Claude Albemarle Bettington (13 May 1875, Cape Colony - 10 September 1912, Wolvercote, Oxfordshire, England) was a mining engineer and a pioneer aviator from South Africa.
Claude Albemarle Bettington was the son of Col. Rowland Albemarle Bettington. He attended St. Andrew's College, Grahamstown from April to December 1890.[1]
Bettington was a member of the Mechanical Engineers Assn. of the Witwatersrand and a member of the Chemical and Metallurgical Assn. of the Witwatersrand. and worked as a mining mechanical engineer from 1891 to outbreak of the Boer War in 1899. Bettington invented a new type of steam boiler.[2] and together with Anthony M Robeson[3] invented a boiler furnace for burning pulverized fuel.[4]
Aviationedit
Bettington, as a young officer serving with the Royal Artillery was fascinated by the possibilities which flying offered to the artillery regarding observation and reconnaissance. After learning to fly and becoming the first South African to take the Aviator's Certificate of the Royal Aero Club of the United Kingdom and the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.[1] Bettington transferred to the newly formed Royal Flying Corps. The autumn army manoeuvers of 1912 included the Royal Flying Corps for the first time. Bettington was paired with Edward Hochkiss, chief test pilot for the Bristol Aeroplane Company, to fly a Bristol Coanda Monoplane.
Taking-off from Larkhill at 07.00 on 10 September 1912 they flew directly to Port Meadow, Oxford which was the first stage. Arriving over Port Meadow at 2000 ft. On their approach for landing a quick-release catch holding a strap opened and the strap fractured a flying wire which whipped about, tearing a hole in the starboard wing. Fabric stripped off and control became impossible; the aircraft crashed into the ground at Lower Wolvercote, 120 yards (110 m) short of Port Meadow. Bettington was flung to his death from the aircraft and Hotchkiss perished in the ensuing impact.[5][6][7][8]
^US 973468, Claude A Bettington, "Steam-boiler", published 25 October 1910
^Biography of Anthony Maurice Robeson at the S2A3 Biographical Database of Southern African Science
^US 817989, Anthony M Robeson & Claude A Bettington, "Furnace for burning pulverized fuel and other substances", published 17 April 1906
^Mowthorpe, Ces. (2006). . hunmanby.com. Archived from the original on 11 January 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
^Ffrench, Andrew (20 July 2012). "Plane crash centenary 'worth remembering'". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
^"Service to remember tragic Shropshire pilot". Shropshire Star. 6 September 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
^"Aerial Explosion". Marlborough Express. Vol. XLVI, no. 254. 25 October 1912. p. 3 col G. Retrieved 23 September 2016 – via Papers Past.
Laurie, K. W. J. (1914). Register of S. Andrew's College, Grahamstown, from 1855 to 1914. Grahamstown: Slater & Co.
External linksedit
BMD data at 1820settlers.com
Military record at forces-war-records.co.uk subscription required.
Craven Arms, Shropshire: Remembering an Aviation Ace
January 01, 1970
claude, bettington, claude, albemarle, bettington, 1875, cape, colony, september, 1912, wolvercote, oxfordshire, england, mining, engineer, pioneer, aviator, from, south, africa, contents, early, life, military, service, engineering, career, aviation, referenc. Claude Albemarle Bettington 13 May 1875 Cape Colony 10 September 1912 Wolvercote Oxfordshire England was a mining engineer and a pioneer aviator from South Africa Contents 1 Early life 2 Military service 3 Engineering career 4 Aviation 5 References 6 External linksEarly life editClaude Albemarle Bettington was the son of Col Rowland Albemarle Bettington He attended St Andrew s College Grahamstown from April to December 1890 1 Military service editAt the start of the Boer War Bettington served in the Imperial Light Horse from its formation to May 1900 later a lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery 14th Battery from May 1900 to end of war 1 Engineering career editBettington was a member of the Mechanical Engineers Assn of the Witwatersrand and a member of the Chemical and Metallurgical Assn of the Witwatersrand and worked as a mining mechanical engineer from 1891 to outbreak of the Boer War in 1899 Bettington invented a new type of steam boiler 2 and together with Anthony M Robeson 3 invented a boiler furnace for burning pulverized fuel 4 Aviation editBettington as a young officer serving with the Royal Artillery was fascinated by the possibilities which flying offered to the artillery regarding observation and reconnaissance After learning to fly and becoming the first South African to take the Aviator s Certificate of the Royal Aero Club of the United Kingdom and the Federation Aeronautique Internationale 1 Bettington transferred to the newly formed Royal Flying Corps The autumn army manoeuvers of 1912 included the Royal Flying Corps for the first time Bettington was paired with Edward Hochkiss chief test pilot for the Bristol Aeroplane Company to fly a Bristol Coanda Monoplane Taking off from Larkhill at 07 00 on 10 September 1912 they flew directly to Port Meadow Oxford which was the first stage Arriving over Port Meadow at 2000 ft On their approach for landing a quick release catch holding a strap opened and the strap fractured a flying wire which whipped about tearing a hole in the starboard wing Fabric stripped off and control became impossible the aircraft crashed into the ground at Lower Wolvercote 120 yards 110 m short of Port Meadow Bettington was flung to his death from the aircraft and Hotchkiss perished in the ensuing impact 5 6 7 8 References edit a b c Laurie 1914 p 67 US 973468 Claude A Bettington Steam boiler published 25 October 1910 Biography of Anthony Maurice Robeson at the S2A3 Biographical Database of Southern African Science US 817989 Anthony M Robeson amp Claude A Bettington Furnace for burning pulverized fuel and other substances published 17 April 1906 Mowthorpe Ces 2006 A Notable Memorial Stone hunmanby com Archived from the original on 11 January 2017 Retrieved 23 September 2016 Ffrench Andrew 20 July 2012 Plane crash centenary worth remembering Oxford Mail Retrieved 23 September 2016 Service to remember tragic Shropshire pilot Shropshire Star 6 September 2012 Retrieved 23 September 2016 Aerial Explosion Marlborough Express Vol XLVI no 254 25 October 1912 p 3 col G Retrieved 23 September 2016 via Papers Past Laurie K W J 1914 Register of S Andrew s College Grahamstown from 1855 to 1914 Grahamstown Slater amp Co External links editBMD data at 1820settlers com Military record at forces war records co uk subscription required Craven Arms Shropshire Remembering an Aviation Ace Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Claude Bettington amp oldid 1161856107, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
