.... André Marcel Desoutter (31 January 1894–13 April 1952) was an English aviator, who lost a leg in an early flying accident, but went on to a successful career in the aviation industry.
Early lifeEdit
Desoutter was one of six children of Louis Albert Desoutter, an immigrant French watchmaker, and Philomène Duret. Along with his four brothers, Rene, Charles, Louis and Robert, Marcel trained as a watchmaker.
Aviation careerEdit
Learning to fly with the Blériot Company at their Hendon works, he passed the flying tests at the age of 17, but could not receive his licence until he was 18, receiving Royal Aero ClubAviators' Certificate no. 186 on 27 February 1912. He became an instructor, test and demonstration pilot.
Desoutter's accident occurred at the London Aviation Meeting held at Hendon Aerodrome at Easter 1913: whilst flying his 50-h.p. Gnome-Blériot on the afternoon of 23 March, the control stick slipped from his hand and the Blériot dived into the ground at the edge of the aerodrome. Desoutter's leg was badly broken, and later had to be amputated above the knee.
He was fitted with the standard wooden leg, but his younger brother Charles used his knowledge of aircraft materials to design a new jointed Duralumin alloy leg of half the weight, with which he was able to return to flying.
In 1914 the pair formed a company, Desoutter Brothers Limited, at 73 Baker Street, London, to manufacture the legs. The firm expanded greatly during and after the First World War, and moved to The Hyde, Hendon in 1924, where they manufactured both artificial limbs and the pneumatic portable Desoutter Tools which had been developed initially as a sideline.
Marcel married Margaret F. Rust in 1918; they had three children.
In 1935 Desoutter became a partner with Morris Jackaman in Airports, Ltd., which had been set up to develop Gatwick and Gravesend aerodromes as airports, and was still managing director of the company when he died at his home in Horley, Surrey on 13 April 1952.
ReferencesEdit
Flight magazine, 29 March 1913
Flight magazine, 2 May 1929
Flight magazine, 25 April 1952 (Obituary)
Jackson, A J. British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 2. Putnam, 1973
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Volume15. Oxford University Press, 2004
August 25, 2023
marcel, desoutter, andré, january, 1894, april, 1952, english, aviator, lost, early, flying, accident, went, successful, career, aviation, industry, early, life, editdesoutter, children, louis, albert, desoutter, immigrant, french, watchmaker, philomène, duret. Andre Marcel Desoutter 31 January 1894 13 April 1952 was an English aviator who lost a leg in an early flying accident but went on to a successful career in the aviation industry Early life EditDesoutter was one of six children of Louis Albert Desoutter an immigrant French watchmaker and Philomene Duret Along with his four brothers Rene Charles Louis and Robert Marcel trained as a watchmaker Aviation career EditLearning to fly with the Bleriot Company at their Hendon works he passed the flying tests at the age of 17 but could not receive his licence until he was 18 receiving Royal Aero Club Aviators Certificate no 186 on 27 February 1912 He became an instructor test and demonstration pilot Desoutter s accident occurred at the London Aviation Meeting held at Hendon Aerodrome at Easter 1913 whilst flying his 50 h p Gnome Bleriot on the afternoon of 23 March the control stick slipped from his hand and the Bleriot dived into the ground at the edge of the aerodrome Desoutter s leg was badly broken and later had to be amputated above the knee He was fitted with the standard wooden leg but his younger brother Charles used his knowledge of aircraft materials to design a new jointed Duralumin alloy leg of half the weight with which he was able to return to flying In 1914 the pair formed a company Desoutter Brothers Limited at 73 Baker Street London to manufacture the legs The firm expanded greatly during and after the First World War and moved to The Hyde Hendon in 1924 where they manufactured both artificial limbs and the pneumatic portable Desoutter Tools which had been developed initially as a sideline Marcel married Margaret F Rust in 1918 they had three children Marcel Desoutter left the business in 1928 and formed the Desoutter Aircraft Company Ltd at Croydon to build the Dutch Koolhoven F K 41 three seat monoplane renaming it as the Desoutter I 41 of this type and the improved Desoutter II were produced but the business folded in 1932 after its main customer National Flying Services at London Air Park Hanworth went into liquidation In 1935 Desoutter became a partner with Morris Jackaman in Airports Ltd which had been set up to develop Gatwick and Gravesend aerodromes as airports and was still managing director of the company when he died at his home in Horley Surrey on 13 April 1952 References EditFlight magazine 29 March 1913 Flight magazine 2 May 1929 Flight magazine 25 April 1952 Obituary Jackson A J British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 2 Putnam 1973 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Volume15 Oxford University Press 2004 The origins of De Soutter Medical Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Marcel Desoutter amp oldid 1059120031, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
