Franklyn Leslie Barnard (2 November 1896 – 28 July 1927) was a British pilot, who took part in 1920s

air races The atmosphere of Earth is the layer of gases, known collectively as air, retained by Earth's gravity that surrounds the planet and forms its planetary atmosphere. The atmosphere of Earth protects life on Earth by creating pressure allowing for ...

and airline flights. He was also known as Captain F. L. Barnard.

Early life

Frank Barnard was born on 2 November 1896, the son of Owen Barnard, a stockbroker's clerk. He was once reported to be a cousin of Captain

C. D. Barnard Charles Douglas Barnard (8 December 1895 – 7 August 1971) was a British pilot, who took part in 1920s air races and record-breaking flights. Early life Charles Barnard was born on 8 December 1895, the son of Charles Gilbert Barnard. He was onc ...

, a pilot who was also notable in air racing events, but that was disproved in the results of the 1901 UK census.

World War I

After flying training, Barnard was appointed Flying Officer in the

Royal Flying Corps "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colors = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = , decorations ...

, and in July 1916 he joined No. 18 Squadron in France. On 22 October 1916, 2nd Lt Barnard was piloting FE.2b (No. 4929) from

Laviéville Laviéville (; pcd, Lavièville) is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. Geography The commune is situated on the D119 road, some northeast of Amiens. Population See also *Communes of the Somme department ...

with his observer Lt F.S. Rankin. Rankin was hit by bullets from an attacking aircraft, and Barnard prevented Rankin from falling overboard, then made an emergency landing. Rankin died, and Barnard received injuries that made him unfit for service for a further year. Barnard was awarded the AFC ( Air Force Cross).The National Archives file AIR 76/23/19 In late 1918, he served with No. 24 Squadron RAF, flying VIPs and other personnel on communications flights in UK and France.Flight, 11 August 192
Capt. F. L. Barnard, O.B.E., A.F.C.
/ref>

Instone Air Line

On 13 October 1919, he was employed by

Instone Air Line Instone Air Line was an early British airline from 1919 to 1924. Along with other private airlines of the time, it was absorbed into Imperial Airways. This airline is not to be confused with Instone Air Line (1981) of Stansted, which operated ...

, flying parcels and mail in an Airco DH.4 between Cardiff,

Hounslow Aerodrome Hounslow Heath Aerodrome was a grass airfield, operational 1914–1920. It was in the London borough of Hounslow, and hosted the British Empire's first scheduled daily international commercial flights, in 1919. The site today includes the main r ...

and Paris, and he remained its chief pilot until 1924.

1920s air racing

On 9 September 1922, he won the first King's Cup Race, in Airco DH.4A (G-EAMU) at Croydon Aerodrome, having flown 810 miles over a cross-country course at an average speed of 123.6 mile/h. The aircraft was in the blue and silver colours of Instone Air Line, named 'City of York'.Lewis 1970 He raced in the DH.4A (G-EAMU) again, in the 1923 King's Cup Race, and later used DH.50 (G-EBFP) in the 1924 race. On 4 July 1925, he won the fourth King's Cup Race in A.W. Siskin V (G-EBLQ) at Croydon Aerodrome, having flown two laps each of 804 miles, at an average speed of 141.7 mile/h. On 9 July 1926, he flew the Bristol 99 Badminton (G-EBMK) in the 1926 fifth King's Cup Race, but had to make a forced-landing after a fuel feed problem.

Imperial Airways

On 31 March 1924, Instone Air Line merged with Daimler Airway, Handley Page Transport, and

British Marine Air Navigation Co Ltd British Marine Air Navigation Co Ltd was a short-lived British airline operating flying boats across the English Channel in 1923 and 1924. It merged with three other airlines in 1924 to form Imperial Airways. Formation British Marine Air Navig ...

to form Imperial Airways, and Barnard was appointed chief pilot of the new organisation. He made many notable flights with celebrities of the period, such as route-proving flights to Egypt and India.

Personal life

On 3 June 1927, he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) in the King's 1927 Birthday Honours.Flight, 9 June 1927, p. 40
Birthday Honours
/ref> On 28 July 1927, Barnard died in a flying accident while flying the Bristol Type 99A Badminton (G-EBMK). He was performance testing alternative propellers on the aircraft in preparation for entering the 1927 King's Cup Race. The engine failed after take-off from Filton Aerodrome, and the aircraft stalled from a height of about 80 ft.

References

Bibliography

* Henshaw, Trevor. 1995. ''The Sky Their Battlefield: Complete List of Allied Air Casualties from Enemy Action in WWI''. Grub Street * Lewis, Peter. 1970. ''British Racing and Record-Breaking Aircraft''. Putnam * The National Archives file AIR 76/23/19 {{DEFAULTSORT:Barnard, F. L. 1896 births 1927 deaths English aviators Royal Air Force officers Commercial aviators Recipients of the Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)