flight by a woman 6 A huge crowd greeted them on arrival in Darwin and on their subsequent tour around Australia 7 In 1928 Lancaster and Miller moved to the United States on the promise of a Hollywood movie which was never made Lancaster then made a living selling British aero engines 1 and Miller became an aviator in her own right competing in the famous Powder Puff Derby of 1929 8 Murder trial editIn 1932 Lancaster had been in Mexico looking for work At the same time Haden Clarke a male American writer had been living in Lancaster and Miller s Florida home in order to assist Miller s writing of her autobiography Clarke and Miller had developed a relationship in Lancaster s absence and Clarke convinced Miller to leave Lancaster and marry him instead Upon receipt of this news Lancaster returned promptly to Florida On 20 April Clarke was killed by a gunshot wound to the head 1 Despite that the gun was Lancaster s and that he admitted forging suicide notes found at the scene one addressed to Lancaster and another to Miller forensic evidence provided by the prosecution was confusing to the jury Albert H Hamilton a criminologist with a somewhat dubious past 9 provided easy to understand testimony in Lancaster s favour Additionally even though Lancaster and Miller had dissolved their romance and partnership Miller spoke in Lancaster s defence and the trial judge gave a summing up in his favour Lancaster was acquitted of murder after 5 hours of deliberation It is regarded that although the evidence was in doubt a main factor in Lancaster s acquittal was his calm straightforward gentlemanly demeanor in the courtroom and the portrayal of the victim as depressive drug addicted and suicidal Public opinion may also have played its part in influencing the jury indeed at one point the behaviour of those in gallery became so unruly cheering for Lancaster that Judge Atkinson interrupted with a firm This is not a vaudeville show 5 Final flight editAfter the trial Lancaster and Miller returned to England Broke and friendless Lancaster decided to attempt the hotly contested England to South Africa speed record Purchasing the Avro Avian Southern Cross Minor from Charles Kingsford Smith he departed England on 11 April 1933 As the Avian was considerably slower than other aircraft of the time Lancaster would have to make short stops and get little sleep to have any hope of achieving the record 1 5 Having got lost several times having not slept for 30 hours and being ten hours behind his intended time Lancaster departed from Reggane on the evening of 12 April to make a 750 mi 1 210 km night crossing of the Sahara The Avian s engine failed after less than an hour s flying and he crash landed in the desert far north of his expected flight path Relatively uninjured and occasionally firing flares he awaited rescue Searches by aircraft however were too far to the south and a car searching from Reggane was also unsuccessful He died eight days later on 20 April 1933 exactly one year after Clarke s death His final message written on a fuel card on the morning of the 20th was So the beginning of the eighth day has dawned It is still cool I have no water I am waiting patiently Come soon please Fever wracked me last night Hope you get my full log Bill 1 Discovery editThe crash site was discovered by French troops on 12 February 1962 10 approximately 170 miles south of Reggane in the Tanezrouft region Lancaster s body had been mummified and his diary and personal effects had survived intact The diary was returned to Miller who allowed it to be published 5 nbsp The wreckage of the Southern Cross Minor displayed at the Queensland Museum The wreck of the Southern Cross Minor was recovered in 1975 11 It now resides in the Queensland Museum in Brisbane but is now held in storage and no longer on public display Popular culture editThis article may contain irrelevant references to popular culture Please remove the content or add citations to reliable and independent sources November 2023 A TV miniseries called The Lancaster Miller Affair was made in Australia in 1985 12 13 A season two episode titled The Lost Desert Flyer of the documentary TV series Vanishings first aired in 2004 14 The 2009 movie The Last Flight by Karim Dridi is based on the French novel Le dernier vol de Lancaster by Sylvain Estibal which is loosely based on the real life events surrounding the disappearance of Bill Lancaster In 2014 Andrew Lancaster premiered his 90min family documentary The Lost Aviator which challenges the Lancaster family as to whether Bill Lancaster was guilty of murder in Miami 1931 15 In 2017 Carol Baxter s book The Fabulous Flying Mrs Miller an Australian s true story of adventure danger romance and murder which tells Bill and Chubbie s story was published by Allen amp Unwin Sydney References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bill Lancaster aviator a b c d e Gwynn Jones Terry January 2000 Bill Lancaster Lost in the Sahara After Attempting to Break the England Cape Town Flight Speed Record Aviation History Retrieved 18 May 2020 No 32325 The London Gazette 17 May 1921 p 3934 No 33155 The London Gazette 27 April 1926 p 2863 No 33607 The London Gazette 20 May 1930 p 3157 a b c d Love is in the Air Times Online subscription required Records Territory Archived 22 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine Photo of crowd in Canberra National Archives of Australia permanent dead link History of American Women s Aviation Feats 1929 Women s Air Race Aviation History Wings Over Kansas Archived 27 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine at www wingsoverkansas com Evans Colin 2003 A Question of Evidence The Casebook of Great Forensic Controversies from Napoleon to O J p 67 ISBN 0 471 44014 0 Bill Lancaster Lost in the Sahara After Attempting to Break the England Cape Town Flight Speed Record HistoryNet HistoryNet 12 June 2006 Retrieved 28 November 2018 The Southern Cross Minor re discovered in 1975 Archived 21 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine Australiantelevision net The Lancaster Miller Affair at IMDb nbsp The Lost Desert Flyer at IMDb nbsp The Lost Aviator at IMDb nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bill Lancaster aviator amp oldid 1217987859, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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